Coming into the 2021-22 NBA season, the Charlotte Hornets were largely expected to be on the outside looking in when it came to either the playoffs or the play-in tournament.
They were one of the NBA’s youngest teams, and they seemed to be on a timeline that suggested patience.
But the Hornets won 43 games and finished 10th in the suddenly competitive Eastern Conference, which earned them a spot in the play-in tournament.
Once there, they proved to be no match for the slightly more seasoned Atlanta Hawks, who routed them, 132-103, but there is now a reason for hope and optimism in Charlotte.
The team has multiple promising young players, and it is looking for a new coach who could unlock their potential.
What should fans realistically expect from the Hornets next season?
Players Who Are On The Rise
In LaMelo Ball, last season’s Rookie of the Year, the Hornets have a rising blue-chipper who made the All-Star team this season by averaging 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.6 steals a game while hitting 38.9 percent of his 3-point shots.
As a 6-foot-7 point guard, he is thought by some to have superstar potential.
Lamelo Ball has had an underrated improvement from year 1 to year 2 🐝 pic.twitter.com/KbGqeBOzCZ
— Charlottehornetsonly (@ChaHornetsOnly) May 15, 2022
Ball is the younger brother of Lonzo Ball, who currently plays for the Chicago Bulls and entered the NBA five years ago amidst massive hype.
Many thought the elder Ball would become not just a superstar but also a Hall of Famer, likely because his father, LaVar Ball, hyped him as the basketball equivalent of the next-best thing since sliced bread.
Once it became clear that Lonzo Ball was merely a good player but not an exceptional one, there was skepticism surrounding LaMelo, as some thought he too would be all hype and no substance.
But he has proven to be a much superior player to his older sibling.
Through-the-legs assist takes the W! @MELOD1P
🪙 | @LendingTree pic.twitter.com/BYs9pHZDwf
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) May 9, 2022
Miles Bridges, a 6-foot-6 forward who was a lottery pick in 2018, is another franchise cornerstone, and he put up 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists this season.
He may not have the ceiling that Ball has, but the Hornets are still high on him.
Moves May Be Made
It has been rumored that Charlotte wants to get rid of the contracts of a couple of players this summer, especially that of Gordon Hayward.
At age 32, Hayward is still an outstanding shooter, a legitimate scoring threat, and a decent playmaker.
But he is injury-prone, a problem that dates back to his catastrophic foot injury a few years ago, and his inability to stay healthy for at least 70 contests a season prevents him from justifying the roughly $30 million a year his contract pays him.
If Charlotte is successful in jettisoning him, it could receive a player or other asset that could help it take another step forward this coming season.
Also notable are players such as guard Terry Rozier, who is undersized on the defensive end but is a strong scoring threat, and wing Kelly Oubre Jr., a decent outside shooter and defender who is athletic and a strong finisher.
If the Hornets add a bit more serviceable size up front, they could be participating in the NBA playoffs next spring, especially if Ball takes his game to the next level.
NEXT: Gordon Hayward Could Not Live Up To The Money In Charlotte