I understand why no one is talking much about the Charlotte Hornets’ potential in the 2024-25 season, but why not for years to come? There are several reasons why the Hornets could become a real threat in the Eastern Conference in the near future, but I’ve gone into more detail on the three main ones.

We could sit here all day and talk about health, but we’re not going to. Yes, it’s a big factor in whether this team will ever take the next step, but the health concern is implicit when you talk about this group. LaMelo Ball is a unique talent and one that every NBA team would love to have. A 6’7 guard who can handle anything, shoots, and is completely unselfish. Combine that with a top scorer in Brandon Miller, who seems to be a very special player in his own right, and suddenly something is afoot. Miles Bridges is often forgotten in all of this, but he’s also relatively young. He’ll average about 20 points and seven rebounds a night, which is a really solid performance for a below-average power forward. And the last player, Mark Williams, has already shown some signs of being a future two-way star in the league. We won’t even get into Tidjane Salaün because he is so early in his career and there are still a lot of unknowns there, but if he scores, caution is advised.

I liked Steve Clifford a lot. He’s a really good guy, knows basketball, and was highly respected around the league. Still, it was clear to everyone that his return to Charlotte was just a band-aid or a bridge to a long-term solution as head coach. This time, the Hornets chose Charles Lee, a young, defensive-minded coach who already has two championship rings under his belt. From the day he was introduced as the new head coach, it was clear that he had the players’ trust and respect. In fact, that was the case even before the first press conference. Several members of the team went to the last game of the NBA Finals to cheer on and finally congratulate their future boss. I’m not usually one to give glowing reviews to new head coaches, but this hire was a hit.

That’s not to say Michael Jordan didn’t want to win, but Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin are determined to make this a premier NBA franchise. That’s been their constant goal since the day they first spoke to the media in Charlotte, and they’ve wasted very little time putting their words into action. The Spectrum Center is undergoing a major renovation over the course of two years, and a state-of-the-art practice facility is next on their to-do list. They’re passionate about turning this organization around, and they’re willing to do whatever it takes without stepping on the toes of Jeff Peterson, Charles Lee, and other key members of the Hornets’ front office.

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