The Charlotte Hornets are still undergoing a time of transition. The organization's new Head Coach in Charles Lee was introduced this past week, and all of their new management is working together toward the vision they have for this team.
Fans are understandably excited, as the Hornets have seldom exceeded expectations since re-claiming the old team moniker back a decade ago, and the new leaders in place feel passionate about doing something special in Charlotte. One of the biggest pieces of evidence to their commitment came during this past season.
At the trade deadline in February, the Hornets were extremely active and unafraid to deal away players that were previously seen as core pieces in order to improve in the long-term. P.J. Washington, Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward were all dealt away at the deadline in an effort to get assets back and form a roster more suited to the team's young core.
It is clear that so far, their efforts have been successful. The team may not have become a playoff-caliber squad overnight, but they were noticeably more competitive and lively after changes were made. The injection of youth into this squad has already helped change them for the better. Perhaps one of the more underrated young talents now on this roster is the former Oklahoma City Thunder guard, Tre Mann.
The Hornets will benefit greatly from a Tre Mann leap
Coming to Charlotte as part of the Gordon Hayward trade, Tre showed right from the jump that he was never a player lacking in skill, only in opportunity. After playing just 9.2 minutes per night for OKC in 13 games up until the trade deadline last season, Mann started 28 games for the Hornets and earned a stunning 31.0 minutes per night.
In those 28 games to close out the season, Tre put up a career-best 11.9 points and 5.2 assists per game on 45.3% shooting. The best part about Mann's game is that, despite the improved output we have seen from him, he has not yet scratched the surface of what he can become as a player.
Tre is still only 22 years old, and he has the physical tools to be an elite scoring guard in this league. He boasts tremendous distance on his shooting range, which of course is a hallmark of some of the top scorers in this era. Mann is also excellent in navigating the pick-and-roll, has a quick release on catch-and-shoot opportunities, and possesses a solid overall feel for the game.
On a team that currently employs a lot of guards, Tre has a big opportunity this summer and in the coming season. If he can continue putting in the work to improve, he could potentially retain a lot of the playing time he saw last season even as other players return from injury.
Improved and consistent production from Mann next season will give the Hornets a much greater chance of breaking through to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.