By Cleavon Steele
The Charlotte Hornets are currently 12-41 in the Eastern Conference standings, 29 games out of first place. They have lost 10 of their last 12 games and most likely will be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention before St. Patrick’s Day. This isn’t an uncommon occurrence for the Hornets.
In the last 20 years since the franchise returned to Charlotte, they only have three seasons with a winning record. Three playoff appearances, and two players that have been named to an all-NBA team (Al Jefferson made 3rd team 2013-14, and Kemba Walker made 3rd team 2018-19). Why has the franchise performed so poorly for the last two decades?
One can blame the unfriendly bounce of the lottery ping-pong ball. It is impossible to build a winning NBA team without a franchise player. Charlotte is not a popular destination for talented free agents, so they must rely on draft picks to bolster their roster. Under those circumstances, the draft lottery ping-pong balls can be your friend or your worst enemy.
The Lottery has not been kind to the Charlotte Hornets. Since 2007, they have drafted 8th or lower 12 times. In the modern-day NBA draft, most of the generational talent is taken within the first five picks. There are exceptions (Stephen Curry 2009, Kawhi Leonard 2011), but rarely do you see future NBA champions slip through the cracks. It is not an exact science, but there is a direct correlation between draft order and winning percentage. 17 of the 20 teams currently in the playoffs have a player drafted #5 or higher.
In my opinion, it’s time to trust the process. Don’t be bad, be REALLY BAD. Trade Lamelo Ball, blow the whole thing up and start from scratch. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Give yourself a better chance to have the ping-pong balls bounce your way.
The NBA is all about talent and without it the opportunity to win the championship or even make the playoffs is slim. It’s a tough decision to make and one that the Hornet’s fanbase may not agree with initially, but it’s the right thing to do. Ultimately, the franchise will be better off for it. Your thoughts?
