Hornets’ New Era: Grading Peterson and Lee’s First Season

After years of irrelevance and instability, the Charlotte Hornets entered the 2024-25 season with new leadership and renewed ambition. Following Mitch Kupchak’s resignation, Trent Peterson took over as executive vice president of basketball operations in March 2024. One of his first major moves came quickly — hiring former Celtics assistant Charles Lee as head coach that May.

While injuries and inconsistency marred the season, the Hornets began forming a clear identity through their roster construction and style of play. That foundation offers Peterson and Lee flexibility—and pressure—as they head into a pivotal offseason.

So, how should we grade Year One under this new regime? Let’s dive in.

Trent Peterson

Peterson deserves credit for hiring Lee as the Hornets’ head coach — a move that could shape the organization’s direction for years. Lee brought an offensive system rooted in Boston’s championship success and a defensive mentality that lifted Charlotte from 22nd in opponents’ points per game last season to 16th this year.

Peterson’s draft and free agency decisions were a mixed bag. First-round pick Tidjane Salaün endured a rocky rookie season, while second-rounder KJ Simpson showed flashes of potential down the stretch.

In free agency, Peterson retained Miles Bridges on a three-year, $75 million deal and unearthed several hidden gems — including DaQuan Jeffries, Damion Baugh, and perhaps most notably, Moussa Diabaté. He also swung in-season trades for Josh Okogie and Jusuf Nurkić, which helped land a first-round pick in this year’s draft.

Grade: B

Charles Lee

Charles Lee entered his first season as an NBA head coach with high expectations and a challenging roster. Despite frequent injuries to key players — including LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams — Lee instilled a more structured and modern approach on both ends of the floor.

Offensively, the Hornets showed improved spacing and ball movement, influenced by Lee’s time in Boston. While the team lacked a consistent shot creator for most of the season, their offensive sets were noticeably more fluid than in years past. Defensively, the Hornets made a solid improvement thanks to a commitment to physicality and improved perimeter discipline.

Lee also showed trust in younger players, giving rookies like Simpson meaningful minutes and allowing Brandon Miller to grow into a larger offensive role before his injury. His steady leadership and ability to maintain buy-in during a difficult season were signs of a coach with long-term potential.

Lee’s next step is turning development into wins. With better health and roster refinement, Season Two will offer a clearer picture of his ceiling as a head coach.

Grade: B+

In Conclusion

The 2024–25 season didn’t bring the Charlotte Hornets many wins, but it did deliver something arguably more important: direction. Under Trent Peterson and Charles Lee, the franchise has begun building a foundation rooted in identity, development, and adaptability—all of which have been missing in recent years.

Peterson’s front office decisions weren’t perfect, but showed intent and creativity. Lee, meanwhile, proved capable of maximizing what he had, even amid a season riddled with injuries. With cap space, draft picks, and a growing young core, the Hornets enter the offseason with renewed optimism. Season Two is about progress over perfection — proof that the Hornets are finally moving toward long-term relevance.

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