Hornets Offseason Preview for RealGM

[Smitty731]

Hey all!

The Hornets offseason preview is up:

http://basketball.realgm.com/analysis/246013/2017-NBA-Offseason-Preview-Charlotte-Hornets

Would love your thoughts and input.

Thanks in advance!

Smitty

[fatlever]

Excellent work Smitty. I don't really have any criticism of your analysis. Everything you said is true, very well researched and thought out.

Agreed, biggest need is point guard, followed maybe by another 3/D wing and a 3/4 hybrid or a combo guard - basically upgrades along the bench. Zeller's health was a huge factor last year and it seems like we'll be very dependent on him staying healthy again. Also agreed that internal improvement will make or break this team. Miss the playoffs again and I expect some major changes, like you mentioned.

[HornetJail]

Belinelli added offense off the bench and was solid all year for the Hornets. He should continue in that role for at least one more year with Charlotte before becoming a free agent.

no no no no no. There were significant stretches where he was the worst player on the court... while Ramon Sessions and Hibbert/Hawes were also on the court. He was nothing short of terrible this year.

Other than that, well written article that is more or less accurate.

I see Kemba/MKG/Batum/Zeller/#11 as the core, Marvin, Lamb, Frank as the more valued bench pieces and everyone else is a prospect or trade filler. I like JOB, Weber and Graham but they aren't quality 20mpg players just yet. Backup PG and extra shooting have to be the main focuses for this team. One can be fixed in the draft and the other with the MLE. but hopefully a quality trade is in the works and not another Marco or Plumlee like trade.

I would not mind an emphasis on small ball at this point- acquiring a starting 2 that can shoot and bring Marvin off the bench. If we're going to make a big trade, we absolutely need an offensive minded guy that can knock Batum back to third scoring option.

[Smitty731]

Belinelli added offense off the bench and was solid all year for the Hornets. He should continue in that role for at least one more year with Charlotte before becoming a free agent.

no no no no no. There were significant stretches where he was the worst player on the court... while Ramon Sessions and Hibbert/Hawes were also on the court. He was nothing short of terrible this year.

Other than that, well written article that is more or less accurate.

I see Kemba/MKG/Batum/Zeller/#11 as the core, Marvin, Lamb, Frank as the more valued bench pieces and everyone else is a prospect or trade filler. I like JOB, Weber and Graham but they aren't quality 20mpg players just yet. Backup PG and extra shooting have to be the main focuses for this team. One can be fixed in the draft and the other with the MLE. but hopefully a quality trade is in the works and not another Marco or Plumlee like trade.

I would not mind an emphasis on small ball at this point- acquiring a starting 2 that can shoot and bring Marvin off the bench. If we're going to make a big trade, we absolutely need an offensive minded guy that can knock Batum back to third scoring option.

I think I know who the new guy you hate on the Hornets is.

As for his play, he bumped all his numbers across the board back to his SA days. He's not a big time player by any means, but you can do a lot worse for a bench shooter. He's pretty solid and he's relatively cheap.

[Snidely FC]

Belinelli was a nice addition to start the season, shooting 42% from 3 and throwing some nifty passes, until a leg injury in late December. He was never the same after the injury, and shot so poorly that he finished the season at 36% from 3 . . . But if you're not a Hornet fan you missed the real stick in the craw as relates to Belinelli. CHA traded their first rd pick #22 for him. Lots of people on this board wanted that pick to be Malcolm Brogdon. Brogdon ended his rookie season shooting 40% from 3 and in hindsight would have been exactly what this team lacked, a combo guard with size who could play alongside Kemba or back him up, bring good size and D, and hit the 3. Once Belinelli's shot deserted him it was painful to watch him scissor kick his way to basketball infamy. Whole decision to trade a first rounder . . . yeah, not well received in these parts.

One thing no one seems to mention in terms of offseason needs is physicality. Clifford harped on it as the season went on. Roster is well stocked with high IQ finesse players. Everybody heard Cliff and assumed he meant physicality on D. I mean, what team couldn't use a monster rim protector, or lock down defender to shut down the opponent's star in crunch time? But this team also lacks physicality on the offensive end, and it showed in tight games. Kemba is a finesse guy. CHA had no one who could impose their will on either side of the ball in the last few minutes of the game, and it showed with 19 losses after holding fourth quarter leads, and 0-6 in overtime games. This team doesn't just need a second offensive threat to aid Kemba, it needs someone who can create points out of nothing in those crucial dying moments of tight games. That kind of addition doesn't come via the draft, picking a 19 year old at #11, so would have to be found through trade. But who do you bring in, and who do you trade? That's another part of the CHA story: this team lacks trade chips, and seems to be just crossing its fingers for improvement from within.

[Smitty731]

http://www.espncharlotte.net/keith-smith/

If anyone wants to hear me talk Hornets and about the article, I joined ESPN Charlotte this afternoon!