Looking at the Charlotte Hornets' roster, one might not be able to help but wonder who the leader will be moving forward. Taj Gibson could be the default answer, given his mileage and status. However, the Hornets should probably mull over letting him go this summer, even though he has expressed the desire to return, as they might be better off giving his roster spot to someone who can contribute on the floor.
The next-oldest players on the team at the moment are Seth Curry and Jusuf Nurkic. However, neither appears to be the ideal leader for Charlotte, as Curry has more of a low-key personality, while Nurkic is known to be vocal when things don't go his way. Besides, who's to say they will still be on the squad by the time the next regular season starts?
So, the best candidate to take over the role is Miles Bridges, the franchise's longest-tenured player and part of its core four.
Miles Bridges is ready to lead the Hornets by example
Some folks might disagree with the notion that Bridges should step up as the Hornets players' leader, especially because of his history of off-court issues. There have also even been some calls for the organization to trade him for a package that includes a star or future assets. However, it is looking more likely that he will remain in Queen City beyond this summer.
There are fans who won't see that as a problem, especially after watching Bridges respond to Charlotte's early elimination from playoff contention for the ninth consecutive year with grace.
In his exit interview, he stated his desire to see the Hornets become a perennial playoff contender and "fight for a championship one day." Those are certainly lofty ambitions that some people possibly find laughable. However, the club needs a leader who dares to dream the seemingly infeasible and is prepared to rally his teammates to share the vision.
Bridges also shared his plan to keep his eyes on the prize this summer, saying he will be skipping the two-week vacation he had typically taken in the past offseasons to lock in and work on his game this year. Furthermore, Miles said he is "going to have guys in the gym a lot this summer" to ensure they are of one accord.
It remains to be seen if the Hornets players will follow Bridges' lead. However, given that many of them have had to deal with significant injuries, spending more time in the practice court and the training room should bode well for their long-term health.