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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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Apr 25, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Enter the Swarm shirts lay on the seats prior to the game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Miami Heat in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Enter the Swarm shirts lay on the seats prior to the game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Miami Heat in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

How Far Can They Go?

A number of teams in the Eastern Conference have improved this summer. On top of that, there are a few teams that have many question marks, but if everything were to work in their favor, they could also see themselves earning a playoff spot (New York, Chicago).

Although they did lose key pieces off the bench, the Hornets return their core stars that are able to carry the workload and make a deeper playoff run than last season’s first-round exit.

If the scenarios that were laid out here occur, the Hornets could find themselves battling among Boston, Indiana, and Toronto for third and fourth place. Either way, it would be better result than last season’s sixth-place finish.

With this being the case, advancing to the second-round of the playoffs shouldn’t be an issue. After that, though there are concerns that the depth problem will come into play against one of the top teams like Cleveland or Boston.

This team has to do all they can to avoid injuries to one of their starters. While they have respectable depth coming off the bench, it’s no where near what they had last season.

Walker should be averaging somewhere around the mid-20s scoring-wise in order to keep them in the top half of the conference throughout the season, which is a lot to ask of any player, but he has the ability to do so.

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The Hornets will be back in the postseason next April. The biggest question is how high in the standings they will finish.

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