What are the Charlotte Hornets doing?
Photo credit: Matt Kelley
After a tough loss on Saturday night to the Philadelphia 76ers 97-89, the Hornets are now 2-8 in the last 10 games. With Lemelo Ball not in the lineup, Joel Embiid absolutely torched the Hornets, putting up 33 points and 10 rebounds. The Hornets didn’t have Mark Williams, Gordon Hayward, or Ball on Saturday, so it was all up to Terry Rozier and Miles Bridges to carry the load.
The Hornets are currently 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 9-30 record. The Hornets are led by their star Lemelo Ball. This season, Ball has been dealt with injuries but in 19 games, he is averaging 25.1 points per game (PPG), 4 rebounds per game (RPG), 5.4 assists per game (APG), and 2.6 steals per game (SPG).
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It truly feels like Ball is their only bright spot. With players like Williams and Brandon Miller so young, you still don’t know what kind of players they will become. The Charlotte Hornets should look to reset and build a competent roster around Lemalo Ball truly.
The first thing they should do is fire Steve Clifford. He has been the coach for 2 seasons now and has a record of 36-85. It’s time for a new culture in Charlotte, and hiring a new coach and staff can lead the team in a different direction.
Photo Credit: https://twitter.com/TheDunkCentral/status/1348377546916769795?lang=zh-Hant
Next, the Hornets should look into trading Rozier and Hayward. This season, Rozier is averaging 23.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 6.7 APG. These are all career numbers for Rozier, and the Hornets should capitalize on that. His trade stock is at an all-time high, and the Hornets should get the right amount for him.
For the Hornets, Hayward is averaging 14.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 4.6 APG this season. Hayward doesn’t fit the timeline with the Hornets, and the team should move on from him. The Hornets would most likely get a 1st round pick for Hayward if they ship him to a contending team.
It’s time for the Charlotte Hornets to stop being a mediocre team and finally commit to the tank. The team should trade all their veteran assets to receive future draft capital or players with high potential. Trading away all your vets can potentially lead to higher draft picks and even cap space to sign a star to play with Ball.