Fansided

NBA Southeast Division: Without LeBron, who’s the favorite?

By Andy Livingston

Apr 23, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Charlotte Bobcats center Al Jefferson (25) is pressured by Miami Heat center Chris Bosh (1) in game two during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Charlotte Bobcats center Al Jefferson (25) is pressured by Miami Heat center Chris Bosh (1) in game two during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Noah Vonleh (Indiana) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number nine overall pick to the Charlotte Hornets in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Noah Vonleh (Indiana) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number nine overall pick to the Charlotte Hornets in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

The moniker of “Hornets” returned to Charlotte this year and the team is poised to keep on rising. Drafting Noah Vonleh and PJ Hairston in the first round of this year’s draft added some good young talent to Steve Clifford’s bench, but losing Josh McRoberts was a blow to their perimeter shooting. Vonleh can shoot from outside, but as Summer League games have indicated, the talent is still a little raw.

It also seems the Hornets have lost out on the Gordon Hayward lottery since their 4-year/$63 million offer was matched by the Utah Jazz. They also whiffed a little on their two signings of Brian Roberts for backup PG and Marvin Williams for Charlotte’s Annual Overpaid Forward. If Al Jefferson can heal over the off-season and it the young group of guys in Cody Zeller, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Hairston and Vonleh can progress, the Hornets have a really good foundation to work on if all things click. (Editor’s note: Lance Stephenson appears to be signing here as well)

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