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I think it’s far too early for us or even sports writers to predict this season’s win loss records, but ESPN + has kicked off the process. Frankly I was surprised how low Charlotte was expected to finish in the East. They also don’t lump the Hornets into the possible play in group. Here is their summary, so review and share your thoughts:

Meanwhile, the Hornets, with new ownership, continue what seems to be an endless rebuild. (They've made the playoffs just three times since 2004-05.) But they accomplished a top offseason priority: extending franchise cornerstone LaMelo Ball to a five-year deal worth as much as $260 million to pair with Brandon Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in June's draft. Still, at 30-52, our panel projects a 13th-place finish in the East.

Everyone will continue to knock us until we prove them otherwise. I suppose we kind of deserve it. That being said I think the national media don't even attempt to analyse our team much other than concluding we suck because Hornets.

The way I see it (assuming PJ comes back): We are basically the 43 win team from two years ago with a legit defensive anchor in Williams and a more experienced LaMelo and Brendon Miller wildcard. Everyone will think I'm crazy but I'm predicting a 48-34 record.

36.5 wins

More injures, more Clifford ball, **** offense, PJ sulks, team sells at midseason, we play a lot of the unseasoned players, 28-54. Team hopefully cleans house after season with Borrego off contract

Max - 48
Min - 30
Likely - 36 (9th pick)

I know it's against the grain right now and I'll be a homer, but I'll start by saying - without similar injury/legal luck as last season there's no way we win under the vegas odds of 31.5 games. I actually put money on the over and I don't gamble.

Beyond that, I think we could have a winning record this season. It's the playoffs that will be a struggle (if we make it there) because there isn't enough veteran experience or depth on this roster, it's over-loaded with young guys who still have a lot to learn. We're going to depend heavily on our 22 year old superstar to carry us. The rationale behind what I think can be a winning season is what most people who believe that is. If you remove last season's games that didn't include LaMelo Ball, we were competitive especially once Mark was playing. The season before that, with a full season of LaMelo + Miles Bridges but with Hayward hurt the final two months, we won 43 games with Mason Plumlee playing center. We have more talent this season and better stability up front. The biggest limitation for this team will be veteran experience. We'll lose some games we should win and we'll be at a disadvantage in the playoffs if we make it there. This is all of course pending injuries. If we stay healthy, I see this team winning games somewhere in the 40's.

42.

Charlotte comes out smoking, suffers injuries in mid-season, then gets hot end of season to climb above 40.

I'm pretty happy with our top 7. If we could turn off injuries, I'd be comfortable saying LaMelo/Hayward/Bridges/PJ/Mark + Rozier/Miller is the ~ 12th best top 7 in the league. In a fantasy universe where nobody gets hurt or fouls out, I like this unit's chances of pushing for 50.

But that's obviously not happening. Hayward will miss 20 or more games as he always does. LaMelo will probably miss some games here and there and foul out of a few others. Bridges, who is otherwise an iron man, will miss 10 games to start the year. Mark and Miller are young and will have growing pains. We have absolutely nothing to fall back on when any of those dudes misses time. Richards and Martin exist, and that's about the best thing you can say, they aren't key rotation players on good teams. Beyond them, we're hoping for anybody to break out into a rotation caliber player, but most of them feel like long-shots at best.

If 2-3 of Thor, Kai, Bouknight (rofl), NSJ, McGowens, Richards are able to significantly improve into legitimate contributors, I'd feel a lot better about us exceeding .500 because we'd legitimately be 9 deep.

I also feel like our complete disregard of the backup PG position will cost us wins, as it has in each of the last two. If we were to trade for even a Delon Wright - caliber backup that's just good enough to push Rozier off the ball with the second unit, my prediction for this season jumps by like 5+ wins.

I have to go with the Clifford special of 36-46 if we make no other moves. It's a low bar that should be easily attained, but we can expect Clifford to cost us some Ws compared to a league average coach, and for our really bad bench to destroy us in games where we're missing 2+ rotation players, and for Mitch to snooze his ass through the trade deadline and avoid plugging our roster holes if he's still here.

Side note: I think it's beneficial to start the season super awful so that Clifford is canned quickly and our new owners look to hire a legitimate NBA head coach in the interim. See: Atlanta a couple years ago.

I like and agree with your analysis @Kemba. Some good potential no doubt but with Miles missing the first 10 games, and PJ not yet resolved, it could be a slow start (again!). Also dittos on lack of a good backup PG, and overall flimsy depth.

43 wins for me, last year will be a year to forget and miles and ball start waxing well and Miller starts to fit well

SWedd523 wrote:36.5 wins

So there’s a weird tie or game abandoned that results in a .5 win?

The projected win total is 31.5? I think there's more than an 80% chance they exceed that.

I predict 38 wins, with the normal level of bumps in the road plus Clifford being sub-optimal as our coach. Ceiling is 45 if everything breaks right.

Our wing depth is the best it has ever been. Miles, Hayward, Miller, PJ, Martin, and LaMelo offer a ton of versatility on both sides of the ball. If we had a better coach I'd be very optimistic about this team having a winning season. If we get lucky and LaMelo has a healthy season I think we can still do it.

That said our lack of playmaking behind LaMelo will become immediately obvious when he's out and you can go ahead and guarantee that Clifford won't be able to scheme around it. He'll just let Terry play hero ball and stagnant our offense because guys won't bother to move off ball. If we had a better coach and/or a stronger organization we'd force Terry off ball and let Hayward or Martin run point instead.

Crazier things have happened though, if we're smart enough to make that call I will be genuinely pumped about the future of this team.

35
Roughly my same guess as every season for the past 20 years


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30, no faith in Miller, Clifford or Haywards health, too much Rozier as well

38 wins.

44 wins and win the play in
Lose 4-2 in the first round

rare shot of confidence for me, i put modest bets on the team getting over 35 wins and 40 wins.

i like to think the team is being underestimated at this time.

48 wins if we are mostly healthy. 41 would be my low end.

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A bit worried about those first 10 games with no Miles. Resigning PJ helps, hopefully we get healthy Miller and Hayward in that stretch and we make it out near .500. The schedule has some beatable teams early.

I will say we win 39 games and finish as the 8th seed, have to win our way into the PIT.

I do think less teams will be tanking with this being a worse draft, teams like Houston, Washington, Det, Spurs, Us will all be trying to win this year meaning I think all teams win 25+ games. That means likely less wins needed to be in the playoff conversation.