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In

^{Collin Sexton (SG)
Pat Connaughton (SF)
Antonio Reeves (SG)
Mason Plumlee (C)}

Rookies

• Kon Knueppel (SF) – Pick #4
• Liam McNeeley (SF) – Pick #29
• Sion James (SG) – Pick #33
• Ryan Kalkbrenner (C) – Pick #34

Out

^{Mark Williams (C)
Josh Okogie (SG)
Jusuf Nurkic (C)
Seth Curry (SG)
Nick Smith Jr. (SG)
Taj Gibson (PF)
DaQuan Jeffries (SG)}

Depth Chart

PG – LaMelo Ball
SG – Collin Sexton
SF – Brandon Miller
F – Miles Bridges
C – Moussa Diabaté
6th Man – Kon Knueppel / Tre Mann
Rotation players – Dinwiddie / Pat Connaughton / McNeeley / Josh Green / Salaun / Plumlee

^{Charlotte Hornets Profile}

Team Ceiling

Play-in – If the five starters are healthy, they are becoming a team expected to reach certain objectives. LaMelo is coming into his 6th year in the league, and Brandon Miller is starting to become a more consistent player, but they both need to stay healthy. They played 47 and 27 games respectively last year. Miles Bridges can consistently score 20 points a night, and Collin Sexton might give them that character punch they lack.

Team Floor

Nothing – As in the last years, their floor is to be the worst or second worst team in the East. If they again fail to stay healthy throughout the year, and start playing aimlessly, they won’t get out of that hole and they will continue to be an irrelevant team.

X-Factor

Brandon Miller – We all know LaMelo is great and that Miles Bridges won’t be much better than he has become until now. But we need to see an evolution from Brandon Miller if this team wants to do anything besides being pathetic. Next year he has a team option and the following year he will become a restricted free agent, so he doesn’t have any pressure yet. He was 3rd in the Rookie of the Year award two seasons ago and last season he had a great run until he got injured. The opportunity is there for him to take it.

Bust

Spencer Dinwiddie – He comes to this team with the veteran badge – 11 years now in the league – but something tells me he won’t fill that role. Collin Sexton will provide quite more in those terms to the team than Dinwiddie. That being said, I don’t think Dinwiddie will be a bust in terms of a bad addition, but he will underperform. If Tre Mann is unable to play, he might be a great addition to fill that backup point guard role.

Dark Horse

Tidjane Salaún – Even though I think Knueppel and McNeeley can be great players, we need to see them first. But Salaún already averaged 20 minutes per game last year and his experience could help him leap from being a bench player to a 6th man. Let’s see what he can offer this year.

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While there aren’t many expectations for this team, they are always fun to watch. I will say this a lot of times during the team guides, but if they can stay healthy, especially Ball, Miller and Bridges – and out of trouble – and others like Tre Mann, it could be a special season. They should take advantage pf the East being less competitive than ever. It would be great if the organization tries to plant the competitive seed in them too.

I’m eager to see the rookies in this team, Kon Knueppel looks great and McNeeley can be a great surprise. I also liked the energy from Diabaté but he needs to put some weight on yet.

Let’s see what the Hornets offer this year!