The Hornets‘ season came to a disappointing end on Tuesday night, as the team’s defense provided little resistance in a 144-117 blowout loss to the Pacers. Indiana made 55.2% of its shot attempts, including 16-of-35 threes (45.7%) en route to the play-in win.
Despite the anticlimactic end, there was plenty to like about the Hornets’ season, says Brendan Marks of The Athletic. LaMelo Ball‘s promising rookie season was the most obvious bright spot, but the development from other young players such as Miles Bridges and P.J. Washington also showed that the club is on the upswing, as Marks writes. And participating in the play-in game at all was a good first step toward developing into a contender.
“It’s just a matter of how do we respond this summer? Do we use this as fuel, or do we feel sorry for ourselves?” head coach James Borrego said after the game. “Part of this is etching this in our memory bank, so as we grow, as we get better, as we work this summer, we don’t forget this moment right now. Next time we’re in this position, we’ll respond better. We’ll be better.”
Here’s more on the Hornets:
- While he declined to identify specific players or positions that the team will be targeting in the offseason, Borrego expressed confidence that Charlotte will be an attractive destination for free agents this summer, per Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer (Twitter links).
- One of the Hornets’ own free agents, Malik Monk, is open to re-signing with the team, he said today. “If they want me here, I’d love to be here,” Monk said (Twitter link via Bonnell). “But I want to feel wanted.” Monk will be a restricted free agent as long as the Hornets issue him a $7MM qualifying offer.
- Devonte’ Graham‘s free agency and potential contract extensions for Bridges and Terry Rozier are among the issues facing the Hornets this offseason, writes ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Insider link). In his own preview of Charlotte’s offseason, Bonnell notes that finding a solution at center and adding shooting will be among the club’s top priorities.
I would like to see the Knicks sign Monk. He can get hot and give them an offensive spark. He seems to have a toughness that would play well in NYC and with Thibs and there’s the Kentucky connection.
Toughness? That’s an interesting perspective.
For three years he was AWFUL. Now, finally playing decently in his contract year, he’s out Charlotte in a tough spot.
If he’s willing to come off the bench, Charlotte will (and probably should) keep him. If by “wanted” he means that he thinks he should start, there’s no chance he’ll be back. And somebody will wind up with a guy that is an undersized off-the-ball shooter who plays no defense.
More soft than tough. And the Nix have Quickley for backcourt bench shooting.
They should definitely feel sorry for themselves as opposed to using it as fuel.. I practice this in my own life, and it really keeps my expectations down, which in turn helps life go so much more smoothly.
Also, they might want to chill out and smoke a lot of weed.
Just my two cents.
Looking out how they played maybe they all smoked too much before the game. That was a pathetic effort out there where most of the players were barely trying. It should be embarrassing to lose by that much.
The team was exhausted. They’ve been undermanned the entire second half – and the rotation got shorter and shorter.
The Hornets are one player away from being a REALLY good team. If they can find an athletic big that can run and rebound, they’re going to a lot of fun to watch for the next few years.
According to the Hornets HC
Hornets will be an attractive destination for free agents this summer
IMO
Rockets and Kings are not attractive destination for free agents
They have $15 million cap room each
There will be tons of great players competing to sign with the Hornets, right.
Of course they want to play for such a great team rather than the Rockets.
Yup… all of them, Sillyman knows. All going to Charlotte. Hope they all can handle that city. smh
Let’s not forget Charlotte has the 3rd lowest payroll in the NBA.
Even with $30M in cap space who are they gonna sign? No one big.
Anyone given the choice will take the Rockets over the Hornets.
They don’t need “tons of great players.”
They need one pretty good center.
Monk’s meaning: if they offer me 7 mil per then they don’t want me.
Hornets got their Aaa kicked by Pacers. They do need a real center. Always said they should of gotten Drummond. Hornets, Raptors both need him. He’s worth 15-20 mill to them.
I have seen some awful efforts these play-in games; Hornets were the worst.
Zeller looked tired and fed up.
Drummond is not anyone’s answer. Holmes hustles but they are then left a bit undersized… but they have been anyway.
They probably had a lot of fingerpointing going on after that game.
Awful efforts in play in games?
The wizards are gassed but tried with Beal not 100% and Tatum played crazy that game
Grizzles and Spurs had their exciting moments in that game
Warriors and lakers was classic
Yea the hornets one was not good but there’s been fun games.
They have one future superstar in PJ Washington. Monk, Bridges, Graham, Lamelo have 6th man talent. LaMelos wayyyy overrated. So far Rozier is there 2nd best player
What are you flippin’ talkin’ ’bout, man?
LaMelo has had a historically good rookie season & he is by far the best player in that team, he is already a star in the league… & no Rozier ain’t the second best player, at best he is the third!
Hornets should not pay monk 7mill, give him a portion of that 3mil? Because they do need to keep shooting around their guards.
Hornets need a center obviously.
They need to figure out how graham fits with this or not, if not sign and trade for a wing.