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The Charlotte Hornets have a lot to be optimistic about moving forward. LaMelo Ball is coming back for what should be a second stellar year in the league, they drafted nice young players who fit the scheme, and they added savvy veterans. Terry Rozier also committed to the Hornets for the long haul, so it was a productive offseason. There are just a few things that didn't get resolved for them, though, which could hinder their progress as the season wanes on. Let's dive into three of the Hornets' main concerns for the 2021-22 season.
Hornets 2021-22 concerns
Big Man Dilemma
Losing Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo hurt their depth, but they did gain Mason Plumlee. Plumlee has been a bit of a journeyman, but he has playoff experience and is a few notches better than both of the Hornets' former big men.
Unfortunately, the Hornets couldn't get their hands on Lauri Markkanen. He would have given the Hornets efficient shooting from either frontcourt position. The Hornets have also been devoid of a real post scorer since Al Jefferson. They could have used a stretch 4 or a more interior presence, such as Hassan Whiteside.
Don't get it twisted: Plumlee is an improvement, but now the Hornets do lack a little bit of depth and experience at center. It isn't the end of the world and P.J. Washington can play some center, but it is a little concerning for a team that could make some noise this season. Hopefully, Plumlee can ball out this season.
No Major Splash
The Hornets did a fantastic job filling out their roster with serviceable veterans and young guys. However, they didn't land a big fish in 2021 free agency like Lonzo Ball or DeMar DeRozan, though that isn't all that surprising given the market.
Signing a big name would have solidified Charlotte's chances of making the playoffs. They failed to do so, and it's clear that Plan B was to commit to Terry Rozier. This wasn't a bad fallback plan at all, but getting a bigger name could have elevated the expectations for this team in a good way.
Of course, LaMelo Ball and Rozier will pick up where they left off last season before injuries slowed the team down. The two of them showed they can play with one another and lead an offense to key wins. Ball is coming off a great rookie season, while Rozier had the best season of his career.
But, damn, having the Ball brothers in the backcourt would have been fun to watch and been even better for marketing purposes. Sorry, but a man can dream. Right, LaVar?
Will It Mesh Well?
Normally we see teams do a fairly good job blending older and young players together. However, a few questions are looming over Charlotte.
The Hornets have an influx of guards, so finding an ample amount of playing time for them to be effective will be tough for the coaching staff. They will also probably have the same issues at the wing positions after adding Kelly Oubre Jr. to the mix. While there will be a lot of different lineups they can utilize, it might not sit well with some of the players. There will be some growing pains, but the hope is they can figure it out sooner rather than later.
The starters will likely feature the same core from last year, so the additions will have to find out where they fit in. Fortunately, that is a good problem to have for the coaching staff. The players will just have to worry about earning minutes the old-fashioned way.
Honestly, all these concerns are pretty minor. No, the Hornets don't feature any guys who made the All-Star Game a year ago, but they have a solid group. The Hornets are building this thing the right way. It is only natural to feel concerned when no one is hyping you up during the offseason, but there's reason to expect them to make a lot of noise in 2021-22.
