The Charlotte Hornets have struggled to find success over the past decade, often becoming a source of frustration for fans. Their last playoff appearance came in 2016, ending in a first-round exit. The departure of their long-time star, Kemba Walker, to Boston marked another setback, with Terry Rozier being the sole return in that exchange. Former owner Michael Jordan, despite his legendary status on the court, was unable to replicate his success in the front office, while previous GMs Rich Cho and Mitch Kupchak often fell short on draft day. While the past has been challenging, there’s a glimmer of hope that the Hornets can chart a brighter path forward.
Draft Flunks
The Charlotte Hornets have had their fair share of questionable draft decisions in recent memory, many of which have left fans scratching their heads.
In the 2008 NBA Draft, with the 9th pick, they passed on Brook Lopez to select D.J. Augustin. To make matters worse, they traded their 2010 first-round pick for Alexis Ajinça at 20th overall— a bad move, considering the very next selections included Ryan Anderson, George Hill, Nicolas Batum, and Serge Ibaka, all of whom became far superior players.
In 2011, the Hornets struck gold with Kemba Walker—a shining exception in their otherwise rough track record of draft selections.
However, the missteps continued. In 2012, they took Michael Kidd-Gilchrist second overall, passing on future stars like Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard, and Andre Drummond.
In 2013, they selected Cody Zeller over CJ McCollum and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The following year, in 2014, they again missed the mark, drafting Noah Vonleh while bypassing Zach LaVine.
Perhaps their most regretful decision came in the 2015 NBA Draft with the 9th pick. The Boston Celtics offered a jaw-dropping four first-round picks to move up in the draft, but the Hornets declined. Hornets Vice Chairman Curtis Pope dismissed the offer, stating, "Even if someone wants to give me first-round picks, what am I going to do with them?" The Hornets used the pick to select Frank Kaminsky, another center, their third in three years, passing on Myles Turner and Devin Booker in the process. To twist the knife further, one of the draft picks Boston offered turned into the #1 overall pick in 2017, which Boston later used to acquire Jayson Tatum. In that same 2017 draft, Charlotte selected Malik Monk at #11, passing on Donovan Mitchell.
In 2018, the Hornets selected Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at #11, only to trade him for Miles Bridges. While Bridges has shown flashes of potential, he will likely never reach the superstar level of Shai, who is now an MVP finalist.
The pattern continued into 2019 when the Hornets selected P.J. Washington, passing on Tyler Herro, Jordan Poole, and Nicolas Claxton—players who have made significant impacts on their respective teams.
Hindsight is 20/20, but for a franchise desperate to climb out of mediocrity, these repeated draft missteps paint a frustrating picture of missed opportunities and questionable decision-making.
free Agency Vacancy
The Hornets have struggled to make impactful moves in free agency over the past few years, with the few signings they made failing to deliver significant results.
In the summer of 2020, the team signed Gordon Hayward to a four-year, $120 million contract. Following the departure of Kemba Walker, the Hornets were eager to bring star power back to Charlotte. However, Hayward proved to be far from the solution. Over his four seasons with the team, he never played more than 50 games in a single season. Ultimately, his tenure ended this year when he was traded to Oklahoma City at the trade deadline.
Beyond Hayward, the only other notable free-agent signings over the last five years were Kelly Oubre Jr. on a two-year deal in 2021 and Dennis Smith Jr. on a one-year deal in 2022. While both players contributed positively as role players for the Hornets' young roster, neither left a lasting impact on the team’s trajectory.
The bright side
In 2020, the Charlotte Hornets drafted LaMelo Ball with the third overall pick. Since then, LaMelo has demonstrated incredible potential and moments of brilliance—when healthy. However, injuries have plagued him, sidelining him for significant portions of four out of his five NBA seasons. Despite these setbacks, LaMelo has proven to be the cornerstone of the Hornets' future. He earned the 2020 Rookie of the Year award, outperforming rising star Anthony Edwards, and in his only injury-free season (2021), he was selected as an All-Star.
In 2022, the Hornets selected Mark Williams with the 15th pick in the draft. During his rookie season, Williams primarily played behind Mason Plumlee. However, following Plumlee's departure at the trade deadline, Williams stepped into the starting role and solidified himself as a reliable presence for the future. Unfortunately, his momentum was cut short in the 2023 season due to a back injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the year.
Real change began for the Hornets in 2023. After another disappointing season, Michael Jordan sold his majority ownership of the team to Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin during the summer. However, before stepping away, Jordan and general manager Mitch Kupchak made a pivotal decision in the draft, selecting Brandon Miller with the second overall pick. Miller quickly became a bright spot for the team, showcasing his versatility across all aspects of the game. His impressive rookie season garnered media attention for the Hornets, a rarity for the franchise. While competing against an extraordinary talent and a more experienced rookie for the Rookie of the Year award, Miller still made a significant impact on and off the court.
The 2023-24 season also marked the end of Mitch Kupchak's tenure as general manager, but he left a lasting legacy with one of the most successful trade deadlines in Hornets history. The team traded Terry Rozier for a later bought-out Kyle Lowry and, more importantly, a 2027 first-round pick from Miami. They also offloaded Gordon Hayward's burdensome contract, acquiring a mix of promising talent: 23-year-old Tre Mann, 31-year-old sharpshooter Davis Bertans, and 30-year-old rookie Vasilije Micic. Additionally, in exchange for PJ Washington, the Hornets brought in Grant Williams, Seth Curry, and another 2027 first-round pick from Dallas. These acquisitions had an immediate impact, injecting energy and excitement into a fanbase that hadn’t felt it in years. While the team's record didn’t reflect their improvements, the Hornets showed glimpses of a promising future.
New management
At the end of the season, Hornets head coach Steve Clifford stepped down, opening up an opportunity for the Hornets to hire successful Celtics assistant Charles Lee. Lee has been working as an assistant coach for 10 years, and he has sat on the bench of several high achieving teams, including the champion 2021 Milwaukee Bucks. Also, Following the departure of Mitch Kupchak, the Hornets hired Jeff Peterson, a previous executive for the Brooklyn Nets who has already hired a new head coach, and is now tasked with handling a top lottery pick and leading the franchise into a crucial summer and new season.
The Keys to success
1. LaMelo's availability:
LaMelo Ball spoke to the media after the season ended, explaining that he would be trying out some new things this summer - including ankle braces. Obviously the biggest concern for LaMelo is his availability, and him finally overcoming his stubbornness towards wearing ankle braces looks like a huge step in the right direction.
2. Mark Williams's return:
Mark Williams recently ended his rehab for his back injury, and is back training for next season. Mark mentioned after the season that he is aiming to play every game next season, encouraging words for anyone worried about his health or the future of the Hornets.
3. Brandon Miller's development
Brandon Miller is a star. Period. He mentioned that his goal this summer is to keep building on his game, and more importantly, building muscle. If Brandon Miller can show up next season with more muscle, he could lead the Hornets to the playoffs alongside LaMelo.
4. Miles Bridges back next season:
Miles Bridges was one of only three Hornets who met the 65 game threshold this season. Bridges did not look entirely like his former self, but he still averaged 21 points per game in a season where he did not have much help. Bridges has publicly stated that he wishes to be back with the Hornets next season, and the Hornets have shown mutual interest. It will be exciting to see how Bridges can contribute with a healthy roster next season, and act as a "vet" for this young team.
5. A top lottery pick:
Still awaiting the results of the draft lottery on Sunday, May 12, the Hornets are positioned to add another potential franchise cornerstone in the draft. The Hornets have the third best odds in the lottery, setting them up for a top pick in this year's draft. While some, including myself, have labeled this draft class as one of the weaker ones in recent history, I think there are plenty of players that could fill the holes in the current Hornets roster. My favorite fit for this current Hornets roster is Stephon Castle, a shooting guard from the national champion UConn Huskies. Castle can fit perfectly in a backcourt with LaMelo. Castle is a great downhill scorer, and, more importantly, he is a lockdown defender, which is why he would be perfect playing next to LaMelo. What LaMelo lacks in defense, Castle makes up for; and what Castle lacks in outside scoring, LaMelo makes up for. It is still early, and the team still has a lot of question marks, but a lineup of Ball, Castle, Miller, Bridges, and Williams could be a force to be reckoned with in the East.
6. Depth:
The moves the Hornets made at the trade deadline solidified a bench unit that was once one of the weakest in the league. Vasilije Micic proved that he could be an excellent floor general in the absence of LaMelo Ball. Grant Williams showed that he was a vocal leader and key contributer for the Hornets on the court. Davis Bertans and Seth Curry, whose futures with the team are both looming, displayed their lights out shooting off the bench. Tre Mann started most games post trade deadline, and proved that he could be a sparkplug next to the Hornet's stars. Nick Richards and Cody Martin, players with experience starting and coming off the bench, have shown numerous times that they can be key role players for the team. Not to mention the young Nick Smith Jr. and JT Thor, who both played very well at the end of the season, making their case as to why they should be rotational pieces for years to come.
There's still a long way to go in Charlotte, but with blooming star-power, a revamped bench, and new management, things are looking up for the Hornets.
Noah Leibovitz
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