6. Charlotte Hornets
X-Factor: Dwight Howard
The Charlotte Hornets’ big move of the offseason was trading for the paint-protecting Dwight Howard. And they only had to ship over Marco Bellnelli, Miles Plumlee, and a 2017 2nd-round pick. Last season, Charlotte finished five games out of a playoff spot, and Howard may just push them into the postseason.
Kemba Walker will sure enjoy a veteran in the locker room and on the court. Look for an even better season this time around from a budding star. The two and three spots will once again be manned by Nicolas Batum and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. That’s a underrated combination that can stifle opposing wings. Marvin Williams is coming off of a down season last year, but I expect him to improve with Howard drawing attention in the paint.
Charlotte’s bench has gotten deeper and younger in the past few seasons, and includes Michael Carter-Williams, Malik Monk, Jeremy Lamb, Dwayne Bacon, Frank Kaminsky, and Cody Zeller.
Howard’s health, consistency, and veteran presence will all be key factors for Charlotte’s season. The Hornets really struggled in the rebounding department, just ask SG Nicolas Batum who led the team with 5.6 RPG in 2016-17. While his shot-blocking has declined in recent seasons, Dwight still affects shots in the paint. This is obviously Kemba’s team, but how much help he gets down low will determine his team’s fate this season.
Final Record: 43-39