Post-Mortem: 2021-22 Charlotte Hornets

[chilluminati]

I feel like this team could benefit from a strict coach or enforcer whose gonna come in and instill a sense of accountability for defense. Because half of the time they look very disinterested in playing real defense. I could make that same parallel with the Wolves of the past, but they added one dude who completely changed how they think and operate on that end of court. Everyone else bought in, and it elevated their defense.

[MrGoat]

They need a real presence at the 5 or the right vet player. If anything I thought they'd be worse, going into the season they didn't look to even be a play in team. With the right moves this is a rising team

[Raps in 4]

Hire Lebron as GM. He can show Jordan how to manage a team.

[canada_dry]

Next step: actually be competitive in the play in next year.

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[righterwriter]

I feel like this team could benefit from a strict coach or enforcer whose gonna come in and instill a sense of accountability for defense. Because half of the time they look very disinterested in playing real defense. I could make that same parallel with the Wolves of the past, but they added one dude who completely changed how they think and operate on that end of court. Everyone else bought in, and it elevated their defense.

They do need better defense and a tougher mindset. Unfortunately in this situation, the coach will have to bend around the star players and can only get so much out of them based on their willingness to work hard and change.

Lamelo is clearly the player the team is building around. It's why they went uptempo this season, because he is an uptempo player that doesn't do well in a set offense and has no idea how to play team defense.

If he is willing to be humbled by this embarrassing play-in loss and come into next season with a mindset to grind and play within a structured offense, then they have a chance. Talent isn't the issue in Charlotte, at least to be more than a team that gets massacred in the play-in/1st round of the playoffs.

If he decides he only wants to play highlight-ball and get big stats from an artificially pumped up offense, then I think we'll see this scene play out over and over.

[timO]

They need the Russ, but maybe other teams offer more to Lakers than the bad contracts of Rozier and Hayward, in fact the Brogdon-Hield pack from pacers is better.

[righterwriter]

They need the Russ, but maybe other teams offer more to Lakers than the bad contracts of Rozier and Hayward, in fact the Brogdon-Hield pack from pacers is better.

Yeah, Brogdon-Hield> Hayward-Rozier

Unfortunately for the Lakers, there's zero chance LA gets these guys for Westbrook.

[timO]

They need the Russ, but maybe other teams offer more to Lakers than the bad contracts of Rozier and Hayward, in fact the Brogdon-Hield pack from pacers is better.

Yeah, Brogdon-Hield> Hayward-Rozier

Unfortunately for the Lakers, there's zero chance LA gets these guys for Westbrook.

LA have to pay a pick to indy, Hornets have to pay a pick to LA.

[Marvel]

The Bobcats are an embarrassment to basketball. They need to change their name to Charlotte Embarrassments

[Madhouse]

don't give Bridges 170/5 or you become a treadmill team.

Fire the coach.

Get a defensive anchor at the 5.

[kenwood3333]

Resign Bridges, everyone else is optional
Sign a vet or two for locker room leadership (that was part of Hayward's role but he just fails to provide any)
Keep the rest of the team and see it grow

[King4Day]

I would keep the coaching staff around for at least next season.
Try to get Turner, or maybe somehow, they can pull Gobert if Utah decides to go in another direction.
Melo is the only player I'd make untouchable at this point. For the right parts, nobody else should be off limits.

[CP War Hawks]

No need to over think this Bobbees. Take Mark Williams with that pick.

[giberish]

They need a credible starting C - or even better, an actual good starting center. They also need to add a good defensive wing (SG or SF) who doesn't hurt the offense. Ideally adding both guys without hurting team depth.

Unfortunately, with Hayward effectively making ~$39M to play half a year they'll struggle to get one of those, much less both.

Having Ball upgrade his defensive effort and performance would also help. Generally, the more a team leader cares about defense the more the rest of the team cares about defense.

[Jadoogar]

They need to get off of Hayward but that's going to be hard to do.
I would try to get a good center first and foremost. Myles turner would be the dream but someone like Nurkic is probably more attainable.

Getting rid of Hayward would be my next goal but i know that's going to be very difficult. I wouldn't want Westbrook but atleast he plays. Maybe try to do a Porzingis type of move (1 terrible contract for 2 smaller bad deals)

I would also look for a more defensive minded coach. Look at what Kidd has done with the Mavs this year. Maybe give Vogel a shot.

[jeeph]

They're on the knifes' edge right now. Ball and Bridges are a good #1 & #2. But not much else to get excited about with the rest of the roster besides offense. The weaknesses in both defense and rebounding are too much to realistically overcome. IMO, they need a partial roster flip to defensive and dirty work players.

If they keep on trying to have a complete roster and make the playoffs as the main emphasis, they will become a treadmill team.

If they commit to building around the Ball/Bridges timeline and put the main emphasis on getting better in the future, then they will continue to rise after a possible small step-back.

[amcoolio]

They're on the knifes' edge right now. Ball and Bridges are a good #1 & #2. But not much else to get excited about with the rest of the roster besides offense. The weaknesses in both defense and rebounding are too much to realistically overcome. IMO, they need a partial roster flip to defensive and dirty work players.

If they keep on trying to have a complete roster and make the playoffs as the main emphasis, they will become a treadmill team.

If they commit to building around the Ball/Bridges timeline and put the main emphasis on getting better in the future, then they will continue to rise after a possible small step-back.

After sleeping on it, the Hornets are one of the youngest teams in the league and are probably just ahead of schedule. went from 23, 33, to 43 wins despite playing a bunch of minutes to guys under 25. You got teams like the Magic and Pistons who have struggled for years and still are the worst teams in the league with similarly young guys

LaMelo is 20 years old. No need to rush this, just keep adding talent and develop players. Still want Borrego gone though.

[HabsAndDubs]

Would love them to give Kelly Oubre’s minutes to Westbrook. Love KO, but he scored a goose egg last night, and based on watching him with golden state next year, that isn’t a guy who’s gonna take your team to the next level.

Another guy I’d like to see them target is Rudy Gobert. It’s clear once of Utah’s two guys are gone this summer, and I think Gobert helps their defensive issues, and I’d love to see a Gobert/Lamelo duo play.

[Karate Diop]

No Hayward was a huge loss, but quite frankly I don't know you can rely on him to be healthy... The Hornets need some more maturity. Whether that's from guys growing up or some productive veterans doesn't really matter, but they should be careful not to try and shortcut the process.

[Lockdown504090]

There was no need to pay Hayward 40 mill a year.

Didn't Kup do the same thing with Deng and Mozgov.

besides that Hornets have LaMelo and a bright future.

while u are right, it did show the rest of the org that they are serious about trying to win basketball games immediately. which is important for a team trying to shed the label of being a joke.