CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hornets coach James Borrego put a positive spin on a number of topics at Monday's media day. Playing with pace, defensive strategies, ball movement — his voice was filled with excitement because that's how these things usually go ahead of another season. Every team is tied for first place, after all.
However, there is still a cloud hanging over Charlotte, one that will linger as the 2019-20 campaign kicks into high gear later this month. Without Kemba Walker, a three-time All-Star guard and the franchise's all-time leading scorer, the Hornets lack any sort of identity.
"We gotta move forward," Borrego said. "I honor [Walker]. Love that guy, but it's our job — now my job — to move this organization forward. We'll learn from last year, but this year is about this year's team."
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The idea of moving forward is easier said than done. The team isn't just looking to replace the 25.6 points, 5.9 assists and 4.4 rebounds Walker, now a member of the Celtics, averaged last season — not to mention the production of Charlotte's second-leading scorer, Jeremy Lamb (15.3 points), who signed with the Pacers in free agency. Walker was the clear face of the Hornets, the unquestioned leader within the walls of the Spectrum Center and a fixture in the community since his selection at the 2011 NBA Draft.
"When you have a player of Kemba's magnitude leave the locker room, let's see who steps up, both on the floor and off the floor," Borrego said. "Those guys in there should be salivating right now at this opportunity that's in front of them."
Offseason acquisition Terry Rozier is the obvious choice given he will slide into Walker's old spot. However, the former Celtic has never been the lead guard for a significant portion of the regular season (30 total starts from 2015-19 with Boston). Oddly enough, Rozier rattled off his longest streak of starts during the 2018 playoffs when he jumped off the bench to replace an injured Kyrie Irving, posting 16.5 points, 5.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds in 19 games.
Rozier understands simply playing 30-plus minutes each night brings a new set of challenges without the additional pressure of replacing an iconic figure. He has already pushed back on Walker comparisons knowing that filling those shoes is an impossible task.
"It's annoying because I'm not him, and I don't look to be him," Rozier said. "I get it. He is Kemba. He did a lot for this organization. Leading scorer, that's hard to replace... I'm looking to push this organization in a different way."
At the very least, Rozier knows he will play a prominent role in the Hornets' future after agreeing to a three-year, $58 million deal this past offseason. The same can't be said for much of the rest of the roster.
Borrego's group is a mishmash of youngsters with some potential (Dwayne Bacon, Miles Bridges, Malik Monk, first-round pick PJ Washington) and veterans who don't make sense in a rebuilding scenario (Nicolas Batum, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marvin Williams, Cody Zeller). Borrego said he has "no idea" about a starting five and expects a competitive training camp to determine who will play.
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Perhaps the best illustration of a franchise-in-flux came when Williams and Kidd-Gilchrist offered different answers to similar questions about how they will be utilized as part of a youth movement.
"I think [Borrego has] done a great job with the older guys, just trying to let them know where everything is at, where we stand with everything," Williams said. "I think the biggest thing sometimes with players and coaches is just the communication factor. If you just kind of sit down and communicate and let a guy know what the situation is, that goes a long way.
"And I think JB's done a tremendous job of kind of letting everybody know what their role is gonna be and then what he expects of them, whether that be an older guy or a younger guy."
Shortly after Williams exited the podium, Kidd-Gilchrist entered the room. When asked about how he fits into the Hornets' plans, the former No. 2 overall pick said, "I don't know." When hit with a follow-up question about the amount of communication he has received regarding his place on the team, he declined comment.
With so much uncertainty hanging in the air and previous talent now wearing other jerseys, it would be unreasonable to expect Charlotte to compete for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Borrego defines success as hitting what he calls his four pillars: compete, player development, identity and winning habits.
But again, that's easier said than done. The third pillar could be the most important. There is no Kemba Walker in place, no Zion Williamson or Luka Doncic to inspire hope for the future. The vets will likely be on the move, whether that's before the Feb. 6 trade deadline or after their contracts expire.
What will the Hornets become as they transition into the next decade?
"Even September workouts, we had most of our guys here, it just felt like something was missing," Zeller said. "Kemba, Jeremy Lamb, [former Hornets forward] Frank [Kaminsky], those guys — it just felt like our team wasn't there. This is the group that we're gonna go into the season with, so it will be different for a while. But we'll move forward."
Where that road forward takes the Hornets is anybody's guess.
