Last season, the Charlotte Hornets registered their worst winning percentage since going 21-61 in the 2012-13 campaign. They finished the previous regular season with the same standing.
ESPN predicts this coming campaign will be more of the same for the Hornets, forecasting that the squad will not improve and finish 21-61 again.
There are various reasons to believe Charlotte could at least deliver more wins, especially with LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams hopefully recovering from their injuries in time for the start of the regular season and Brandon Miller continuing to improve.
Stephen A. Smith says there's "no chance" for the Hornets this season
Count renowned analyst Stephen A. Smith among those who don't believe Charlotte is bound to progress in the 2024-25 campaign.
When asked by Hornets fan Evan Hale, who called during "Live with Stephen A. Smith," who he believes will make a significant leap in the standings, he dished out sobering news for the Hive. He said, "You got no chance to be relevant this upcoming season. I hope the future is bright."
According to the sports personality, there is some silver lining in Charlotte because the team has Ball and a new coach in Charles Lee. What he failed to mention, though, is that the Hornets also have a promising core nucleus to help their star point guard.
Perhaps Smith is cognizant of it but still doesn't hold an optimistic outlook for the squad this year. Hopefully, such a sentiment, which many other folks probably share, can light a fire under the team.
On the other hand, some fans might think that Charlotte should continue to stay patient and not rush its rebuilding efforts.
The franchise actually has an incentive not to push hard for a spot in the 2025 playoffs, as it owes the San Antonio Spurs a lottery-protected first-round pick in the next draft.
It's worth noting that the 2025 draft class projects to be loaded with plenty of potential game-changers. Cooper Flagg appears to be the pick of the litter, although there are also several swingman prospects who could fit perfectly with Charlotte's current foundation.
While it might be in the organization's best interest to keep the pick, it also has to be wary of the possible repercussions of years of losing could have on its players. Hopefully, the Hornets can find the right balance between rebuilding and maintaining a healthy morale inside the locker room.