Following a disappointing season which resulted in a 36-46 record last season, five games short of a playoff spot, the Charlotte Hornets made a couple of noteworthy off-season moves in their attempt to return to the NBA playoffs.
The Hornets return the majority of the team from last year after only losing three free agents in Ramon Sessions, Christian Wood and Brian Roberts, none of whom were significant contributors.
The top four leading scorers all return, led by point guard Kemba Walker, who averaged 23.2 points per game and 5.5 assists per game. Forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist led the team in rebounding with 7 per game, and contributed 9.2 points per game.
On June 20, the Hornets made a huge trade, acquiring eight-time all-star and three-time defensive player of the year, Dwight Howard, from the Atlanta Hawks. The Hornets gave up Miles Plumlee, Marco Belinelli and a second-round pick in the June draft. Howard is not the player he used to be, but he still averaged a double-double with 13.5 points per game and 12.7 rebounds per game last year with the Hawks. Even if he isn’t the dominating presence he used to be, if Howard can produce similar numbers to what he did last year, he will be just the presence in the paint that the Hornets need.
Two days after the trade for Howard, the Hornets selected Malik Monk, a shooting guard from the University of Kentucky, with the 11th overall pick in the NBA draft. Monk is known as a scorer, specifically an excellent three-point shooter, from his days at Kentucky. The Hornets hope that Monk will develop into a go-to scorer and one of the best shooters in the NBA.
In the second round, the Hornets traded their pick, former Duke star Frank Jackson, to the New Orleans Pelicans for Dwayne Bacon, a Florida State product.
To finish off the off-season, the Hornets added a trio of local products — former NC State shooting guard Terry Henderson and two UNC-Chapel Hill products, Isaiah Hicks and Marcus Paige — on undrafted free agent contracts to compete for a roster spot in training camp. Charlotte also signed Mangok Mathiang, a center from Louisville, as a free agent. None of these players are likely to make the roster out of training camp, but the experience will be valuable as they move forward in their professional careers; whether it be in the G League (formerly the D League), overseas or on an NBA roster.
Head coach Steve Clifford enters his fifth year at the helm of the Hornets, looking for his third trip to the playoffs. Clifford stated that he expects his starting lineup to be Walker, Nic Batum, Kidd-Gilchrist, Marvin Williams and Howard. However, a wrench was thrown into the plans when Batum tore an elbow ligament, putting him out for six to eight weeks. When he returns from injury, expect him to regain his spot in the starting lineup. Cody Zeller and Monk will be expected to lead the bench, and pick up their production while Batum is out.
The Hornets open the season in Detroit to face the Pistons on Oct. 18. The home opener will be two days later against the Atlanta Hawks.
Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Hornets drives against Marcin Gortat of the Washington Wizards during a preseason game at the Verizon Center on Oct. 17, 2014 in Washington, D.C.
