The preseason has wrapped up, and there’s just two days left until the 2024-25 season kicks off for the Charlotte Hornets. This year’s team will look quite different from previous versions. LaMelo Ball is (fingers crossed) healthy, Brandon Miller is no longer a rookie, new players have joined the roster, and there’s a completely new coaching staff in place. The preseason provided a sneak peek of what’s ahead. Here’s what we discovered
The Hornets are going to shoot a lot of 3-pointers
The Hornets finished last season ranked in the middle of the pack for 3-point attempt rate, but this was boosted by a late-season spike in attempts after the team had essentially given up on being competitive. During the first half of the season, they were 23rd in 3-point attempts, with 36.7% of their shots coming from beyond the arc.
In the preseason, however, 49.3% of the Hornets’ field goal attempts were from deep, marking the second-highest rate in the NBA, just behind the Boston Celtics, the former team of head coach Charles Lee. They converted 37.7% of those attempts, trailing only the Warriors among NBA teams in the preseason, an increase from 35.5% last season. The new coaching staff has clearly emphasized generating 3-point opportunities, and the team possesses the shooters capable of making a high percentage if they shoot with rhythm and confidence—qualities that were often missing last season
LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller are going to be an explosive one-two punch
Ball and Miller spearheaded the 3-point onslaught during the preseason, each sinking over 40% of their attempts and averaging more than 25 points per 36 minutes. We’ll have to wait for the regular season to see how it unfolds, as I doubt their 3-point attempt rates will remain this high throughout the season, but the pair should still rack up plenty of points every game.
Tidjane Salaün is more ready than we thought
Everyone recognized that the Hornets were taking a gamble when they chose Salaün with the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. This was evident during summer league, where the rookie appeared quite raw and not fully prepared for the NBA. However, this preseason has told a different tale. He connected on 40% of his 3-point shots and showcased glimpses of an all-around game. Playing with confidence, he is clearly absorbing the coaching he’s receiving. While he still requires considerable refinement, he has the potential to earn real minutes and make a positive impact—a prospect that seemed unlikely just a few months ago
Tre Mann might be worth Sixth Man of the Year consideration
This may be a bit of an overreaction, but Mann was phenomenal in the preseason. He averaged 29 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per 36 minutes, shooting 60% from the field and 47.1% from beyond the arc. He created plenty of scoring opportunities for himself and showcased a dribbling skill set we hadn’t really seen before. It might have something to do with his new throwback style inspired by early 2000s Allen Iverson. If he can maintain this level of performance, the Hornets’ bench could be a formidable threat
There is real NBA depth here
Thanks to Tidjane Salaün’s stronger-than-anticipated preseason and the team being mostly healthy, the Hornets have real NBA-caliber players who will occasionally be sidelined from the rotation this season. It seems like it’s been a long time since that was true. Veteran players Seth Curry and Taj Gibson performed well during their minutes, even though they’re not likely to play every night. Every player on the roster appears capable of stepping up and contributing positively when called upon
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