Will 2026 be the year the Charlotte Hornets return to the playoffs? It has been so long since the squad reached that stage. It's not far-fetched to believe that the Hornets' playoff drought will end at nine years, as the promising young trio of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Mark Williams (if none of them are traded) could make a massive leap next season as long as they are healthy and have gotten used to playing together.
Having Charles Lee as the coach should also serve as an advantage for Charlotte. He already has two NBA championships under his belt, helping the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics take home the crown in 2021 and 2024, respectively, as an assistant coach.
In the scenario that the Hornets do make it to the 2026 playoffs, it's unclear how far they would go, though, due to how tough the competition is expected to remain in the East. The current postseason has also shown how teams are ready to dial up the physicality and take advantage of the referees relaxing a bit with the whistle.
Hornets need someone like Grant Williams to make some noise in future playoff appearances
It's not unusual to see players and coaches flip the switch once the regular season ends by taking the level of physicality up a notch or two, especially when it's already deep in the playoffs. However, this year, it has been a bit over the top, with some participants already complaining.
For instance, a couple of squads who are up 3-1 in their respective series have expressed frustration with how the referees have supposedly lost control of the contests.
Many Boston Celtics players, including Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford, have cried foul about how the Orlando Magic have played them. Jayson Tatum even had to sit out Game 2 after he injured his wrist off a flagrant foul by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Out west, Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has pointed out how there has been plenty of "physicality without purpose," referring to the postseason in general and their first-round battle with the Los Angeles Lakers.
If this is how future playoffs will be called, it's imperative for the Hornets to prepare for such an eventuality. As James Plowright of CLTure.org noted, the team's core players are still ill-equipped for the type of physicality we are currently watching.
It also gives the organization more reason to hold onto Grant Williams. Not only had he been a steady glue guy for the Hornets before sustaining a season-ending injury, but he has also thrived serving in an enforcer role. Ball, Miller, and Mark Williams, or whoever ends up completing Charlotte's core players in the next campaign, need someone who can protect them and commit the hard foul when things get chippy.
Moreover, Grant Williams is already battle-tested despite still being 26. He has appeared in 61 playoff meetings from 2020 to 2023, helping the Celtics advance to the Eastern Conference Finals thrice during those four years. In more ways than one, the North Carolina native certainly fills a need for Charlotte.