Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) pregame at Spectrum Center. Scott Kinser USA TODAY NETWORK
It’s been quite the start for the Charlotte Hornets.
The past two months were flooded with injuries, causing first-year coach Charles Lee to mix-and-match lineups on virtually a nightly basis. Things haven’t gone exactly according to plan, and there are plenty of questions surrounding the team.
In this latest mailbag, we answer reader queries about when Mark Williams’ minutes will increase, what’s going on with Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball, whether the Hornets could move a particular player by the trade deadline and more.
Mark Williams’ minutes
@buzz_szn asks on X, formerly known as Twitter: How soon do you expect Mark Williams to be fully ramped up and be a starter?
It seems like people tend to forget Mark hasn’t played in a string of competitive NBA games in about a calendar year. How can anyone truly expect him to come back after 12 months and jump into the swing of things immediately?
Even if Williams played for a good chunk of 2023-24, after missing all of training camp and the initial 21 games of this season, there’s no way he could boast the same kind of conditioning levels as those who’ve been healthy and had the chance to run up and down the floor with some of the world’s top athletes.
Patience is going to be necessary for Hornets fans who want the team to fully unleash the 7-footer. A cautious approach remains in the plans and Williams’ minutes should see an uptick slowly. But don’t expect the 30-plus minutes per game version of Williams anytime soon.
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) walks off the court after losing to the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Brad Penner USA TODAY NETWORK
What’s up with Miles Bridges?
Evan asks on X: Miles Bridges update?
The team hasn’t given an official update on his status and likely won’t specify anything in terms of his actual game readiness prior to Friday’s matchup in Chicago with the Bulls. He continues to trend in the right direction.
Barring any setback during the next couple of days, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in uniform again at some point within the next week. Exactly when that happens will depend on his return-to-play plan and how his knee responds after each session.
Could Vasa Micic have a new team after deadline?
chrisWITHsports asks on X: Do you think Vasa Micic could be made available?
Honestly, there are just a select few who should be considered untouchables on this roster. Digging into that current bunch, which includes Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball, Vasa Micic isn’t among them. Yes, he’s been thrust into a major backup point guard role because of the injuries to Ball and Tre Mann — along with KJ Simpson still being a raw product.
But Simpson has shown he’s capable of handling those duties, and because he’s somebody the Hornets’ hierarchy picked during their first major draft together, Simpson is viewed more of our future piece than Micic. Similar to how things were when Micic came on board with the Hornets last February in the trade sending Gordon Hayward to Oklahoma City, he could be part of a package sent to another team by the trade deadline in two months.
Right now, he provides insurance at a position constantly juggling injuries.
LaMelo Ball’s recovery
SRT asks on X: When will LaMelo Ball be back and how is his recovery going?
His recovery is on track by all indications, especially with him hoisting shots after practice last week. If everything goes according to the Hornets’ initial timeline, that answer should be forthcoming within the next day or so. Remember, when Ball originally got hurt the team said he’d be re-evaluated two weeks following the injury.
That has him in line for an update at some point before Friday’s outing in Chicago, when the Hornets have to submit their official report leading into their date with the Bulls.
Judging 2024-25
Alex Dunham asks on Blue Sky: With us being around 30% through the season, what would the coaching staff say are the indicators we should look for as fans that our team is improving and successful?
There are two indicators when it comes to the Hornets and Charles Lee. The first is a term the coach uses frequently, and that is “daily improvement.” It’s very important for this core group of players to come in with a lunch pail mentality and do whatever is possible to become better at their craft. If each individual focuses on the subtle tasks and things the coaching staff is asking from them, then collectively the Hornets can make a leap and be a tough out during crunch-time situations.
Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee reacts during the second half against the Miami Heat at the Spectrum Center. Sam Sharpe USA TODAY NETWORK
Learning how to finish and stack up winning plays is the next step for this team. But, hey, at least they’re getting there. And that’s the other indicator that things should be better further down the horizon.
Despite all the injuries, the Hornets are not only hanging with teams. They’ve picked up a win or two they weren’t expected to collect due to the sheer number of people who are in street clothes. That shows the kind of command Lee has on the group.
It doesn’t matter to him if the Hornets are without several key players. Lee is trying to instill a culture, no matter who is available and some of the recent results can be viewed as encouraging for that very reason.
The Charlotte Observer
Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly.