Offseason 2025 Thread

[Diop]

Read on Twitter

no idea who this person is... but, its what we all expect.

i mean, no ****. we all could have tweeted that 2 weeks ago

[Heelsfan119]

This was a good listen.

100% agree with BD we have no direction. Every year it's the same question who's gonna help LaMelo and can he stay healthy to even make a run at a play in spot. We lack talent as a franchise. When you go out and select Kon with the #4 pick when he was nowhere near the BPA this is what sets you back even more. A young team who already lacks talent and you screwing up draft picks because you trying to push high character.

High character when your 2 best players Melo/Bridges aren't exactly great character pieces. It makes Jeff look like he's clueless. Then he's trading young pieces like PJ and Mark for picks. These picks aren't turning into productive players. Salaun/Kon like cmon man what are we doing here?

*Also good to see PG compliment Charlotte as a living destination. He actually said he could see himself living in Charlotte, but he wouldn't sign here because the franchise has been so bad forever. He said Charlotte is a place players go to kill their career OUCH!

It's never been about the city of Charlotte. Players like the city, hell Allen Iverson lives here after he retired from basketball. It's the fact we are never good and we a super irrelevant to elite level players.

I disagree about having no direction. For once, I feel like this team is attempting to build an identity. They want young, tough players that are serious about the game of basketball who are interested in a team approach. All the moves have been made in that vein. Everything this year has been done to complement Melo and Miller (our 2 best players - skill and future).

Historically yes, this team has lacked direction. However, people are combining the Jordan years with our current ownership. This current group has made savvy moves and acquired assets. They’re not going for the quick fix. Right, wrong, or indifferent that’s the direction.

Do you think Lamelo is serious about the game of basketball?

Is Bridges someone that has high character?

Trading for picks mean nothing if you aren't using them to make the team better.

Our draft is looking shaky with Salaun/Kon picks.

You have a lot of confidence. I still have a lot of questions...

First, Lamelo was inherited by this group, but he’s uber talented. Plus, he is a baller, he loves the game. Now, is he serious about what it takes to have longevity (conditioning, strength, etc.)? That’s the question. With that said, he is young enough and talented enough to see what’s there. Bridges is clearly not high character but, again, someone they inherited. With that said, he’s been the model teammate since coming back.

The overall point is look at the guys who this group has drafted. They are workers. Salaun has improved greatly and has had a good SL. Kon will be solid. I wouldn’t say I have blind confidence, but I’m willing to give these guys a couple of years to see if their strategy works.

[Diop]

Liam's summer league has made me feel a lot better about the Mark trade. Diabate work his ass off to hold down the fort till hopefully they can upgrade the centre position.

[amcoolio]

I think we have to make a move for Vucevic at this point with Kalk clearly not being ready. It's either that, or they did some voodoo magic Diabate is suddenly an excellent 3 PT shooter in one offseason.

And they probably should have drafted Maxime instead of Sion too, they got really cute

[JDR720]

It is very Hornets energy to go for the blatant tank and draft pick accumulation thing basically as soon as flat odds and 5 picks for role players era hits. Always last ones to the party. Maybe if they get 2 or 3 more picks we can put a competitive offer in for Tyler Herro or something

Have we actually done that? If we wanted to tank, we would've traded Miles and Melo by now too.

I think the plan last season was to be competitive, but keep our draft pick. Then everyone got injured so we tanked by default.

This offseason we've clearly tried to address the injury concerns by building team depth, especially at the guard/wing positions. That isn't a thing "blatantly tanking" teams do. We traded Mark because we didn't believe in his health too.

The center position isn't ideal, but it wasn't ideal last season either. Mark was a turnstile on defense and has significant injury concerns. If we had rookie Mark, then we would be set. But we didn't, so we cut bait before we had to figure out how to extend him or he gets hurt more and tanks his value more.

More so, you guys that keep harping on the center position haven't' really offered any solutions or trade candidates. The team would be dumb to trade assets for someone like Vuc. Like I said, if they aren't top 10-15, they aren't worth getting. Nobody is available who is in that range. They could've signed someone, but the Capella-types aren't all that good either and Myles Turner wasn't coming here.

It's especially interesting because, statistically, Diabate was actually our best C last year. We'll be playing a lot of small ball with him and Grant as C.

[JDR720]

Based on roster construction, the team wants a C who above all else is low usage on offense. There isn't enough shots to go around with an offensive minded C + Melo + Miles + Brandon + Sexton + Mann etc.

Which makes sense as to why they signed Plumlee, since his best (and really only) offensive skill is his passing. Kalk is a pick&pop and lob guy, Diabate gets offensive rebounds etc.

[Diop]

I think we have to make a move for Vucevic at this point with Kalk clearly not being ready. It's either that, or they did some voodoo magic Diabate is suddenly an excellent 3 PT shooter in one offseason.

And they probably should have drafted Maxime instead of Sion too, they got really cute

you can have 1 non shooter on the floor, especially one as active on the O boards as Diabate

[LofJ]

I really want Peterson to address the center position, but that in no way means doing something crazy like trading for Embiid. I'd rather we have another wasted season than do something like that. If players miss more games than they play Peterson should avoid them like the plague. The best ability is availability, especially for this team.

[Bassman]

I really want Peterson to address the center position, but that in no way means doing something crazy like trading for Embiid. I'd rather we have another wasted season than do something like that. If players miss more games than they play Peterson should avoid them like the plague. The best ability is availability, especially for this team.

You may get your wish for another wasted season. Rob Boone in today’s Observer interview with Lee, asks about his comfort level with the front line. Lee’s response:

I see a lot of versatility. When we talk about Miles (Bridges) and you can throw Tidjane (Salaun) in that category, Moussa (Diabate). But yeah, just versatility. I think the way that Ryan will play as big and Moussa will play as a big are two different things, but I think both guys, they’re really good defensively.

Ryan, obviously, coming from Creighton and being the four-time defensive player of the year in the Big East and Moussa showed last year his ability to guard the 1-5 is going to be really helpful for us defensively. Then I think offensively, wanting to play faster, Moussa allows us to do that. Because after a rebound, or a blocked shot or a steal, he is just out. He can outrun a lot of a lot of bigs. And Ryan, his ability to be really mobile on the perimeter. I think he rolls really well and can catch some lobs from some of our guys. But he’s also going to be able to play on the perimeter and make some passes. So, we are going to have the ability to toggle between a lot of different looks.

Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/charlotte-hornets/article310476730.html#storylink=cpy

He couldn’t comment on the Plumber because at that time he wasn’t officially signed. Seems he’s perfectly comfy with our pathetic bigs.

[MasterIchiro]

Okogie waived.

[JustBuzzin]

Okogie waived.

Does this mean a move is coming?

[MasterIchiro]

Okogie waived.

Does this mean a move is coming?

Yes, waiving Jeffries, then buying out NSJ and Connaughton.

[MasterIchiro]

15
Melo
Sextown
Miller
Miles
Moussa

Mann
Kon
Green
Grant
Plumber

Dinwiddie
Sion
Liam
Tidjane
Kalk Blocker

[yosemiteben]

Okogie waived.

Does this mean a move is coming?

I'm pretty sure that MI was just guessing that will happen, haven't seen it announced anywhere.

[JustBuzzin]

Man our frontcourt is still depressing.

Literally no offensive threat other than Miles who's a undersized pf.

I wanted John Collins, but he's no longer a option.

[MasterIchiro]

Okogie waived.

Does this mean a move is coming?

I'm pretty sure that MI was just guessing that will happen, haven't seen it announced anywhere.

Sidery.

[yosemiteben]

Does this mean a move is coming?

I'm pretty sure that MI was just guessing that will happen, haven't seen it announced anywhere.

Sidery.

That dude doesn't know anything

[Bassman]

Man our frontcourt is still depressing.

Literally no offensive threat other than Miles who's a undersized pf.

I wanted John Collins, but he's no longer a option.

Well, it’s not like Moose or the Plumber or Kalk are **** down defensive players either. Super rebounders…shot blockers? Nope. We are screwed unless a deal is done…but Coach Sunshine is perfectly happy with his pretend world frontline.

[Braggins]

It looks like they waived Okogie. I have a feeling everyone is going to be very disappointed to find out eventually that Josh Green will continue to start on this team. I know Okogies shooting isn't very good, but hes literally the only player on the roster capable of making a defensive impact on the perimeter. I would have kept him and moved off other players if it was up to me.

[Braggins]

How is this roster not going to have a bottom 5 defense?

PG: LaMelo ~ Mann ~ Dinwiddie
SG: Green ~ Sexton ~ NSJr
SF: Miller ~ Kon ~ McNeeley
PF: Miles ~ Grant (IR) ~ Salaun
C: Diabate ~ Plumlee ~ Kalkbrenner