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Charlotte Hornets: Best Case Scenarios For 2016-17

By Colby Giacubeno

Dec 26, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford talks with guard Nicolas Batum (5) and guard Kemba Walker (15) during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets defeated the Grizzlies 98-92. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford talks with guard Nicolas Batum (5) and guard Kemba Walker (15) during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets defeated the Grizzlies 98-92. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Charlotte Hornets suffered a few key losses to their bench rotation this summer. Can they still manage to improve on last season’s success?

May 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford (left) listens to Hornets guard Kemba Walker (right) during the second half in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 106-73. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford (left) listens to Hornets guard Kemba Walker (right) during the second half in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 106-73. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

The Charlotte Hornets are coming off their most wins since 1999-00. Their final record of 48-34 had them finish in a three-team tie for first with Atlanta and Miami in the Southeast Division and was good enough for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

In his third season as head coach in Charlotte, Steve Clifford was finally able to input a winning culture with the help of a deep and talented roster.

There were many bright spots for the Hornets in 2015-16, but none were brighter than the breakout season from Kemba Walker.

He stepped up as the bonafide leader of this Hornets team and was the go-to guy who came up big in clutch moments to help contribute to the 48-win season and eventual postseason berth.

Related Story: 25 Best Players to Play for the Charlotte Hornets

Other players such as Nicolas Batum and Marvin Williams both had productive seasons as well. But the most important part of this team was depth coming off the bench.

Jeremy Lin, Courtney Lee, and Al Jefferson were crucial in providing scoring and energy when the starters were out, which made them the dangerous team that they were.

Fast forward to today and all three of those reserves are gone. Lin is in Brooklyn, Lee is in New York, and Jefferson is in Indiana. Replacing those three player’s production will be a massive portion of improving in 2016-17.

The starters such as Walker, Batum and Williams are all expected to put up even better numbers than last season. Another assumed starter will make his return and have a significant impact on this Hornets team as well, but we’ll get to that later.

Will they be able to eclipse the 50-win mark for the first time since the 1997-98 season? It’s possible if these best case scenarios played out.

Next: Kemba's Progression

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