The Charlotte Hornets have won just one game in their past 16 contests, and the slump appears to be taking a toll on the players.
Despite entering the season with heightened expectations and a seemingly more talented roster, the team looks even worse than it did in the 2023-24 campaign. At this point last year, the Hornets had one fewer loss than their 7-24 record this time.
Folks can continue pinning the blame on Charlotte's health concerns, but the injuries to LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams were even worse last season.
Hornets have to be wary of Williams' frustration
The Hornets' struggles might be a good excuse for the franchise to tank and boost its odds of landing a top pick in the 2025 draft, where the likes of Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper, and V.J. Edgecombe will be waiting to give Charlotte another potential cornerstone to add to its promising core nucleus.
On the other hand, losing usually has a negative impact on players' morale, and Williams' statement after the team's defeat at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday should signal that some changes are needed in the organization.
Some might say that it was a routine loss, given that the Thunder are one of the league's top squads. However, the circumstances around the result have led to some Hornets players ruing their plummet towards the bottom of the standings.
Williams, who recorded his first double-double of the 2024-25 campaign with 12 points and 10 rebounds, said after the game that he and his teammates have "almost" forgotten what it feels like to win again and the joy and vibes winning brings. Several losses more, and it wouldn't be surprising to hear the players starting to get disgruntled.
The aspiring star did acknowledge how hard the team has been playing, including when it held the Thunder to 16 points in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the flaws that have plagued the squad, including the lack of effective shot creation and an inferior bench unit, among others, have continued to doom it.
The front office has to look for ways to improve the squad, whether that involves seeking reinforcement via trade or free agency or coming up with plans to maximize the talent already on the roster.
A silver lining for the Hornets is that the club is capable of going on a successful post-Christmas run, as it had occasionally done in the past. Maybe they can rediscover the magic that has helped them rack up the wins to keep Williams and the other players happy.