The Charlotte Hornets haven’t made the playoffs since 2016, but the franchise believes they have two building blocks in Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball. It’s all about putting the right players around them. Charlotte acquired Josh Green on the cheap and is trying to be opportunistic in its search for talent.

There have still been questionable moves, but the Hornets have a direction. Giving Miles Bridges a three-year, $75 million deal was puzzling. Charlotte’s new owners aren’t afraid to spend, but they should free up playing time for their nearest rival’s core players.

The Hornets have a key contract extension decision to make with Tre Mann before the regular season begins. The 2021 first-round pick will become a restricted free agent next summer if no agreement is reached, but Charlotte must decide now if he is a long-term player. If not, it’s time to move on.

The salary cap is expected to increase by the maximum ten percent next season, but Charlotte will only be $13.7 million under that if they keep all of their current players. Mann will want at least that much in his new contract. Extending him means reducing their salary cap and securing their core.

The Hornets will be active before the February 6 trade deadline, but they won’t have much cap space unless they find a taker for Bridges or Grant Williams. Charlotte won 21 games last season and was far from the contention. They can’t believe in this build and need flexibility.

Mann averaged 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.7 steals in 31.0 minutes per game in 28 games for the Hornets last season. The Thunder traded him for Gordon Hayward, but the 23-year-old former first-round pick has untapped potential.

The franchise should sign him now if they want to keep him. Don’t give Mann another chance to break through and demand more money. If they want to move forward, the Hornets should trade Mann to the highest bidder. They are in wealth-building mode and should look to maximize every move.

The Hornets have a major decision to make that will surely impact their build. The last thing they want is another overpriced supporting player weighing down their payroll. Charlotte needs to sign him to a team-friendly deal and maintain his value or move on.

The Charlotte Hornets may have overstepped the mark with one of the worst rosters in the NBA. It’s not an ideal situation, and their young players are certainly under pressure to thrive. The playoff drought has lasted long enough, but the decision on Tre Mann will impact how long the Hornets remain in the lottery. It’s time for the franchise to make the right decision, and fans should pay close attention as opening night approaches.