2019-20 Finish:  71-11

Season Highlight:  Leading all teams with 71 wins.  The Hornets were practically guaranteed to be in the Eastern Conference Finals.  And they were, as they ripped through the competition early in the playoffs just like they did in the regular season.

Season Lowlight: Losing to the Bucks the way they did in the ECF.  Charlotte was the consensus favorite to represent the East in the NLL finals, but the Buck ran them over with a Mac truck in the Conference finals, sweeping them en route to a Bucks Championship banner.  Charlotte was left to wonder what could have been.

Best trade:  The Atlanta Hawks send Jrue Holiday to the Charlotte Hornets. The Charlotte Hornets send Gary Harris to the Atlanta Hawks. The Charlotte Hornets send Myles Turner, Dejounte Murray and Lonnie Walker to the San Antonio Spurs. The San Antonio Spurs send Joel Embiid to the Charlotte Hornets.
The Charlotte Hornets send a 1st-Rounder (Cha) to the Atlanta Hawks.
The Atlanta Hawks receive 15 GM points. The Charlotte Hornets trade -15 GM points. The Charlotte Hornets send a 1st-Rounder (Cha) to the San Antonio Spurs.

This trade really set the tone for the Hornets.  They already had a great team, but adding what is considered a top 5 NLL player into the fold and still keeping a strong nucleus around them made this team the best regular season team in the East, as proven by their record.  This trade was done prior to the flip for 19/20, but drastically affected the season outcome.

Worst trade:  There were no other moves by the Hornets for the 19/20 season.

Other notable trades:  See worst trade

Free Agency:

Brandon Ingram: Ingram is a RFA.  We don’t see any possible reason why the Hornets would not bring him back.  Expect them to put the QO on him and lock him up.  He is part of the Hornets core.

Harry Giles:  Giles could possibly have a spot on this roster, but with how difficult it would be to retain him with his F loyalty, it’s possible that the Hornets will let him walk and look elsewhere for his reserve centers in FA.  The only concern is, are there better centers?  Surely, he isn’t worth a 99 point bid, is he?

Frank Jackson:  Another F rated loyalty, Jackson likely walks, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Hornets bring Jackson back as an affordable, end of bench option.  He can be made a RFA.

Rayjon Tucker: young player that doesn’t seem to be making a mark in the NBA.  Was recently waived and may not have a contract in time.  If he does, since he was waived, he will be easy to bring back as a RFA

Zylan Cheatham: Another RFA, but would need to get the offer to ensure he is retained.

Anzeis Pasecniks:  Player is on a non guaranteed contract currently.  Unsure if he will be guaranteed, but as long as he is on a roster for our FA, he will be able to stay on the Hornets.

Kobi Simmons: QO player that turned into a 2way player.  If there are players with higher potential, he could be cut, otherwise he will be kept in the hope he pans out.

Star:  Kristaps Porzingis â€“ K-Por averaged 30.4 and 11.5 a game to go with 2.4 blocks.  He was in the top 6 in 5 different statistical categories and had a plus/minus of almost 8.  He was a top 5 overall NLL player and, along with Joel Embiid, was the catalyst for the Hornets spectacular season.

Goat: The entire bench â€“ Aside from MPJ, no player on the Hornets’ was in the top 240 NLL ratings.  The lack of a decent bench and depth was the main reason the Hornets could not overtake the Bucks.  Expect the Hornets to address this issue.

Draft Grade:  B( per Nenjabin’s draft grades)  Charlotte had traded away their 1^st in the Embiid deal, but still had pick 60, where they were left with Jalen Harris.  He isn’t really anything special to look at, and not too much is known about him.  Ending up with the last pick would normally mean a lower rating, but Ben was kind.

The Future:  The Hornets are at a minor crossroads.  They have some elite players, but the Embiid trade killed all their depth, which really hurt them in the postseason.  Expect that they move one of their top 5 players to address that, as the bench was ultimately their demise this past year.  The decline of players like Kevin Knox and Frank Jackson, along with the stagnation of Giles was unexpected.  Okogie is a player with great potential still, but has yet to show it.  Charlotte could not improve via the draft this year, and the free agent pickins are slim.  The biggest issue that Charlotte has now….. cap room.  Expect GM Digeze to swing for the fences on a high level FA and make a big trade (smart money is on either Jrue or KPor being moved for salary relief, picks and/or younger, cheaper players that will mesh with the rest of the core).  Regardless, with the Bucks trading away two top 20 players, and the rest of the conference not improving enough to match the Hornets, they will still be an elite team in the NLL.