Hornets head into offseason ready to build roster around LaMelo Ball
As a top-three pick, LaMelo Ball came into the league with an expectation of contributing from Day 1. But from the first day on the court in training camp, Ball’s impact on the Hornets on and off the court changed the trajectory of the franchise.
In tangible value, he was a big part of the team making the play-in game and, at one point, sitting in the top half of the Eastern Conference. He transformed the Hornets’ style of play, helping them finish 10th in the league in fast-break points per game while playing at a Rookie of the Year level.
He raised the profile of the Hornets as a franchise in the process, placing them in the national conversation due to his popularity and highlight-reel passing.
In short, Charlotte appears to have found its star of the future and now will prepare for a future with him. During his exit interview with the media on Thursday, Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak spoke about how important it will be for the team to build around Ball this summer.
“That’s the job the basketball department has been given,” Kupchak said. “Drafting LaMelo at No. 3 and having such a promising season even though it was cut short, gives us more clarity on the direction of the franchise.”
The Hornets will be one of a few teams that will have financial flexibility with their roster this summer. Guards Devonte’ Graham and Malik Monk will be restricted free agents. Centers Bismack Biyombo and Cody Zeller will be unrestricted free agents. Not accounting for cap holds, Kupchak estimated the team would have roughly $29 million in cap space this offseason.
Charlotte also will bring back plenty of talent as well. Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward looked like All-Stars during parts of the season. Miles Bridges blossomed into a star in his third season.
The franchise will have the ability to build around Ball, then, whether through free agency, trade or the draft. More than anything, though, Kupchak says the team needs more talent on the roster.
“We still need to add talent,” Kupchak said. “Our margin of talent is not so good that we’re good enough to assume that if there was an injury or a health and safety protocol, that we could carry on like some of the teams in the NBA do. But I do feel that we did upgrade our talent, some of the talent we have got better.
“We do have three picks in the draft, two of them are going to be in the 50s, but we do have a good pick in the first round and we have financial flexibility,” he added. “Those are all areas we’ll look to, but we still got some work to get to the point where we can make the playoffs and we want to advance in the playoffs.
“We don’t just want to make the playoffs and lose in the first round. We want to build something that’s sustainable, that will allow us to get into the playoffs and advance each year.”
Their future is far more sustainable with Ball at the helm and now the franchise faces an important offseason with plenty of questions that could change the trajectory.
