Charlotte Hornets 2017 Season Preview
Kemba Walker has a decent supporting cast around him. It's time for the Hornets to get the final piece for Walker.
Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Posted on 3/6/2016.
The Charlotte Hornets first season where they relaunched as the Hornets did not go as planned.
Heading into last season, I said the Bobcats would make the playoffs once as the Bobcats, miss the playoffs the following season and redeem themselves in 2015-2016. The following season is now in 2014-2015. The Charlotte Hornets have a new opportunity to establish quality basketball in the Carolina states.
Drafting Kemba Walker in 2011 to be the point guard in Charlotte following the Connecticut Huskies winning the 2011 Mens Basketball Tournament was the first building block. After a rough rookie season, Walker finally blossomed in his second season once the Bobcats changed their logo before renaming the team the Hornets. Walker led the Bobcats with 17.3 points per game and 5.1 assists per game showing you how important he is to this organization.
Lin's backup in Charlotte will be journeyman point guard Jeremy Lin. Lin lost his job to Jordan Clarkson last season and showed why he's a backup at best now. He can still average 10 points per game, but he's not going to get you 17-20 points on a consistent basis like Walker will.
The Hornets needed upgrades at shooting guard, small forward, and power forward and they ended up drafting Wisconsin center Frank Kaminsky ninth overall. What's even worse is that Kaminsky will be a third string center even though he's talented enough to start.
Before the 2015 NBA Draft, Kaminsky answered a reporter who asked what city he would like to play for the least. Kaminsky replied with Charlotte. Now Kaminsky is a Hornet. What really stings is that Kaminsky is a backup to backup center Spencer Hawes who has been so bad in the NBA that he needs to get deported to the NBA D League so Kaminsky can get his minutes.
Charlotte can live with early blunders of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at small forward for now. He finally stepped up with 10.9 points per game in 2014-2015. Still, the Hornets need someone else besides him if they expect to succeed long-term. Al Jefferson regressed after posting 21.8 points per game in 2013-2014
Charlotte needs two upgrades at shooting guard or power forward. That's why the Hornets will regress in 2014-2015.
Charlotte Hornets Prediction
Our starting 5 predictions segment will feature a brief one paragraph prediction from 5 of our basketball analysts at Draft Utopia.
The Utopia Of Sports
