Mid-Season Report Card: Hornets

The League Pass team of the year might be able to face some great teams in the first round. For now, enjoy the young buzzing Hornets.

"Hair on fire"

Eric Collins and Dell Curry are incredible. It's not often that the commentators are mentioned at the beginning of a team report, but if you watch even five minutes of a Hornets broadcast you'll understand why.

There's no fun to be had without the team, though, and the players are electric. Led by the flashy and versatile rookie LaMelo Ball, Charlotte has competed at a high level and pulled together enough wins to be in the playoff hunt in the East.

The team has loads of young guys playing fun basketball including Miles Bridges, Malik Monk, and the Martin twins. Solidified by veteran Terry Rozier and star Gordon Hayward, the Hornets have themselves a squad.

Ceiling

Charlotte was expected to be bad. People questioned why Gordon Hayward wanted to come to the Hornets, and why the Hornets were willing to pay him. They aren't exactly a free agent destination, so it makes sense that Michael Jordan, Mitch Kupchak and company would overpay for Hayward.

Regardless, he's the leader of this team averaging 21/5/4 on almost 50/40/90. If it wasn't for an 86% (which is still amazing) free throw average, he'd be in the club.

Hayward may be the leader, but the seller of seats and face of the team is none other than runaway ROTY LaMelo Ball, who has unparalleled confidence to go along with a masterful basketball IQ.

Together with Ball, Hayward, and company, Charlotte has left everyone shocked with not only their play, but their marketability. Charlotte hasn't been this talked about, ever. Now fans have lots to cheer about, and hopefully the team retains this throughout the second half of the season and beyond.

So what is the Hornets' ceiling? Sensible nature would say they'll be bounced in the first round, but sensible nature also had them at the bottom of the standings before the season. Similar to New York, Charlotte might see a balancing out of their record, but both teams are legitimate playoff contenders.

Look for the Hornets to play hard in a first round series against a juggernaut. Their time will come.

Grade:

A