Latest news with #CharlesLee
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hornets Can't Rely on LaMelo Ball's Inconsistency Next Season
Hornets Can't Rely on LaMelo Ball's Inconsistency Next Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Hornets were bad at a lot of things last season. Defense, shooting, availability, vibes, but nothing crashed harder than the offense. Charlotte finished 29th in offensive efficiency, and the assist-to-turnover ratio wasn't far behind, settling at 28th. They couldn't score. They couldn't pass. And they couldn't do either without giving the ball away. Advertisement Sure, LaMelo Ball missing half the season didn't help. But even when he was available, the impact was more erratic than anything. Ball posted career worsts in both field-goal percentage (40.5) and three-point shooting (33.9), and his 4.0 turnovers per 36 minutes marked the second-worst rate of his career. The highlight passes and logo threes are still there, but so is the chaos. At his best, Ball remains the Hornets' only true offensive engine. At his worst, he's a volume shooter without a governor. Charlotte doesn't just need LaMelo back. They need a sharper, steadier, and more available version of him. To be fair, the 2024–25 season marked Year 1 of the Charles Lee experiment. It was also the first-year offensive installs rarely ran like clockwork, especially when injuries hijacked the depth chart. Still, even with some expected growing pains, this was rough. Related: Two NBA Draft Night Trade Partners Emerge for Hornets in Latest Rumors The roster around Ball didn't offer much help. No other Hornet averaged even four assists per game. Of the five players who took double-digit shots a night, only Mark Williams shot better than 44 percent from the field. And he's a big. When your only efficient scorer is a vertical spacer who needs someone to set him up, and no one else can pass, it's a problem. Advertisement All of this raises a bigger question. Is the offense too Ball-centric for its own good? Could this team benefit from a little more movement, a little more cutting, and a little less standing around while LaMelo plays high-stakes improv? Related: Max Contract Player Linked to Hornets in NBA Trade Rumors These are the kinds of structural questions Charlotte's front office has to confront this offseason. What kind of team are they building around Ball? What kind of players best compliment him? And what happens if this version of him with the flashes of brilliance wrapped in unpredictability is just who he is? For now, the scoreboard told the story. The Hornets' games averaged 223.8 combined points, and only 39 of 82 contests cleared the 226.5 mark. Translation is even the betting markets gave up on seeing fireworks in Charlotte. Let's see if the front office can spark something new before the upcoming season. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hornets' Final Decision on LaMelo Ball Top Priority After NBA Draft
Hornets' Final Decision on LaMelo Ball Top Priority After NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Hornets were bad this year. There's really no way around it. The defense had issues, the offense was worse, and the most talented player on the roster missed nearly half the season. It's hard to evaluate Year 1 of the Charles Lee era when the car was sputtering on three wheels most of the time. But even with all the injuries, there are some hard truths Charlotte has to face. Advertisement The offense? A total mess. Charlotte finished 29th in offensive efficiency, just ahead of the tanking Wizards, and they weren't much better in assist-to-turnover ratio (28th). The half-court sets often looked stuck in neutral. The spacing was ugly, the ball movement was sluggish, and the shooting was among the worst in the league. If you're looking for silver linings, you probably won't find them in the playbook. LaMelo Ball's absence didn't help, but even when he was on the court, it wasn't always pretty. He posted career lows in field-goal percentage (40.5) and three-point accuracy (33.9), while his turnover rate ticked up again. At his best, Ball warps defenses with his range and vision. At his worst, he hijacks possessions with step backs and live-ball turnovers. And the troubling part is this season wasn't an outlier and might be a trend for the Hornets. That leaves the front office with a pressing question. How do you build around a player who needs the ball to thrive, but hasn't yet shown he can run a high-level NBA offense efficiently? Lee deserves some grace and installing a new system is tough. It's even tougher when the rotation is a revolving door. But the Hornets' offense was too Ball-dependent and too one-note. There was little secondary playmaking. No other player averaged even four assists per game. Terry Rozier was traded midseason. Brandon Miller showed promise but isn't a natural facilitator. Miles Bridges soaked up possessions, but his decision-making remains spotty. And of the five guys who took double-digit shots per game, only Mark Williams shot above 44 percent from the field and he only dunks. So what needs to happen now? Advertisement Commit or pivot on LaMelo's future in Charlotte Let's start here. Ball signed a five-year, $203 million extension last summer. He's still just 23. But he's played only 58 games combined over the last two seasons. If you're the Hornets, you either go all-in on maximizing Ball and surrounding him with versatile defenders, shooters, and cutters, or you quietly start gauging the market. Teams will still believe in the upside. But if you're not convinced he's your franchise tentpole, better to act early than too late. Define what Brandon Miller's role is going to be The good news? Miller looks like a guy the Hornets can build with. The No. 2 pick improved as the season went on, flashed three-level scoring, and even held up defensively in tough matchups. But he's not a lead creator yet. The Hornets need to decide if Miller their future No. 2 option? Or is he the player you cash in for a true co-star next to LaMelo? Either way, his development arc will shape the rebuild timeline. Advertisement What to do with Miles Bridges? Bridges is headed for unrestricted free agency, and he'll have suitors. His offensive skill set of power driving, tough shot-making, and some playmaking juice is valuable. But his off-court history is complicated, and he takes a ton of oxygen out of the offense. If the Hornets are serious about a culture reset, moving on may be the right call, even if it costs them short-term production. Time to use cap space wisely The Hornets will have cap flexibility, especially if Bridges walks. That space needs to be used to raise the floor. Think solid veteran guards, plus-sized wings who can shoot, and maybe a stretch five. They don't need another high-usage scorer. They need guys who can function in a modern NBA offense. Think Tyus Jones, Naji Marshall, Isaiah Hartenstein types. Advertisement Nailing the Draft is important Charlotte owns a top-5 pick in the 2025 draft. This year's class is short on surefire stars but full of useful role players. If they land a floor-spacing big (Alex Sarr?), a versatile defender (Ron Holland?), or a connector guard (Reed Sheppard?), that's a win. They just can't afford another lottery whiff. Related: Hornets Projected to Trade Up in Latest 2025 NBA Mock Draft Bottom line for the Hornets is they must find an identity. Are they a transition-heavy, fast-paced team led by LaMelo's flashes of greatness? A switch-heavy, modern defense with length and versatility? Right now, they're neither. And that's the challenge. Advertisement Related: Former Hornet's Relationship Seemingly Spells Bad News for Sacramento Kings The Hornets don't need to rush this. But they do need to make some actual progress. If this next version of the team still can't space the floor, defend the perimeter, or stay healthy, it won't matter how good LaMelo is. The rest of the league will have already moved on and his value will diminish. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
19-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Hornets' Charles Lee on why he made ex-Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker assistant coach
Hornets' Charles Lee on why he made ex-Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker assistant coach Fans of the Boston Celtics who do not follow other NBA teams very closely might be surprised to learn that the Charlotte Hornets have some pretty deep ties to the Celtics organization. Former Boston big man Grant Williams, of course, cut his teeth playing with Boston, the team that drafted him out of the University of Tennessee. But the ties go deeper, with current Hornets head coach Charles Lee a former Celtics assistant coach, and Boston point guard alum Kemba Walker now serving as an assistant coach for Lee. On the day of the Celtics last game of the NBA's 2024-25 regular season, local media caught up with Lee at TG Garden as Charlotte came to town to play the Celtics, and Lee explained why he elected to make Walker an assistant coach. Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what he had to say about making coach Cardiac Kemba a thing. If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," "Celtics Lab," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network. Listen to the "Celtics Lab" podcast on: Apple Podcasts: Spotify:
The Independent
01-04-2025
- The Independent
Airport security uncover £1m drug stash inside electric wheelchair
Nearly £1 million worth of cocaine has been found hidden in an electric wheelchair during an airport security check in Manchester. Border Force officers scanned the wheelchair after the passenger flew in to Manchester Airport from Bridgetown, Barbados on Sunday. Eleven packages, weighing 12kg, were discovered concealed in the seat and backrest, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said. 'The concealment shows the ingenuity crime groups employ to smuggle cocaine,' NCA senior investigating officer Charles Lee said. 'The NCA works with partners at home and abroad to combat the threat of Class A drugs and protect the UK public.' Portuguese national Casimiro De Lemos-Francisco, 56, has been charged with drug smuggling. He will appear at Manchester Crown Court on May 6.
BBC News
01-04-2025
- BBC News
Manchester Airport: £1m of cocaine found in electric wheelchair
Cocaine with a street value of almost £1m was found stashed in an electric wheelchair at Manchester Airport after a flight from Barbados. Border Force officers scanned the wheelchair and found it contained 11 packages, weighing 12kg (26.4lbs) on Sunday 30 March. Portuguese national Casimiro De Lemos Francisco, 56, has been charged with drug trafficking and was remanded in custody after a hearing at Salford Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. The National Crime Agency (NCA) released pictures of brown packages, wrapped in masking tape, hidden in the seat and backrest of the chair. NCA senior investigating officer Charles Lee said: "The concealment shows the ingenuity crime groups employ to smuggle cocaine."Mr De Lemos Francisco is next due to appear at Manchester Crown Court on 6 May. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
