It would take a miracle for the Charlotte Hornets to mount a comeback this season.
The offense needs plenty of work, as they rank near the bottom in several departments. The lack of reliable playmakers and shot-creators has led to the team placing last in the field-goal percentage. To make matters worse, the difference between the Hornets' efficiency from the field and that of the squad sitting above them, the New Orleans Pelicans, is the same as the gap between the Pelicans' and the 18th placer's.
Things probably wouldn't be as bad if Charlotte's defense were elite. But as it stands, the squad is in the middle of the pack in that area.
A potential offensive help will be available in the summer for the Hornets
So, the Hornets clearly need to improve their shot selection. A guard with decent court vision would surely help, as LaMelo Ball has barely had any consistent help from his teammates in that domain.
Perhaps Lonzo Ball is the solution.
There haven't been rumors of a mutual interest between Lonzo Ball and the Hornets, but that hasn't stopped the chatter about the possibility of the Ball brothers linking up sometime in the following months. LaVar Ball hinted at something big happening in Charlotte, which some folks have theorized as his firstborn potentially finding a new home with Buzz City.
The past weeks have proven that Lonzo Ball can still play at a high level despite the various injuries that have beset him in recent years. The incoming free agent even put up 15 points (all coming from 3-pointers) and three assists in his first start this campaign on Sunday. In 20 appearances, he has recorded 11.4 points and 6.7 assists per 36 minutes.
According to Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst of ESPN, a couple of NBA executives have been impressed with the Chicago Bulls veteran's performance so far in the 2024-25 campaign. One of the executives even said, "Someone is going to get him next year and look smart."
Can the Hive wait that long?
There are free agents available who could prove to be useful for the Hornets this season. However, with how it has been going, they should already probably be setting their sights on the offseason.
The good news is that missing the playoffs will allow the franchise to keep the lottery-protected first-round pick it owes the San Antonio Spurs in the summer. Some pundits believe adding a point guard if it lands a high draft selection would be the way to go.
However, the likely ideal scenario for the Hornets would be to bring in a rookie who could complement Ball, Brandon Miller, and Mark Williams and then solve its playmaking woes through free agency.
It might be a scary proposition, though, to acquire another injury-prone rotation player when Charlotte already has a LaMelo Ball problem. The organization has several months to evaluate whether the risk would be worth taking.