It's almost mid-October, and as the late, great Brodie Lee once said, 'You know what that means.' The NBA season is nearly upon us, and I'm incredibly excited to see the Charlotte Hornets in action, as they're my favorite basketball team. Each October, I make predictions about what will transpire for the Hornets during the upcoming season. So, let's dive into my list of 10 predictions for what I anticipate will happen during the 2023/24 NBA season.
10. Gordan Hayward will miss half of the season due to an injury.
Has Hayward ever had a healthy season since he suffered that brutal ankle injury when he was a Boston Celtic? Almost every season, Hayward has suffered a serious injury that has sidelined him for significant chunks of the season. He has consistently been injury-prone, and as he gets older, injuries tend to take longer to heal. I can see a scenario where Hayward suffers another injury that keeps him out for a significant portion of the season. I hope that doesn't happen, but Hayward has struggled to stay healthy.
Signing Hayward is going to be regarded as one of the worst decisions made during Michael Jordan's ownership of the team. With his contract expiring at the end of the year, Hayward could find himself playing for a new team next season.
9. The Charlotte Hornets will be involved in a Mr. Beast Video and will have one of their games this season be Mr. Beast day.
If you haven't heard the news, the Charlotte Hornets and Mr. Beast's company, Feastables, have partnered with each other, and the Feastables logo is now featured on the Charlotte Hornets' jerseys. It's a great move, but I have a feeling that this relationship will expand even further. I believe that this season, some of the Charlotte Hornets players will be featured in a Mr. Beast video. I can even envision one of the Hornets' NBA games this season being focused on Mr. Beast, with him doing a ton of giveaways during the game and creating a video centered around the experience.
8. Charlotte Hornets will win their Home Opener against the Atlanta Hawks
I've written about this before in a previous piece, but to me, the opening day game against the Heat is a must-win for the Charlotte Hornets. The team is entering a new era of ownership, they're a young and rising team, and they're facing a divisional rival. The Hornets have to kick off this season on a high note, and it's a crucial moment for the franchise. That's why I have the Hornets defeating the Atlanta Hawks, who themselves have a lot of uncertainties heading into the season. Charlotte needs to get the season started on the right track, making this game a must-win.
7. Cody Martin Will be traded to the Miami Heat sometime this season
As of now, the Hornets' decision to re-sign Martin has been a disaster. He barely played last season due to a knee injury, and with three years left on his deal, his contract is rapidly becoming a liability. This season is a make-or-break one for him, but if he continues to struggle, the Hornets will likely look to move him during the trade deadline. I can envision a scenario where the Hornets trade him to Miami, where his brother Caleb Martin plays, especially with the growing Tyler Herro trade rumors that suggest Charlotte could be involved. It would make sense, and I can see Martin being sent to Miami, allowing the Martin brothers to team up with the Heat, who may be going all in for another playoff run.
6. Brandon Miller will not have a stronger statistical season then Scoot Henderson
As a fan of this franchise, I was incredibly frustrated when the team once again opted for the riskier choice over the more talented player. This has been a recurring theme for this franchise, and it rarely pans out. Do you remember when they selected Malik Monk instead of Donovan Mitchell, who was the consensus best player available and preferred by scouts and Steve Clifford? There are many other examples I could mention.
Yet again, the Hornets seem not to have learned their lesson, passing on Scoot Henderson, who was arguably more talented than Miller. My prediction is that Henderson will have a statistically stronger rookie season than Brandon Miller. Particularly with Damian Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic gone from the Trail Blazers, I believe Henderson will shine in Portland.
5. Kai Jones will be released during the 2023/24 NBA season
I have no idea what's going on with Kai Jones 100%. However, with all the bizarre social media posts that appear to show him under the influence of some type of narcotic, and the fact that many of his teammates are publicly calling him out and unfollowing him, it's definitely not a good sign.
As of this writing, the Hornets announced that Jones would not participate in training camp and would be out indefinitely. First and foremost, I hope everything is okay with him and that he gets the help he needs, whether it's related to drugs or mental health issues. His well-being is what truly matters.
However, I think it's a real possibility that the Hornets may decide to part ways with him. Jones has struggled during his time with the Hornets, and he may have too much baggage for the team to want to keep him. Given the team's existing distractions, it might be best to cut ties. It would be unfortunate to lose Kai, as he showed flashes in the G League, but he has not been able to play consistently in the NBA. Like I said, I hope he gets the help he needs for his issues, but his future with the Charlotte Hornets is certainly in doubt. Especially with him now requesting to be trade from the Hornets.
4. Miles Bridges will be super rusty and will struggle to perform when he returns to the court.
There is no chance that Miles Bridges will immediately perform at the level he did when he previously played in April 2022. Since then, he missed the entire last season due to contract/domestic violence allegations. Just look at Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns; when he missed a large chunk of time due to multiple allegations, he was extremely rusty. Furthermore, Bridges won't play in the first 10 games of the 2023/24 NBA season. It wouldn't surprise anyone if Bridges is quite rusty for the Hornets.
3. LaMelo Ball will be in the NBA All-Star Game this year and lead the team with triple doubles
LaMelo Ball is undeniably the face of the Charlotte Hornets' team. When he's healthy, he stands as the most important and talented player on the court. However, last season, he was plagued by injuries that sidelined him for a significant portion of the season. Ball is expected to bounce back with a strong performance this season, and I firmly believe he will have such a fantastic year that not only will he make an appearance in an NBA All-Star Game, but he will also lead this team in triple-doubles. Only time will tell if my prediction comes true, but Ball's incredible talent makes him crucial to this team.
2. Charlotte Hornets will have an above .500 record
I'm not convinced that Steve Clifford and Mitch Kupchak's jobs are secure for the next season. To ensure their job security, they need to lead the team to at least a .500 record because this team possesses the talent and youthful potential to have a strong season. Winning basketball games is crucial, and if they can't achieve a winning record, more changes may be necessary. With new ownership on the horizon, they may be more inclined to part ways with Clifford and Kupchak, especially considering they were hired by Michael Jordan, not the new ownership. However, this is not the only change that needs to be made, as in my next prediction...
1. The Hornets Will not only make the playoffs, but they will play in the 2nd round
I absolutely do not want to endure another losing season. I simply want this team to win basketball games, and for me, it's playoffs or bust. I don't consider the Play-In Tournament a significant step up; I want this team to make the playoffs and progress to the second round. As I mentioned earlier, I don't believe Kupchak and Clifford's jobs are secure this season, and they will need to excel. Making the playoffs is essential to cement their job security. With the youthful talent on this team, they have the opportunity to make a significant impact and shine in the NBA; they just need to prove it on the court.
So, those are my 10 predictions I have for the 2023/24 NBA Season. What do you think of my predictions? Do you agree or disagree with them? Well, leave a comment on this article and even give it a like as well.
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