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Charlotte Hornets: Controversies and Trouble!
Charlotte Hornets: Controversies and Trouble!
The Charlotte Hornets have had nothing but bullshit the past few seasons. Every piece of news that comes out about that franchise has been nothing but controversies. It seems like there has been no discipline in the locker room. PJ Washington's baby mother troubles show a lack of accountability in the franchise. Miles Bridges has committed domestic violence. This also shows a lack of accountability in the franchise. LaMelo Ball's speeding danger adds to this perception. Also, it doesn’t help that the franchise player, LaMelo Ball, is never healthy to begin with. The Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder are young teams. They have become playoff teams. It seems like the Hornets are stuck. The Hornets might be struggling due to injuries. Or, the team might be struggling due to a suspension.
LaMelo Ball seemed like he was making the expected All-Star jump. Yet, he played only 15 games this season. Unfortunately, he went down with an ankle injury. Ball was averaging 24 points per game, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds per game. Which made him look like one of the best guards in the NBA. The Ball family appears to have a curse of leg injuries. LaMelo’s game is eye-catching. He has a great dribble package, is a good passer, and is a great shooter. He is a player that every player can rally around. The young star has shown signs of being one of the best young guards in the league. But how hopeful can we be for a full, healthy season? Ball has shown charisma like his father to be a star, as we see him in Puma commercials. He is a player that every player can rally around. There is no doubt the Hornets have the right franchise player. The question becomes: Does he have the right co-star?
Miles Bridges has now had a reputation as a criminal. He has committed domestic violence. He has brought nothing but a PR disaster to the Hornets. Even though Miles has put up solid numbers (20 points per game), 45 percent shooting, and 7 rebounds per game, The question arises: is Miles worth keeping? Yes, Miles is worth keeping, and he has proven to be a viable part of the future as he has been the second best offensive player on the team. Because of his behavior, it has cost him money and hurt his value in the market because he is a PR disaster. He didn't get to play against Toronto due to his felony. Miles has to fix up and move on from this chapter. This way, he can focus on his game and get a bigger contract. Miles has been one of the best players for the Hornets, along with Terry Rozier.
Terry Rozier has been one of the most underrated guards in the NBA. ‘Scary’ Terry has had his best season this year. He averaged 23 points per game, shooting 46 percent, and got 7 assists per game. Rozier is good at creating his shot, as he is 36 percent from behind the arc, and he is good at taking players one on one. He is good at driving to the rim, and he is good at playing off-ball. Due to the Hornets being ass, Terry has not gotten the praise that he deserves. He is a point guard that a lot of teams would die to have. A championship team would enjoy Rozier's game as the perfect fourth option. While Rozier has been a key to the Hornets, one other young big that isn't talked about is Mark Williams.
Mark Williams is one of the best young bigs in the NBA. He is one of the best shot blockers and rim protectors. The Hornets knew this when they promoted Mark to the starting lineup. They traded Mason Plumlee on the deadline. He is a great pick-and-roll partner to surround LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier with. Mark is only in his second year of his NBA career, but he’s shown to be a cornerstone for the franchise. Williams has shown himself to be a good rebounder too. Along with Brandon Miller, Mark Williams is one of the best young players on the Hornets.
Brandon Miller has been one of the best rookies this season. The young star has been in the top five on the rookie ladder. In the summer league, Miller had a bad showing. Now that the season has started, he has looked like a future NBA star. Miller's draft puzzled many. Everyone expected Scoot Henderson to be selected second. Miller can shoot from anywhere, from the three, mid-range, and to the basket. The scouts have compared the rookie to his role model, Paul George, which is a huge endorsement. There have been signs of Miller being a good passer in the NBA, which is what any team would die for. On the defensive end, Miller has shown signs of being a defender. Because of his length and athleticism, he has been able to be a good blocker and is able to get steals. LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller could lead the Hornets to the finals if they stay healthy and pan out.
The rebuilding Hornets team has a new future in Charlotte. Michael Jordan has sold the Charlotte Hornets to new owners. The new owners are Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnail. We may see them clean the slate by firing Mitch Kupchak and Head Coach Steve Clifford. The new owners can decide that it might be best to bring in a guy of their own. The future of the Hornets could go either way. It could end up being the best young team or another stuck team. If the Hornets can avoid all the controversy, they could head in a direction they like.
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