When the Charlotte Hornets' roster was starting to take shape this summer, many folks were quick to posit that center would be the team's Achilles' heel. However, two weeks of preseason action have appeared to nip that notion in the bud. The position the Hornets may have to worry about, though, is power forward.
The big man corps, consisting of Moussa Diabate, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Mason Plumlee, had fans and analysts wondering if Charlotte plans on mailing it in this season. Positioning itself to secure a top draft pick in 2026 sounds like a logical strategy. However, years of losing may have already taken its toll on the franchise and its supporters, and another campaign of deliberately collecting losses could push players, particularly the longer-tenured ones, and fans over the edge.