The Charlotte Hornets finished the regular season with a record of 35-47, falling short of previous campaigns and what many expected from a strong Hornets team. They made the playoffs through the play-in games, being eliminated by the Wizards in the First Round.


Season Highlight: Play-In glory

In what had Hornets fans believing in an underdog story, Charlotte survived two play-in games to clinch the final spot in the playoffs. A nice boost for fans, to show some Hornets� pride, it papered over the cracks of what was a surprisingly frustrating season for the Hornets.

Season Lowlight: A stumbling campaign

35 wins after multiple 60-win seasons sent Hornets� stock prices plummeting. They never found their stride, be it health, personnel always changing or just subpar play. The team chemistry always appeared to be an issue, with guys not doing what the Front Office had them penciled in for.

Best Trade:

The Charlotte Hornets send Kevin Love to the New Orleans Pelicans. The New Orleans Pelicans send Kristaps Porzingis to the Charlotte Hornets.
The New Orleans Pelicans send a 2nd-Rounder (Bkn), 2nd-Rounder (Det) and 2nd-Rounder (NO) to the Charlotte Hornets.

The Luka era never hit the heights the Front Office had hoped for, and the reset was made with a great offer from New Orleans. This marked the first part of an atypical, messy trade that took half a year to finalise. I think it makes the Hornets better.

Worst Trade:

The Charlotte Hornets send Nikola Vucevic to the San Antonio Spurs. The Miami Heat send Malcolm Brogdon to the Charlotte Hornets. The San Antonio Spurs send Buddy Hield to the Miami Heat.
The Charlotte Hornets send a 1st-Rounder (Cha) to the San Antonio Spurs. The Miami Heat send a 2nd-Rounder (NY) and 2nd-Rounder (Cha) to the San Antonio Spurs. The San Antonio Spurs send a 1st-Rounder (SA) to the Charlotte Hornets. The San Antonio Spurs send a 1st-Rounder (GS) to the Miami Heat.

Back to the well for the Spurs, who dealt with the Hornets on multiple occasions during the season to bail them out and improve their structure heading into what would be the ultimately successful campaign. Losing the best player and the best pick, never a good recipe for baking a great cake.

Notable Trades:

The Charlotte Hornets send Patrick Beverley to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Charlotte Hornets send Bojan Bogdanovic to the Sacramento Kings. The Portland Trail Blazers send Derrick Favors and Seth Curry to the Charlotte Hornets. The Sacramento Kings send Malik Beasley and Garrison Mathews to the Charlotte Hornets.

Star:

Luka Doncic � Even though there were plenty of ups and downs, Luka is still one of the best players in the league and arguably it�s most coveted asset. A bullying, highly skilled point guard, the Hornets went as far as Luka would carry them.


Flop:

Fred Vanvleet � In what was a down year for guards, little Freddy struggled to bring much to the fore for the Hornets, dropping in playmaking, scoring efficiency and defensive impact. In a nice twist for Freddie, he turned a down year of performances into superstar money.

A close second is the financial management of the Hornets, whose bottom line plummeted into the red, triggering �Craig-gate�.


Draft:

I haven�t even checked but I am almost certain the Hornets wouldn�t have drafted anyone. A man after my own heart. The Hornets are living in the now, and for the most part, rookies don�t move the 2k needle when it comes to chasing wins.


Free Agency:

The team is thin. The Front Office needs to retain the current and add the re-enforcements.

Fred Vanvleet � Freddie got absolutely paid this offseason, a great player getting superstar money for the next few seasons. He should have a good season, but he won�t be worth the money. Due to the enormity of the raise, the Hornets will have no trouble retaining him simply by possessing his bird rights. Locked in.

Draymond Green � Draymond will likely return to the Hornets, signalling that this is the team for him and where he wants to be. Green will be critical to the Hornets for the upcoming season and is all but a certainty to re-sign (with a little GM point help).

Christian Wood � Wood didn�t have much of an impact last season, mostly known for being the spoiled fruit basket in every trade he was a part of. The parcel was passed and when the music stopped, he was in Charlotte. I don�t think he is part of the plan and will sign elsewhere.


Looking into the Future:

The Hornets are a talented team, but they are a team that needs a bit to go right this season to make the most of the opportunity. Ja will miss the first third of the season, and if the depth issue isn�t addressed, it might be enough to see the Hornet start the year behind the pack. Zinger looks great and committed to the team, but he has often found himself on the sidelines over the years, for multiple games. Free Agency could have look a lot more dire but all fell into place for Craig and his team.

The team makes sense and has the talent to be a playoff team, they just need it to go right. I think the Hornets will make the playoffs, but might have to do their bidding from the play-in tournament.

Ja, Zinger, Dray, Nurkic and Vanvleet is a starting five that can win some big games in the NSL � we will have to see how it all comes together for Craig and his Charlotte organisation.