The Charlotte Hornets turned out to be one of the worst teams in the league this season, but Jeff Teague appears to believe that it already has the foundation needed to establish itself as a winner. The former All-Star wants Charlotte to look at the Indiana Pacers and take note of how they have built around Tyrese Haliburton.
Teague brought up on his podcast how the Hornets need to watch Indiana, stating, "If I'm Charlotte, I'm looking at the Pacers, and I'm recreating this recipe." Interestingly, he also said Buzz City already has someone who plays like the Pacers star, even referring to LaMelo Ball as Haliburton "on steroids."
Obviously, Teague is onto something, as his former employer has advanced to its second straight Eastern Conference Finals. The feat has probably even helped remind the Hornets of their dilemma with Ball, who has yet to prove that he can stay healthy and be the leader of a perennial contender.
How the Hornets can emulate the Pacers
Trying to copy what Indy has done is easier said than done. It is impressively deep at every position, allowing the squad to overwhelm its top-heavy opponents in the playoffs, namely the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Leading the charge is Haliburton, of course, but having an All-Star teammate in Pascal Siakam and a fringe All-Star in Myles Turner has helped. Beyond the three are high-level role players, including Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, T.J. McConnell, and Obi Toppin.
Perhaps the Hornets already have some pieces that can provide Ball the supporting cast Teague believes he needs.
Brandon Miller has the potential to be better than any of Haliburton's current teammates. A floor-spacing rim protector like Turner would be perfect for Ball, although what he and Charlotte have at the moment is a different breed of center in Mark Williams. Maybe the rookie who ends up in the Queen City can make an immediate impact and help the squad break an ignominious streak of playoff-less seasons.
While there is optimism that the Hornets can turn things around soon, it can sometimes be hard to spot the light at the end of the tunnel. Ball is among those who have given many fans hope, but his ability to stay on the court has yet to be seen. That is a key reason some folks have called on the organization to trade the 2022 All-Star.
However, Teague doesn't seem to think that such a move is necessary, especially after watching Indiana rise to the top of the Eastern Conference.