3 Ds the Hornets will look to focus on this season and beyond
By Orel Dizon
Fans finally saw in-depth what the Charlotte Hornets have in store for the 2024-25 season after the team held its media day on September 30.
The first to address the media was executive vice president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson, who shared his plans for the organization and its outlook for the following months.
New coach Charles Lee and several key players were also given the opportunity to grab the mic and answer the reporters' questions.
The Hornets' plans this season and beyond have become clearer
While various topics were discussed on Monday, three themes emerged regarding the franchise's short-term and long-term plans.
1. Development
The Hornets haven't been able to field a contender in a long time. However, they are looking to buck the trend and rise in the East, if not this season, then in the following years.
The Hornets faithful have seen Charlotte try to take shortcuts in building a contending squad in the recent past. For instance, the hiring of Steve Clifford in 2022, when the old-school coach couldn't pull the team out of the mediocrity hole in his first tenure, didn't sit well with many fans.
With new blood taking over from the top down, the front office has taken the right approach in trying to make the Hornets a relevant team in the league.
Peterson said himself during media day that the squad will "take pride in player development," mentioning its youngest, Tidjane Salaun, and oldest player, Taj Gibson, as among those whom the top brass will help to get better.
That mindset makes sense, considering that Charlotte's core nucleus consists of 23-and-under players.
The offseason has also seen the organization resist the temptation of making win-now moves. It would rather find ways to build for the future, such as when it jumped into the blockbuster trade between the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves, which will result in the acquisition of a player or combination of players worth more than $8 million in salary as well as draft compensation.
In addition, Lee preached "consistency of habits, competitiveness, and togetherness" on Monday. Setting the 2025 playoffs as a goal would be nice, considering that the Hornets are starving for postseason games. However, the coach, who has a championship pedigree after having previously won rings as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics, focused on establishing the right foundation.
Impressively, the players seem to have bought in, which should be music to Hornets fans' ears.