Three questions the Hornets face heading into training camp
With training camp about to tip off, here’s what to watch for as your favorite team prepares for the 2015-16 season. Some of these questions will be answered quickly; others could linger into the regular season. Either way, here are three things that will define the first month of this new season:
Will Al Jefferson’s new diet lead to his first All-Star appearance?
Fried chicken is no longer apart of Al Jefferson’s diet. He’s 20 pounds lighter than last season because of it, healthy and (still) a diabolical weapon in the post. Will a svelte frame elevate the 11-year veteran’s game to a new level? Or will Jefferson remain a high-volume scorer who eats possessions, restricts ball movement and hurts Charlotte’s defense?
Is Frank Kaminsky worth four first-round draft picks?
At the draft, Michael Jordan decided Frank Kaminsky was more valuable than four first-round draft picks. The potentially lost opportunity cost will cast an unfairly bright spotlight on the rookie heading into his first NBA season. Will Kaminsky crack Steve Clifford’s rotation right away?
Can Nicolas Batum unlock a perpetually cramped offense?
The Hornets gave Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson to Portland for Nicolas Batum, a do-everything veteran who can hold his own all over the court. But Batum is up for a pricey new contract next summer and coming off a disappointing 2014, which means the decision to give up Vonleh’s rookie-scale contract could sting Charlotte’s backside if their new starting shooting guard doesn’t perform like a reliable secondary ball-handler should.
