NBA Playoffs: Ranking the teams most likely to return to the playoffs in 2024
By Rowan Kent
Potential 2024 Playoff Team #9: Charlotte Hornets
Usually when a team has an under-23-year-old all-star player, their fortunes have turned and they’re in the playoff picture. For the Hornets, somewhat due to LaMelo Ball’s injuries but mostly due to the other issues on the roster, the opposite is true, as they seem far away from any sort of playoff contention.
The Hornets aren’t a terrible defensive team, especially after a mid-season turnaround that can be attributed to roster reshuffling and strong schemes from Steve Clifford. Their offense, on the other hand, is the worst in the NBA statistically and is chock full of broken possessions, drives that go nowhere, and inefficient offense.
It hurt Charlotte that LaMelo has only played 36 games this year, spraining his ankle a few times before ultimately breaking the other. When he’s on the floor, Ball is one of the most electric ball-handlers in the NBA and he single-handedly could turn around the Hornets offense with just a few better pieces around him:
https://twitter.com/Meloleague/status/1639046980163993600
It will likely take more than Wemby to turn the Hornets into a playoff contender, especially since they’re more in line to land a prospect like Brandon Miller or Amen Thompson than the top player in the draft. With a second first-round pick at their disposal, this could be the year that Charlotte grabs the players of the future who can fill roles around their star and set them up for more success.