Is Charlotte Hornets’ ‘Core Four’ good enough to end NBA playoff drought?
Fresh off an initial season as the man in charge at the end of the bench, Charles Lee apparently isn’t ready for a tropical destination just yet.
The Charlotte Hornets coach has other things on his mind, judging by his response when broaching the subject of what the franchise has to do to take the next step as a whole.
“It starts today,” Lee said during Monday’s exit interviews. “We are fortunate to actually be able to start our offseason a little bit earlier.”
Miles Bridges chuckled a little when that was relayed back to him, though.
“Well, actually not today, but …” Bridges said, drawing laughter. “Get like two, three days of rest and then just slowly gradually get back into it.”
Yet another important summer beckons for the Hornets, who’re coming off a 19-win season and are destined for the NBA Draft Lottery once again. They’ve become quite familiar with the ballroom inside Chicago’s McCormick Place, spending countless hours in the venue dating back to 2016 — the year this run of playoff-less futility began.
Making a leap as a franchise is a necessity if they are going to have any semblance of a chance to halt the nine-year playoff drought that represents the NBA’s longest current streak. In trying to map out their path to do that, the Hornets’ brass led by president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson has a huge question to answer.
Are the team’s “Core Four” players, headlined by star guard LaMelo Ball and includes Bridges, Brandon Miller and Mark Williams, really good enough to run it back with?
Peterson, at least for now, still believes in the group as a whole.
“Very much so,” Peterson said. “They all have their strengths. This was Charles and my first year, so a lot of it when we open it up was a bit of an evaluation year and period. All four of those guys and really the whole roster, I think there were stretches where I think we showed a ton of positive signs and then I think there were areas to grow in.
“At the end of the day, we’ve all got to be better, starting with myself. That’s going to be something that we address this summer.”
There’s little choice given things just haven’t worked out for the quartet.
Over the last two seasons, the Hornets’ main core of Ball, Williams, Bridges and Miller hasn’t stayed healthy long enough to see what they could truly be. Perfect example: remember in December, when the ‘Core Four’ was available for the first time since Nov. 26, 2023, and the excitement quickly got zapped when Miller sprained his right ankle in the fourth quarter and couldn’t finish the game?
Miller’s season-ending right wrist injury suffered in Utah in January, which is still keeping him out of basketball activities for the next two months at least, put the collective group on ice and further added to the nightmarish recurring theme.
Extracting the most durable player of the four in Bridges, the trio of Ball, Miller and Williams have played together in just 18 of a possible 164 games combined over the past two seasons. That’s a tough blow given the skill set of each, something noticed by Josh Okigie upon his arrival from Phoenix in February.
“That’s probably one of the most balanced core groups that I’ve been a part of,” Okogie said. “You have passing, you have defense, you have rim protection. Some guys who can put pressure on the rim, some guys who can shoot, make tough shots, I don’t think you can find another core group in the league that has the rage of talents both offensively and like this core has.
“I just personally want to see them on the court more. Obviously, it’s stuff that we can’t control, but I’m excited for these guys’ rehab and these guys to have way more time with each other in the summer, and kind of build that chemistry. Because if those four can be on the court at the same time and be healthy, I think the sky’s going to be the limit for this organization.”
That’s a sentiment they share, too.
If he returns — and this season Williams learned firsthand that the NBA is a business — the Hornets’ starting center seems convinced they can get it done building around the four of them.
“For sure,” Williams said. “When we are all out there, it’s definitely a scary sight. When everybody is rolling, I think everybody brings something different to the floor. But when we are all going it’s definitely special. And anticipating a year of full health for everybody and I think at that point is when we can really show that. It’s obviously tough when me and Melo are out there or Miles and Brandon are out there or something like that.
“It’s just a different combination of people. What was it, 45 different starting lineups this year? That’s tough for any team, no matter how you cut it. I think for us, it’s just getting right this summer … everybody getting into a good place physically and continuing to build that chemistry and continuity. And I think from there it’ll be a sight to see.”
Sounds similar to Miller’s thoughts.
“I think it’s a great core, a dangerous core,” Miller said. “We are real capable of beating any team in the NBA, but I feel like that comes with our mindset, our health. I feel like we are a dangerous team when healthy and that’s what we are going to push for this next season. Everybody’s healthy.”
Ball’s view on things is no different.
“I feel we can be real solid, do what everyone is looking for,” Ball said. “The main thing is just like we’ve been saying — staying healthy and playing those games. So, that’s what we’ve got to do.”
Whether they actually get the opportunity to do so is unclear. The hope on their end is to be among the crew that reverses the losing, allowing the Hornets to slowly morph into more of a winner.
“I talk about it all time,” Bridges said. “I want to turn the city of Charlotte around, become an annual playoff team and fight for a championship one day. So, that’s why I’ve just got to keep on working. I’m going to have the guys in the gym this summer. So, we’ve all got the same mindset.”
Which goes back to Lee’s initial mantra: he’s holding off on kicking his feet up somewhere on an island, holding a glass filled a fruity beverage.
“Like I said before, it starts now with their ‘lead by example’ mentality and approach,” Lee said. “I think that we all just need to bunker down and take ownership of our offseason development. We worked last summer — I wasn’t good enough. And now we have to take it to another level. It’s going to start with that ‘Core Four.’ They hold a heavy voice. No matter if they say something or if they don’t say something, people are looking at them for how are they reacting, how are they doing. Even during a game.
“During adverse times, are they nervous, are they feeling the pressure? We take our lead from them. Even before sometimes the head coach, we take our lead from our best players. So, it’s important for those ‘Core Four’ that they’re here consistently, they’re pushing themselves to the limits, and they’re pushing their teammates to hold them accountable. I hope that whether it’s in Charlotte, or if they’re getting together at some point outside of market, it’ll be good for them.”
