Charlotte Hornets Begin Pivotal Offseason Rebuild Amid NBA Playoff Drought

The Charlotte Hornets are entering a pivotal offseason focused on rebuilding their roster and strengthening team culture under coach Charles Lee, who remains optimistic despite a disappointing 19-63 record that extended their playoff drought to nine years. The team holds the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and is evaluating key players like Tre Mann, Jusuf Nurkic, and Mark Williams while emphasizing player health and cohesion, particularly LaMelo Ball's recovery. Miles Bridges, the longest-tenured player, is taking a leadership role by organizing voluntary workouts to foster growth and unity among teammates. Coach Lee highlights the importance of stability, structure, and a carefully planned offseason schedule to develop winning habits and improve the team's trajectory. The Hornets' draft history has been marked by missteps, but recent years show signs of progress with better talent evaluation and a clearer vision for the future. Overall, the franchise is hopeful that its core young players and offseason moves will finally end the long playoff drought and set the foundation for success.