The Charlotte Hornets have made a splash this off-season. They certainly have upgraded their roster and could pose as a resilient Eastern Conference team.
Signing Lance Stephenson was their biggest move. Stephenson is an enormous upgrade at the two-guard position as he has been improving his all-around game each and every season. Lance averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game for the Indiana Pacers last season while shooting an efficient 49.1 percent from the field.
He will absolutely take away pressure from Kemba Walker with his outstanding ball handling and play making skills. The most impressive attribute that Stephenson brings to the table is rebounding. He led all shooting guards in rebounding with his 7.2 average last season. Stephenson has the defensive flexibility to defend multiple positions and should thrive under Steve Clifford’s defensive system. He will be a great addition to the team.
The Hornets also brought in former New Orleans Pelicans reserve guard, Brian Roberts. Now, many people have probably not witnessed Roberts’ play, but he is a solid backup point guard. He ball handles really well and can score if he feels obligated to do so. Roberts possesses a sweet costless throw line floater. Despite losing Luke Ridnour, the Hornets have made a magnificent choice to replace him with Roberts.
Marvin Williams was another off-season acquisition for Charlotte. Williams could provide some three-point shooting and flexibility off the bench. He is not going to score in bunches, but he will be a decent reserve player and a good replacement for Chris Douglas-Roberts.
In addition, Charlotte re-signed Jannero Pargo as a third point guard. Pargo could fill in the void in case of injuries and is a legitimate three-point shooter. He has been around the league for a while, therefore his knowledge and experience is huge for this young squad.
However, Josh McRoberts was a massive loss for the Hornets. Coach Steve Clifford praised McRoberts a whole lot last season due to his versatility and excellent basketball I.Q. The Hornets are still seeking to replace McRoberts with another power forward prior to the start of training camp. Andray Blatche would be a viable option, but the Hornets have not shown much interest.
The Charlotte Hornets were determined to upgrade their roster this summer, and they have done just that. It seems like they won’t be the laughing stock of the NBA for years to come. Charlotte has brought back “the Hornets” name along with some fresh, new talent.
Grade: B+
Depth Chart:
PG: Kemba Walker/Brian Roberts/Jannero Pargo
SG: Lance Stephenson/Gerald Henderson/Gary Neal/P.J. Hairston
SF: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist/Marvin Williams/Jeffery Taylor
PF: Noah Vonleh/Bismack Biyombo
C: Al Jefferson/Cody Zeller
Coach: Steve Clifford