Hornets mailbag: What’s the deal with Tre Mann’s future in Charlotte?
Another offseason has arrived for the Charlotte Hornets, once again coming on the heels of a disappointing campaign devoid of a playoff berth.
Following their roller coaster first year under president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson and coach Charles Lee, several decisions must be made. Plenty of questions abound as usual with Hornets.
In this latest mailbag, we answer reader queries about Tre Mann’s situation, Mark Williams’ status with the franchise, what happens if they don’t land Cooper Flagg, the first season under Lee and more.
Tre Mann’s future
@Sweetcheeks asks on Blue Sky: Tre Mann, what happened? Is he expected to be ready week one of next season?
Break out the Mystery Machine.
If Spectrum Center wasn’t undergoing the second phase of its extensive renovations, there’s a safe bet it’d be parked outside at the corner of North Caldwell and East Trade street, and Scooby Doo, Shaggy and the rest of the gang would be lurking for clues somewhere.
Tre Mann, on track to be a restricted free agent this summer, hasn’t spoken publicly since November when he initially got injured and the team never made him available to get his take on exactly what was going on. The expectation was for Mann to address his lower back injury during exit interviews on April 14, the day after the season ended. That didn’t happen though.
Mann, who didn’t accompany the team in the season’s final road trip to Toronto and Boston, wasn’t around to enlighten curiosity seekers during exit interviews. He was out of town doing more rehabilitation, per league sources. Neither Peterson or Lee were asked about it during exit interviews, so there’s no clarification on the part of the team’s brass either.
Sum it all up and there’s zero clarity on where things stand with Mann, who got off to that hot start and became a key sixth man prior to getting knocked out for the season.
Mark Williams
@_HornetsMuse_ asks on X, formerly known as Twitter: How will the Hornets handle Mark Williams moving forward? He is contract extension eligible this offseason, and we’ve already seen them move on from him at the deadline. Do you expect him to be on the roster to start next year?
That’s the $10 million question. And one that doesn’t have a concrete answer at the moment. It really will depend on what kind of market there is for Mark Williams out there following the Lakers essentially, labeling him damaged goods. It’s going to take a team that is a big man potentially away from competing at a level they’re seeking, and if they feel the compensation — whatever it may be the Hornets want a return for Williams — will be good enough to satisfy both parties.
Williams has been very professional about the situation, but it’s hard to believe that after being moved and having to come back, both parties would be completely amicable to a long-term marriage and partnership.
The best scenario for the Hornets to potentially receive compensation maybe similar to what they did with Los Angeles prior to the trade being rescinded, and wait until the trade deadline in February when teams have a better idea of their needs and Williams has played a number of games to prove his health. But his situation will have a real effect on how the Hornets proceed in putting together the 2025 26 roster.
Cooper Flagg
Jacob asks on Blue Sky: How much of the long term strategy hinges upon this particular draft lottery? It certainly feels like landing Cooper Flagg would be an incentive for the front office to keep it together, while picking 6th or 7th would be the first sign to move at least the short term assets (Williams, Bridges) and tear it down.
The Hornets’ long term vision doesn’t necessarily hinge upon things. In the upcoming draft. Peterson, seeing how he’s operated in his first year here on a job, has several plans lined up in place depending on where the Hornets fall in the lottery.
While landing Flagg certainly would likely accelerate that long-term vision and give them more options, depending on what position they feel he will excel at most in the NBA. The Hornets will have to figure out who, if anyone to move to allow him to slot right into the starting lineup.
And picking sixth or seventh? Oh ye of little faith. While apprehension is certainly understandable, let’s not low ball their chances too much. They’re going to get a solid piece to add to their core somewhere in the top 5, but outside of it being Flagg, that player won’t be the reason they break it down and try to reconstruct the roster to build the kind of team ownership is looking for.
Charles Lee
@Nonagonb741 asks on X: The Hornets were dead last in shooting percentage and Charles Lee did not show an ability to adjust. Why are we retaining Lee when there are some well respected coaches with more experience on the market?
You’ve got to be kidding, right? Judging Lee based on how things went for the team in his first season is downright wild. He barely had his expected starting unit and when he did someone got hurt. Are there aspects of his style he wants to refine and improve? Absolutely. Would he do some things differently? Probably. But anyone who takes this season as a true sample size of what kind of Xs and Os coach he is and will be is not thinking rationally.
Yes, other coaches are available with more notches on their resume with championships like Mike Malone and Mike Budenholzer. But the last thing the Hornets can do is show a lack of confidence in the regime they just put together last offseason.
Cutting ties with Lee following one season would not only send a bad message to prospective players and coaches around the league, the Hornets would be looking at their fourth coach since 2021 (five if you want to get technical with Kenny Atkinson turning them down).
That’s a tad too many and playing musical chairs with coaches at this point — regardless of who is available — isn’t a smart play at all.
Summer fun
@rodimusprime asks on X: Which players are staying in Charlotte for the summer?
Several, but we know of at least four for sure. And that included a couple of big ones.
Miles Bridges specifically mentioned that he planned to hang around town more this all season and train, taking a different approach than what he had previously the past couple of seasons. He also mentioned he’ll try to watch some playoff basketball with LaMelo Ball over coming weeks to better get an idea of small things they can pick up here and there in their desire to end the postseason drought.
It’s a start, especially when the duo and Brandon Miller are such key cogs to the team’s success. Miller is also expected to be around to continue rehabilitating his wrist. Tidjane Salaün also told The Observer he expects to spend time in Charlotte during the offseason as well leading into participating in the Las Vegas Summer League in July.
The Hornets could use as much cohesion as possible and building some chemistry over the summer is definitely needed.
