NBA Power Rankings: Lakers eyeing big move; Clippers are broken?

26. Charlotte Hornets

Heading into the start of the season, it was admittedly difficult to predict what we would see from the Charlotte Hornets this season. And through the first few weeks of the season, the Hornets have pretty much been what anyone could’ve thought. The verdict is still out on LaMelo Ball and Charlotte has to make decisions on the future of Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward soon. There’s at least an outside chance they could be NBA Trade Deadline candidates.

All in all, the Hornets still have some things to figure out. But there are some encouraging signs that things are beginning to turn around for the franchise. Ball is what he is and I suppose he does have the chance to develop into a star. Brandon Miller is also coming along nicely as a developmental project and Mark Williams might be the long-term answer at the center position.

The Hornets are unlikely to make the playoffs this season and might have some big organizational questions to answer, but they do have a couple of potential foundational pieces in place.