5 biggest disappointments of the 2017-18 NBA season

4. The Hornets meet the Treadmill of Mediocrity

After acquiring Dwight Howard for pennies on the dollar last offseason, the Charlotte Hornets looked like a delightfully mediocre No. 6 seed. In no way would they be a threat to pull off a first-round upset barring an eruption from Howard or Kemba Walker, but they figured to cruise to their third playoff berth in the last five years following last season’s disappointing 36-46 campaign.

Instead, the Hornets are guaranteed to finish 10th in the Eastern Conference, far away from playoff contention and locked into the Treadmill of Mediocrity.

In retrospect, the Hornets should rue the fact they had available cap space during the free-wheeling summer of 2016. Handing Nicolas Batum a monster five-year, $120 million contract fresh off a career season proved to be a devastating mistake, while Marvin Williams has likewise flopped since signing a four-year, $54.5 million deal that same July.

Barring any trades, the Hornets already have nearly $118 million in guaranteed salary on the books for 2018-19, pushing them near luxury-tax territory before factoring in their first-round pick and/or any free-agent additions this offseason. Even more concerning is the fact that their three best players — Walker, Howard and Jeremy Lamb — will all become unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2019.

In essence, the Hornets are stuck in no-man’s land at the moment. Until the bloated salaries for Batum, Williams, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Cody Zeller all disappear, they’ll have no real means of external improvement outside of draft picks and the mid-level exception each year. With that in mind, what incentive does Walker have to re-sign in Charlotte, outside of the Hornets being able to offer him more money than any other suitor?

Charlotte should begin vigorously shopping Walker leading up to the draft, as his trade value will only further plunge as he inches closer toward the end of his contract. Rebuilding may not appeal to team owner Michael Jordan, but the alternative — riding it out with this core until Walker, Howard and/or Lamb depart in free agency, leaving the Hornets empty-handed — is far worse.

Next: 3. The Grizzlies' trade-deadline inaction