The Charlotte Hornets didn't have a game on Wednesday but were pretty busy as the team officially broke ground on its new practice facility, which will be named Novant Health Performance Center. The place will serve as the Hornets' headquarters and contain their practice and training facility, administrative offices, and more.
Present during the ceremony were LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Mark Williams, and Miles Bridges, as well as a couple of Hornets legends, Kemba Walker and Muggsy Bogues.
Also gracing the event were new majority owners Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall. Their decision to establish a state-of-the-art practice facility solidified their commitment to making the squad better and to the city of Charlotte.
Breaking ground! The new @novanthealth Performance Center is officially in progress. 🏗
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) March 26, 2025
Will it solve the Hornets' futility in free agency?
Perhaps building the center signifies that the franchise is not leaving Queen City anytime soon — not that there is any indication of it relocating to a new home sometime in the future.
In addition, a possible advantage of the new facility is that it can draw in big free agents to the team, or at least that's what Schnall is hoping would happen.
During the press conference on Wednesday, the 56-year-old businessman mentioned that he envisions the training center being the best of its kind in the league and that it will have "facilities that free agents will want to come and play with us."
That would certainly be the dream scenario for an organization that has typically never found success in luring big names in free agency. Looking back at its history, the most impactful free agent signings it has made are probably bringing in David Wesley in 1997 and Al Jefferson in 2013. Most of the greatest players to have played for the franchise were acquired via the draft or trades.
It remains to be seen whether Schnall's assertion proves to be true. It may have to wait, though, because it will take a year before the facility will open.
On the other hand, the Hornets also have a lot to do to become a prime destination for free agents. Obviously, constructing a roster that has the potential to compete is at the top of the priority list. The good news is that they already have a few building blocks that can help them, such as Ball, Miller, and Williams, who, of course, might be traded this offseason.
Perhaps the training center can also provide the players with more resources to hone their crafts and motivate them to achieve their potential, which would be a big help in Charlotte's goal of becoming a sustainable contender.