How can the Hornets replicate Detroit's formula next season?

It's so much easier said than done. If the Hornets want to make the postseason, they desperately need to be healthy. The team has only seen its core four of LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Mark Williams, and Brandon Miller play eight total games together since Miller was drafted in the summer of 2023.

They missed Tre Mann and Grant Williams for essentially the entire season, lost Josh Okogie for a month and a half, saw Josh Green go in and out of the lineup, and towards the end of the season saw Nick Smith Jr start to get injured.

Injury luck is never something you can bank on, it's exactly that: luck. That being said, if the Hornets can stay healthy, they are certainly going to be playing meaningful basketball in April. Before Mann went down, before Grant went down, before Mark came back, the team was 6-7. They went 13-56 for the remainder of the season.

Staying healthy is priority number one if the squad wants to break the league's longest postseason drought.

The Draft

The team owns 14% odds at the top selection in June's draft, similar to Detroit last season. Detroit fell to pick five, selecting Ron Holland out of the G-League Ignite.

This draft class is significantly better and set to be more impactful than the 2024 class was. No matter where the Hornets land, they will land someone who makes an impact in year one. Whether it be Duke's Cooper Flagg, one of Rutgers' duo of Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, Baylor's Ace Bailey, or Texas's Tre Johnson, the team will be successful in this draft.

It immediately brings in another impact player, and probable starter, into a starting lineup already involving four good NBA players. If the team were to land, say, Bailey, a starting lineup of Ball/Miller/Bridges/Bailey/Williams is a postseason caliber roster.

They own two of the top four second round picks, which could help them jump back into the first round if there is a player they like. Draft night is set to be extremely exciting for the city of Charlotte.

Free Agency

During free agency, the Pistons added Malik Beasley, Tobias Harris, and Paul Reed. Each one of them immediately came in and helped bring the team to success, with Beasley almost winning Sixth Man of the Year.

While the free agency class this season is not incredibly exciting, there are some names that could interest the Hornets:

1. Luke Kennard

2. Bruce Brown Jr

3. Pat Connaughton

4. Khris Middleton

5. Jake LaRavia

The Hornets really only need one of these guys to help make an impact. If Khris Middleton were looking to take a smaller role under a familiar face, Charlotte could be the perfect destination. Speaking of...

Coaching

The Pistons hired J.B. Bickerstaff, who was a Coach of the Year finalist. The Hornets do not need to hire a new head coach, as they found their man for the foreseeable future.

Lee is a winner. Every single franchise he has worked with has been a winner with him there. He's the right man to take the Hornets back to the postseason, and the franchise should be excited to have him at the helm.

Playoffs in Charlotte. One season away.

- MORE STORIES FROM HORNETS ON SI -

Hornets Mailbag: Upcoming draft lottery, NBA Draft, impact on Hornets players + more

Buy or sell: LaMelo Ball will be with Hornets beyond current deal

Mark Williams mock trade: Hornets link up with Magic for young player swap

Is Tre Mann 100% healthy? Latest workout video looks encouraging