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NBA Season Preview 2019-20: The 5 biggest questions for the Charlotte Hornets

By Ian Levy

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 06: Terry Rozier #3 of the Charlotte Hornets warms up before the preseason game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on October 06, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 06: Terry Rozier #3 of the Charlotte Hornets warms up before the preseason game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on October 06, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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The Charlotte Hornets are preparing for life after Kemba Walker. What are the biggest questions they’ll be facing this NBA season?

1. Who will lead the Hornets in scoring this season?

Terry Rozier is pretty sure that Terry Rozier is going to lead the Hornets in scoring this season. Given that he’s going to have the ball in his hands a majority of the time, there’s a good chance he’s going to shoot this one into reality.

Rozier’s usage and field goal attempts per 36 minutes haven’t been astronomical without Kyrie Irving on the floor the past two years — 21.16 and 14.3 respectively. But the Hornets are short on other primary creators and Rozier is the owner of a large new contract and the opportunity to explore the outer reaches of his offensive talent. He’s going to get all the shots he wants and if James Borrego tries to get him to dial it back, Rozier can just raise his eyebrows and point down the bench at the Martin twins and Devonte’ Graham.

2. Who should lead the Hornets in scoring this season?

Honestly, it probably doesn’t matter. There’s almost no way Rozier is the leading scorer on a future iteration of this team that’s a serious playoff contender. Same for Miles Bridges, Malik Monk or any of the other most complementary veterans or young players. There’s not much to lose by letting Rozier, or Bridges, or Monk go wild this year and see if the unbridled pursuit of volume can help them round out other parts of their game.

That being said, Bridges seems the most likely candidate for “important role player” on that hypothetical future contender. Given his limited playmaking ability and nonexistent pull-up game, he would need to develop the most to turn into a viable primary creator but letting him try out that role this season might pay the biggest dividends, even if his future is as an offensive glue guy.

3. How would Nathan Fielder (Nathan for You) fix the Hornets?

This is so obvious, it’s hard to believe that the Hornets’ management team hasn’t come up with it yet. If the Hornets want to win, what they need is some extra motivation, specifically fear-based.

We’ll figure Charlotte needs 46 wins to safely make the playoffs this season, which means 37 losses would eliminate them. Suspend a giant glass case filled with real live Hornets above the arena floor, attached to the scoreboard by 37 cables. Each time they lose a game, cut one of the cables. They either make the playoffs or unleash a devastating swarm of vicious stinging insects to attack themselves, their friends, family and fans.

Problem solved.

4. When people call Terry Rozier “Scary Terry” this year will it be literal or ironic?

Ironic until Halloween. From Nov. 1 through April, it’s all literal baby.

Next. Meet the 2019 NBA 25-under-25. dark

5. When does the Miles Bridges bandwagon have to start turning people away because of overcrowding?

It’s Dec. 22 and the Hornets are visiting Boston for an early pre-Christmas game. The Celtics and Hornets have already played once this season but Kemba was nursing a sore ankle and the emotional payload was never delivered. In what should be a showdown between Kemba and Rozier, it’s Bridges who shines — lighting up Jaylen Brown for 26 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and a poster dunk that literally melts Brad Stevens’ poker face. Just over a week later, on New Year’s Eve, the Celtics arrive in Charlotte and Bridges turns it up to 11 — a career-high 34 points, including a quintet of 3-pointers. When you DM the highlights to your old college roommate he responds, “this dude is for real!!!!”