Outside of comments like “it’s over soon,” “we’re getting a lottery pick,” “I was able to upgrade my meds,” what is the genuine biggest positive from the season?
Emergence of Moussa Diabate?
Development of Nick Smith Jr?
Miles Bridges showing he can be a legit player? (for us or somebody else)
Trades we made for future?
Something else?
Obviously lots to be down about, especially our inability to stay healthy (are we cursed?), but looking for those small flashes of positivity from an overall dumpster fire of a season.
I honestly would say the trade deadline activity. At least we know the Front Office is very aware that the roster needs major changes and is willing to do some different things.
I don’t have one. This season has highlighted just how broken this franchise is both on the court and in the front office. It is structurally and foundationally failing.
I have about two more seasons in me and then it isn’t something I am going to invest in. This isn’t an ultimatum of course, but if they don’t find a new home for melo, I don’t think they are serious about changing the trajectory and culture of the team. I am not sure if Lee is a good coach but I am pretty sure he isn’t a bad coach. But when the tone setter and best talent isn’t a serious basketball player, you aren’t going to succeed.
This is a perfect draft to double dip in the top 10. I dare them to do it.
Really? I’ll be surprised if NSJ is on the team by next trade deadline. I found him to be one of the biggest disappointments this season.
The plusses for me were a) finding Diabate, b) the great growth of Diabate, c) the excitement in what TJ could be, d) the possibility of what a healthy Mann and Okogie could become.
Imo ik he doesnt shoot great but its been great improvement and he can do some of the stuff lamelo ball does when nsj shoots 3 for 12 people critique him when lamelo shoots 6 for 25 nobody cares (not to say that lamelo ball isnt an amazing player he is clearly miles ahead of nsj)
Zero positives for me. Just way to many injuries, ticket prices only increasing, no real development from anyone of our recent draft picks. Josh green was a huge disappointment. Etc etc etc
I guess like coach said the fans still willing to pay good money to support that dumpster fire at the rate they do just shows how hornets fan DESERVE a winner.
Hey man i get it. Once u meet a player that becomes your favorite player.lol i met biz during his first stint in charlotte and i was CERTAIN he would be a hornets legend
This has been a pretty stagnant season IMO, we did not particularly regress or grow much. A positive for me would be Mark, who has been able to stay somewhat healthy since returning, and LaMelo, who was a bit healthier. Moussa has been a gem and one of the main reasons I tune in in an otherwise pretty bad season but even with him, it’s not like he’s a starter caliber big, more of a energy guy off the bench. It’s a shame Tre Mann got hurt because he was looking like a real bright spot on this team.
For me, the glimpses we got of Miller and Mann were positives. We’ll never know if they would’ve maintained that level of play over a full season, but both seemed to have taken their games to another level in the limited time they played. I still hope we re-sign Mann (at a heavily discounted rate) even though the disc issue is concerning.
The continued maturity and leadership Miles has shown has been a positive. Though the numbers have fallen off a bit the past couple of weeks, his presence on and off the court has been steady and impactful. He’s come a long way.
I’d say Mark’s play this season has been a net positive. He’s had some flat out dominant games, but of course there have been a few sprinkled in where he was just flat. But on the whole, he’s looked every bit like the lottery selection he was and more importantly, he’s looked healthy. He’ll set a career high in games played and I still think there’s another level his game can reach. I hope we hold on to him this offseason.
I do think NSJ’s play has given us reason to be positive. He’s demonstrated he’s at worst a capable rotation player who will either have value as a contributor off the bench or as a trade asset.
Honestly, the biggest positive is knowing that with the shortage of top end talent we’ve always had, we definitely needed to keep our first rounder…and not only that, we’re actually in the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes. I hate the process to get here, there’s been no joy in March/April games the past 3 years.
Getting a top 3 pick with a healthy roster, along with a true vet leader (Grant is that guy if he can come back close to normal) can make all the difference in the world. If we consolidate 2nd round picks to trade up for John Broome late in the first, could be another mature, hard working, fundamentally sound player in the locker room.
The current young guys look better than the Bouknight/Thor/Kai/McDaniels set. But they still need to show some more semblance of growth this offseason to make a difference, unlike their predecessors.
I have a few but I think the most impactful is Miles showing he can actually string together big stretches of not being a total dumbass on the court. That’s a piece I thought we’d have to find via FA (read overpay).
I know this year sucked but we’re still so much farther talent wise than we’ve had in a long time.
