We invited our group of All Hornets contributors to “Draft” explanations for the Hornets’ 2023–24 season-ending failures. The first overall pick is clear-cut, while the next four draft picks are significantly less certain.
The fact that starting players LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams only played in 41 games together highlights Charlotte’s injury problems. A fitting conclusion for a squad that has been beset by injuries for the better part of two seasons, the Hornets announced that LaMelo Ball, Cody Martin, and Seth Curry have now been sidelined for the remainder of the 2023–2024 NBA season.
LaMelo Ball’s never-ending struggle with injuries has begun to represent the team’s overall issues in a metaphor. With 228 games missed, Charlotte ranks third in the league behind only Portland (310) and Memphis (492). In addition, a league-high 17 players—more than the 15 on the whole roster—have missed at least one game! To what extent are Charlotte’s injuries the result of misfortune or inadequate injury care? That is a contentious issue on which every individual will have different opinions.
The Hornets will need to hope for improved health in the upcoming season if they are to ever see the full potential of their youthful core.
The Hornets neglected to address their depth problem during the off-season, and once the injury bug got a hold of them, that problem spread.
Just a few days before the season began, Charlotte signed the now-retired Ish Smith, demonstrating their inability to get a reliable backup point guard. Neither Maledon nor Ntilikina, who were both healthy at the end of the season, appeared to be at ease in their roles.
A gap existed at center between Richards and Williams, which compelled undrafted rookie Nathan Mensah to be thrust into a crucial position where he struggled.
You assumed the club would have learned from its mistakes after Mitch Kupchak acknowledged that the squad lacked depth the previous season. Few other rosters in the league would have Ish Smith, Bryce McGowens, J.T. Thor, Nathan Mensah, Leaky Black, and James Bouknight among their motley crew of misfit backups from Charlotte. Ultimately, the Hornets added depth and dependable senior role players in Tre Mann, Davis Bertans, Vasilije Micic, and Grant Williams at the trade deadline.
