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By Anne Erickson
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It's easy to overlook the Charlotte Hornets this time of year.
That could turn out to be a mistake.
Last season, Charlotte showed flashes of what this team could become. The Hornets were one of the league's hottest teams for a stretch, putting together one of the NBA's most productive lineups. But instead of chasing a quick fix, the franchise made a difficult choice. It decided the long-term plan mattered more.
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That meant moving on from Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball, two players who played major roles in the team's recent success. That hurt. Losing Ball especially changes the way Charlotte operates, because his creativity and passing ability were a huge part of what made the offense work.
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But the Hornets weren't simply tearing things down. They were making room for a new era.
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The focus now shifts toward Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, two young talents the organization believes can become the foundation of what comes next. Charlotte also used the offseason to build around them, adding more depth, shooting and flexibility instead of putting everything on a few players.
Bringing back Coby White gave the team another scoring option, while the addition of Dorian Finney-Smith brought some much-needed toughness and experience. Those moves might not create headlines the way a blockbuster trade would, but they make the roster more balanced. That's a good thing.
That's the tricky part of rebuilding in the NBA. Sometimes the best move isn't trying to win today at all costs. Sometimes it's accepting a step backward because it gives you a much clearer path forward.
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The Hornets may not match last season's success right away, and replacing Ball's impact won't be easy. But this team has more young talent, more draft flexibility and a better sense of direction.
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