CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Coming off just their second NBA playoff berth in 10 seasons of existence, the Charlotte Hornets appear willing and ready to take another step forward in improvement just as they have in each of the last two seasons.
Owner Michael Jordan and general manager Rich Cho brought in more big-name free agents and drafted two players in the first round that they expect to be a staple of the franchise for years to come.
The question is whether or not some of the players that were already on the roster are ready or able to show vast improvement over last season.
Cho met with the media to address some of those areas, as training camp is set to begin on Tuesday.
Cho said Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has been working on his jump shot with assistant coach Mark Price, who was one of the top shooting point guards in the NBA during the 1990s. It is by far the weakest part of Kidd-Gilchrist's game and may ultimately prevent him from being a consistent starter.
Shooting guard Gary Neal dropped nearly 25 pounds this offseason in order to improve his strength and conditioning, Cho added.
However, the most questions surrounding the improvement and future of the team involve fourth-year point guard Kemba Walker, who is a fan favorite but has also had his fair share of problems shooting.
Last season, Walker shot a woeful 39.3 percent from the field, which ranked 28th in shooting from the top 30 scoring point guards.
"Kemba worked a ton this offseason," Cho said. "He worked a lot on his (long) range shooting and just being in the gym a lot more and being here in Charlotte has really helped him. ... He's done it in the past, but I think he's just more focused and become more of a leader. He's kind of rallied the guys to come here and workout, also."
It's no secret the Hornets have been among the league's worst in outside shooting and it's been a point of emphasis for Cho and Jordan to find improvement there.
Charlotte surprised a lot of people during the offseason by signing shooting guard Lance Stephenson away from the Indiana Pacers. He was a top priority for Indiana, but in the end he became a Hornet. This should immediately help Charlotte in perimeter shooting.
But whether or not Walker improves his shooting, which has been subpar his entire career, could determine just how well this team does this season.
"He's been working hard on that," Cho said. "Range shooting is going to be important for him if he wants to take another step as a player. I think he realizes that. He's been working hard."
The Hornets will sign veteran forward Jason Maxiell to a contract Friday. The 6-foot-7, 260-pound Maxiell has played nine seasons between Detroit and Orlando.
Last season with the Magic, he averaged 3.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in just over 14 minutes of action per game.
Maxiell brings some extra insurance for the Hornets, who will be without rookie forward Noah Vonleah, who underwent surgery earlier this month for a sports hernia.
Cho said he has had some discussions with Walker's agent about a contract extension, though he added he wouldn't say what was discussed or whether or not a deal is imminent.
The Hornets have until the end of October to sign Walker to an extension, otherwise he will become a restricted free agent next offseason.
Follow Brett Jensen on Twitter at @Brett_Jensen
