With the Charlotte Hornets off to another early vacation, the staff and some players had to go through their exit interviews needing to answer about an uncertain future. The good news is that an overhaul might not be in the works, as the new front office has just completed its first full regular season. So, they have a longer leash in evaluating and adjusting the roster.
Even so, a handful of players have probably played their last game in a Hornets uniform. It's not that they are not wanted, but more so that the organization has to open enough room to welcome pieces that can address some roster flaws.
It remains to be seen who will still be on the roster once training camp opens in several months. However, it appears that the top brass has already identified which players will continue to try to make Charlotte proud beyond this offseason.
Hornets coach has already identified the team's core four
During Charles Lee's exit interview, he emphasized how important it is for the team's foundational players to lead by example and be accountable to presumably themselves and the entire squad in focusing on their offseason development. Per the rookie head coach, the Hornets "have to take it to another level, and it's going to start with those core four."
The four guys he alluded to were LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller, and Mark Williams.
So, does that mean all four have secured a roster spot? Hardly so. Remember that this is the same front office that traded Williams, which the team governor described as one of its core nucleus last summer, to the Los Angeles Lakers for a rookie who's actually older than him, a former lottery pick the Lakers waived, and draft picks that wouldn't have conveyed for a few more years.
However, it makes sense for Charlotte to try to build around the foursome. Each of them has proven his value to the club in his own way.
Ball has shown the potential to be someone the Hornets can build the roster around. Miller can be the second or third option for a contender, especially when he further hones his ability to attack the basket. Williams had proven to be a double-double machine near the end of the 2024-25 regular season and is the best big man the franchise has had in a long while. Bridges was arguably their most consistent player this year and has exhibited underrated leadership qualities.
Of course, having those four in the starting lineup has also presented major problems, with health worries being chief among them. Bleeding points might also persist as an issue, especially with the inadequate point-of-attack and interior defense. However, Bridges has actually shown some improvement on defense, while Ball and Williams have the physique and athleticism to be disruptive forces on that end of the court.
Some folks might point out, though, that the four-man combination was able to play nearly 98 minutes together in the 2024-25 campaign and had net points per 100 possessions of -0.8. On the one hand, the core four pieces are expected to have a healthy summer and should have enough time to get some reps together. Besides, more integral players, including hopefully another starter to replace Josh Green, are coming in the offseason via the draft, free agency, and trade.