Kemba Walker is a lock to start next season for the Charlotte Hornets, and Nic Batum is a virtual lock.
Beyond that, a new general manager in Mitch Kupchak and new coach in James Borrego will look to open competition for minutes in training camp in September and beyond. The priorities of Borrego’s predecessor, Steve Clifford, no longer matter.
Borrego’s agenda is to play at a faster pace (particularly attacking defenses more in the first five to eight seconds of possessions) and an emphasis on quick, decisive ball movement.
Kupchak reinforced Sunday in a conference call with Charlotte media that the Hornets are not in rebuilding mode and that one of the goals for next season is reaching the Eastern Conference playoffs.