The Hornets’ rough opening to the season has already pushed one NBA voice to the brink.
Charlotte is 3-6 through nine games, and Wednesday’s loss to the Nets did little to suggest the team is turning a corner. The early numbers are ugly, and Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor said the situation has crossed into “panic time.”
“It’s panic time in Charlotte. Worst offensive rating in the NBA by far.
They take over half their shots from 3 even though they’re shooting below 30%. Sion James cannot hit the side of the backboard, yet Charles Lee keeps empowering him to launch bricks.
Brandon Miller is not looking worth the money. Kon Knueppel is hurt again already.
Seeing a lot of bad body language across the roster. All the joy is gone.
A step back was to be completely expected after trading LaMelo Ball but this is way worse than anticipated for the Hornets. This team looks broken.”
O’Connor also pointed to the overall mood around the roster, citing “bad body language” as another warning sign. He singled out Kon Knueppel’s injuries and Brandon Miller’s struggles to justify his recent contract extension.
The Hornets’ offense has been the biggest problem. They are the only team in the league averaging fewer than 105 points, sitting at 98.1. Charlotte also has the NBA’s lowest field goal percentage, and while the team is third in 3-point attempts, it ranks 28th in efficiency from deep.
For a team that already took a major swing by trading LaMelo Ball, the start has been far rougher than expected.
In Other News...
Brandon Miller Just Stepped Into The Hornets Story Fans Feared
The Hornets have officially moved into a new era, and Brandon Miller is right at the center of it. Charlotte sent LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota in a massive deal that brought back Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three future first-round pick swaps and three future second-round picks, a clear sign the organization is reshaping its future around a different core.
Jeff Peterson made sure Miller and Kon Knueppel heard the news before it went public, a small but telling detail about where the franchise is headed. Miller, who recently signed a five-year extension, is now one of the faces of the rebuild, while Knueppel is still working his way back from a leg injury, leaving Charlotte with a young foundation and plenty of unanswered questions about what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Have A Finish Problem Fans Are Tired Of Watching
The Hornets latest stumble came in a 114-104 loss to the Nets, the kind of finish that has become all too familiar during a five-game skid. Charlotte had enough early momentum to carry a seven-point lead into halftime, and for a while it looked like the night might finally bend the other way before the game started slipping in the second half.
Instead, Brooklyn took control after the break and kept applying pressure when Charlotte needed a steady response. Naz Reids 28 points and nine rebounds gave the Hornets a strong individual line to build around, but Michael Porter Jr. answered with 26 points and 10 rebounds for Brooklyn, and the late-game gap only reinforced the frustration around Charlottes inability to close. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Linked Again To A Star Big Man They Once Passed On
Sacramentos willingness to listen on Domantas Sabonis has put a familiar name back into the rumor mill for Charlotte, which once had interest in the All-Star big man before talks went nowhere. The Hornets were among the teams circling Sabonis last season, but the deal never got close enough to finish, and now the broader market around him is shifting again as the Kings consider a rebuild.
For Charlotte, the appeal is obvious. The Hornets have been searching for more frontcourt stability, and Sabonis would instantly change the shape of their offense and rebounding profile. The question is whether the Hornets are ready to re-engage at a level that matches Sacramentos expectations, especially with both teams enduring uneven seasons that could push trade conversations back to the forefront. [Read more 🡒]