East Notes: Hornets, LaMelo Ball, Wizards, Knicks

Hornets

At least one NBA insider shared some doubts as to whether Hornets standout LaMelo Ball should be a top option.

“I don’t know that LaMelo Ball can play winning basketball,” ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said on The Hoop Collective podcast. “I don’t know if LaMelo Ball can be the franchise player on a winner, because he’s got a pretty ’empty-calories’ game. I mean, the man can fill up a box score, but his efficiency — even despite the fact that he shot the three pretty well — his efficiency is garbage. His defense is horrific. And I don’t see a lot of evidence that the guy considers winning to be a priority.”

It sounds harsh, but MacMahon brings up some valid points. Perhaps new coach Charles Lee can bring out the very best in him. It will also help if Ball finally manages to avoid injury and stay on the floor more often than not.

Either way, the Hornets have some good vibes entering the season with the likes of Ball, Miles Bridges and especially, Brandon Miller. Basically, there are worse ways to go into a game.

Wizards

Head of basketball operations Michael Winger is attempting to build a deep, athletic team with lots of quality wings, it seems. And why not? The Wizards need to start somewhere.

“The Wizards want size, versatility, and flexibility at every position,” wrote Tyler Watts of Fansided. “At his peak, Alex Sarr is likely a stretch five with the ability to switch onto the perimeter. If Carlton Carrington turns into the team’s bucket-getter with Bilal Coulibaly and Kyshawn George serving as versatile wings, Washington is on to something.”

The Wizards are indeed filed with — if nothing else — intrigue. Along with the names already mentioned, they also feature the likes of newcomers Jonas Valanciunas and Malcolm Brogdon, as well as holdovers such as Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Poole and Corey Kispert. Marvin Bagley III and Saddiq Bey (when healthy) figure to factor in as well.

In other words, the roster is better than last season (on paper, anyway), and there at least seems to be a plan in place. Whether it leads to more success right away, well, that is the question.

Knicks

After adding Mikal Bridges in a trade with the Nets, the Knicks enter the season with sky-high hopes. Former NBA great Kevin Garnett said those hopes make sense. But …

“New York is trying to do something special,” Garnett said on KG Certified. “(The) only problem is (there’s a big old buzzsaw right above them, that’s a green buzzsaw that’s cutting everything in half.”

Garnett, of course, was referring to the reigning champion Celtics.

“The Knicks are definitely trying to make a move and constructed a special roster this offseason,” Garnett added. “But, Lord they got a green buzzsaw, aka The C’s, hanging right over their head. It’s going to take a real two-way guard combo to make noise next year.”

We’ll get to see how the Knicks stack up right away. They open the season, on the road, against those very Celtics.