One of the reasons Charlotte Hornets fans were optimistic the 2024-25 campaign would turn out better than expected was the emergence of Tre Mann. His season debut saw him put up 24 points and six rebounds to generate early Sixth Man of the Year buzz.
He continued to play well in the following couple of weeks, scoring in double-digits in each of the next six games. With Mann in tow, the Hornets had a dependable offensive weapon off the bench.
Unfortunately, he hasn't suited up since Nov. 21 because of a back injury. The timeline of his return isn't clear, as the Hornets have offered few definitive updates about the 23-year-old guard's status.
It's time to have a conversation about Tre Mann
On Dec. 30, the team issued new information about the youngster, stating that he has stayed the course in his rehabilitation and would see an increase in intensity in his on-court work and individual workouts. As usual, it also reported that Mann would be reevaluated in two weeks.
That was supposed to be around the time the Hornets faced off against the Utah Jazz, a contest they won but highlighted their weakness, which Mann would undoubtedly be able to help address.
However, there is still no news about the condition of the 2021 first-round pick.
Perhaps the Hornets are waiting to finish their five-game road trip before publishing a Tre Mann update. They have been away from Charlotte since last Thursday, although their bouts with the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers had to be postponed due to the Southern California wildfires. The final meeting of the trip will come against the Chicago Bulls on Friday.
Hopefully, the squad will receive some good news the next time it sees Mann, who presumably stayed in the Queen City to continue working on his recovery.
It's tough to be optimistic about his outlook, though, as disc irritation has typically been tricky to deal with. The Hornets faithful might have to manage their expectations, especially after watching Mark Williams sustain a lower back injury early in the 2023-24 campaign, causing him to sit out all but 19 matches that season.
Some folks have theorized that Charlotte might have already given up on the season and would rather keep Mann out longer to avoid aggravating his injury or in an effort to rack up the losses. If that were the case, the Hornets should pray that it would turn out to be worth it because they would also be forfeiting the opportunity for the University of Florida product to develop his game and establish his rapport with his teammates.