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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
