The Charlotte Hornets still have several questions to deal with before the regular season starts. Among them is who would be handed the keys to the offense.
The natural answer would be LaMelo Ball. Not only has the 2022 All-Star shown to be an exceptional scorer and passer, but he is also the point guard, and the offense will run through him anyway. Still, that doesn't automatically mean he will be the Hornets' No. 1 offensive option. It's worth noting that his health remains a significant concern for the organization.
Then there's also the fact that Miles Bridges emerged as the team's leading scorer last season, as Ball was out for most of the season and Terry Rozier was shipped at the trade deadline. In addition, Brandon Miller showed promise to be an elite bucket-getter during his rookie season.
Ball-Miller being the go-to duo is what Hornets fans want
On Monday, Bridges illustrated why Charlotte was willing to take a risk in re-signing him despite some calls for the front office to let him walk in free agency this summer.
Asked by reporters what his offensive role would be, the former lottery pick said, "I'm going to facilitate more. Brandon and Melo are going to be doing most of the scoring, and I'll be there when they need me."
That is certainly an admirable commitment from Bridges, who averaged 21.0 points per game last season, eclipsing the 20-ppg mark for the second consecutive campaign he played in. However, he appears to understand that the Hornets' long-term success hinges on Miller and Ball fulfilling their potential as stars — if not superstars.
Many fans likely believe that Charlotte's offense should revolve around the pair of former top-three draft picks. After all, the task of carrying the burden of the franchise could fall on the shoulders of Ball or Miller, or both.
The good news is that Bridges looks capable of serving as a secondary playmaker, having dished out 3.6 assists per contest in his last two seasons. That should give head coach Charles Lee more ideas for his offensive playbook.
Now, there is only the minor question of who between Ball and Miller would turn out to be higher in the scoring hierarchy. Perhaps that's something that could be left unanswered for now, especially because the duo are still growing their own individually and as teammates. But when the time comes, it's probably better for Charlotte to determine if their dynamics would be that of a Batman-Robin tandem or a 1A-1B combo.