Evan Hale, a fan of the Charlotte Hornets, dialed into “Live with Stephen A. Smith” and asked which team could make the biggest jump in wins next NBA season. During the call, Evan revealed that he is a huge Hornets fan, which prompted Stephen A. Smith to talk about the Hornets franchise.

“You have no chance to be relevant this coming season. I hope the future looks bright. You have a new coach, you still have LaMelo Ball. I hope the future looks bright for you, but I don’t think you have a chance to make a jump this year.”

– Stephen A. Smith

As positive as the Hornets’ offseason has been, that’s no surprise. Charlotte’s front office has taken a patient approach that prioritizes gathering future draft assets and drafting a long-term project in Tidjane Salaun. The Hornets are expected to improve their winning percentage this year, but in a strong Eastern Conference, even reaching the play-in tournament could be difficult. That’s partially intentional, as the Hornets don’t want to lose their lottery-protected 2025 first-round pick to San Antonio, even though the 2025 draft class looks to be producing very talented players.

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Charlotte Hornets are a secretly good addition to the front office