In a few weeks, the Charlotte Hornets will open training camp, giving fans a taste of what the 2024-25 season will look like for a team hoping to join the ranks of Eastern Conference contenders.

Some people may also be excited about the new improvements at the Spectrum Center, which began renovations earlier this offseason. The $215 million project will be completed in 2026, although the first phase will be completed before the start of the 2024-25 regular season.

In the meantime, the Hornets have added some key individuals to the management and coaching staff to help shape the team’s future, and two of their biggest names recently made headlines.

The organization happily announced on social media that it will be several more weeks before the Spectrum Center can welcome the Hive back.

The official groundbreaking for the beautification project, aptly named “RE!magine Spectrum Center,” took place at the end of May.

Improvements in the first phase include renovations to the Uptown Concourse, particularly the Dr. Pepper Pavilion and The Nest fan area; upgrades to the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system, signage, lighting and flooring; and improvements to the shopping experience. Changes are also expected on the suite level, Trade Street entrance and event level.

It looks like the renovations are on schedule and will be completed by October, which bodes well for Hornets fans who can’t wait to get back to the arena.

The 2024 offseason has been quite busy for Charlotte, as new general manager Jeff Peterson finalized the front office structure in mid-May. However, the 35-year-old executive, who also serves as executive vice president of basketball operations, apparently made a few more changes recently.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that the Hornets have hired Ryan Lambert as director of amateur scouting. The move is intended to bolster the franchise’s ability to find top talent. Lambert previously worked for the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team known for its impressive scouting.

On the other hand, Charlotte has reportedly hired DJ Bakker to take over its G-League team, the Greensboro Swarm, with James Edward III of The Athletic being one of the first to break the news.

Bakker is set to replace Jordan Surenkamp and brings a wealth of coaching experience. He previously worked as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks. Before working under former Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin, the Indiana native coached the Detroit Pistons’ G-League team, the Motor City Cruise.

As for players, Hornets forward Miles Bridges surprised some people when HoopsHype ranked him high on its list of the best power forwards for the 2024-25 season — No. 12, to be exact.

The 2018 lottery pick has become a polarizing figure since his off-the-field issues came to light, with some fans not even wanting Charlotte to re-sign him this offseason given the severity of his transgressions against his ex-girlfriend.

Still, there’s no denying that Bridges is a talented player, which is why HoopsHype ranks him ahead of other power forwards, including Jerami Grant, Tobias Harris, and Draymond Green.

LaMelo Ball is arguably the Hornets’ biggest star and seems to continue to shine brighter, as evidenced by Puma’s release of the star point guard’s fourth signature sneaker.

The Puma MB.04 shoe will officially launch this fall, and the “LaFrancé” colorway looks amazing with its light blue and cool mid-grey palette, which is meant to be a testament to the 2022 All-Star’s unique style.

Some lucky children were already able to grab the shoes when Ball stopped by the Simmons YMCA to meet the young basketball players and give them a pair.