The Charlotte Hornets have officially been eliminated from playoff contention following a late-March loss to the Miami Heat. This marks the ninth straight season without a postseason appearance — a stretch that now stands as one of the longest active playoff droughts in the NBA.

With another year lost, it’s clear that Charlotte is at a crossroads. To become a contender in an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference, the Hornets must take a hard look at their roster, player development and front-office strategy.

That change needs to begin with the 2025 and 2026 NBA drafts and potentially some difficult decisions regarding their current core.

Charlotte’s 2024-2025 season has been nothing short of a disaster. The team has currently won less than 25% of their games and is on pace to have more than 60 losses this season. They are currently the third worst team in the NBA in terms of record, only ahead of the Washington Wizards and the Utah Jazz.

Despite having some promising pieces on paper, nothing has translated into on-court success.

One of the most obvious issues for the Hornets is their injuries. While injuries are common in the NBA, the Hornets’ situation has become increasingly worrisome.  They are currently seventh for most games missed due to injury, according to Spotrac. However, the concern comes from the fact that the team is one of the youngest in the NBA.

Injuries have hit the team’s core especially hard. LaMelo Ball, the team’s star point guard and primary offensive weapon, has missed significant time yet again. Since entering the league, Ball is on pace to have played only 56% of all games for Charlotte, and this season will end early for him again due to recurring ankle and wrist injuries.

His flashy playmaking and deep-range shooting are incredibly valuable when he’s healthy, but his inability to stay on the court is becoming a major concern for the front office.

Rookie sensation Brandon Miller, the second overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, has also been shut down for the remainder of the season due to a wrist injury. While Miller showed flashes of elite scoring ability and defensive potential early on, his development has stalled just when the team needed him most.

Additionally, center Mark Williams — another foundational piece — is still facing uncertainty after being sent back to Charlotte following a failed physical with the Los Angeles Lakers. With two of these players out for the season and one in questionable condition, the Hornets have been forced to rely on a mix of bench talent, two-way players and G League call-ups.

These injuries only tell part of the story, though.

On the offensive side, the team lacks players who can consistently create shots or create offensive plays. Outside of Ball, there are few — if any — players who can reliably break down a defense or generate scoring opportunities off the dribble. As a result, the Hornets rank near the bottom of the league in most offensive metrics according to ESPN, particularly in three-point shooting, where they convert just 34% of their attempts.

In a league where spacing and efficiency from deep are critical to success, that number is a serious concern.

Defensively, the Hornets have struggled to communicate and rotate, often getting caught out of position or beaten on second-chance opportunities. Without a true defensive anchor or veteran leadership on the floor, the team frequently looks disorganized and outmatched, especially against high-level opponents.

Looking ahead, Charlotte desperately needs to make some changes. While it’s true that Miles Bridges is shining with most of the Hornets starters being out, he alone is not enough.

LaMelo Ball has frequently struggled with injury in his five seasons in the NBA. Perhaps it’s time to move on and see if they can get a stake in the 2025 NBA draft, which they currently have no first-rounders for.

Being that the draft is set to be one of the most stacked in recent history, this could be the perfect time to make much-needed changes and opt for a reset.

After being one of the worst teams in the league for almost a decade, something needs to change for Charlotte, and that might involve some hard decisions that ultimately benefit the team down the line.