The Charlotte Hornets will be coming into the new NBA season with a new look, hopeful for the future.
Gone is star point guard LaMelo Ball after the team decided to trade him to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Forward Miles Bridges is out too, being traded to the Phoenix Suns.
This is a new era of Hornets basketball, with forward Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel leading the way. The Hornets could be a very fun team, even if they aren't seen as true title contenders.
But entering the new season, here are five bold predictions about the Hornets:
1. Brandon Miller Makes All-Star Team
With Miller being the first option now , an All-Star selection may not be the boldest of takes. But given how strong the rest of the league is with star power, it could be.
Miller becomes the player that Charlotte expected when they took him No. 2 overall a few years ago. The forward fully breaks out, earning an All-Star selection.
2. Charlotte Finishes Top-3 in Offensive Rating
The Hornets finished last season as a top-five offense in the league. But this year, they will take things up a notch, finishing in the top-three.
Charlotte started last year off on a slow pace, but the middle and end were special. Expect the Hornets to be a high-flying group all year long.
3. Kon Knueppel Breaks Klay Thompson's Record for Threes in a Game
Knueppel broke multiple three-point records last season, and this year he is gunning for more. The breakout star will take down Klay Thompson's record for three-pointers in a game, which sits at 14.
Knueppel made eight in a game last season, and he will almost double that. The Hornets star will end with 15, claiming the single-game record as his own.
4. Naz Reid Justifies LaMelo Ball Trade
Trading away the franchise player is never easy, but Ball wasn't taking this team anywhere. Landing Reid for him helps out a lot, while also getting a first-round pick in 2033.
Reid gets his chance to be a starter this season, and he will shine for the Hornets. The big man anchors the Hornets' frontcourt, and the team is justified in trading away Ball.
5. Hornets End Year as 9th Seed, But Fall in Play-In Tournament
While the Eastern Conference is much tougher than it was a year ago, the Hornets have a solid group of players who can compete each night. The defense may be a work in progress, but with Reid on the roster, it could drastically help things.
Some teams will be resting starters throughout the year, which could see them drop some games. But the Hornets will be all gas from the start, and this helps them earn a spot in the Play-In Tournament, although the quest to break the playoff drought falls short again.
