East Notes: Hornets, Tre Mann, Heat, Knicks

Hornets

Guard Tre Mann may be the biggest X-factor for the Hornets this year, wrote Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report.

Mann, of course, was acquired from the Thunder as part of a trade involving since-retired forward Gordon Hayward in February.

In 28 games with the Hornets, mann averaged 11.9 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.5 rebounds, shooting 45% from the field and 36% on 3-pointers.

“Late-season samples can be misleading, and it wasn’t just the Oklahoma City Thunder’s depth that limited Mann’s opportunities on his previous team,” Hughes wrote. “But the combo guard looked like a real rotation option after landing in Charlotte.

“Of Mann’s 21 double-digit scoring performances last season, 18 came with the Hornets. Crafty on the ball and flashing playmaking chops for the first time in his career, Mann could be the kind of rising talent a rebuilder like the Hornets desperately needs. With good size at 6-foot-5 and a high level of comfort on or off the ball, Mann projects as a good fit with Charlotte’s top young pieces, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.”

There are other reasons to believe.

“There were even a few indicators that Mann, not known as a defender, could help out on the other end as well,” Hughes added. “Though slight of frame and inexperienced, the 2021 first-rounder showed an active, disruptive streak in Charlotte last year, ranking in the 91st percentile at his position in steal rate. If he replicates or builds on that production, Mann would give the Hornets an intriguing third guard with the potential to be more than that.”

• Charlotte head of basketball operations Jeff Peterson isn’t ruling out rookie forward Tidjane Salaun being a rotational player. “I never want to sit here and limit a player,” Peterson told reporters. “Ultimately, you don’t know in terms of how good they can be. I know he’s going to maximize himself because he works, he’s going to put the time in the weight room, on the court.”

Heat

While the offseason hardly has been notable, the Heat could have some reasons to believe. At least, that seems to be the belief of veteran NBA insider David Aldridge of The Athletic.

“At this writing, Miami is hunkering down with its current core rather than looking to make a big splash via trade, as it explored all through last summer with Damian Lillard,” Aldridge wrote. “The Heat have reason to believe they can contend next season with a return to health from Jimmy Butler, a full season from Terry Rozier and another young big in Kel’el Ware to back up Bam Adebayo.

“I’m not quite as sanguine about Miami’s chances to seriously contend in the East, especially after Philly and New York loaded up to challenge Boston, without a bigger offseason move. But Miami has always done things its way and believed in its own people, and usually with good results.”

• Guard Tyler Herro, for one, said he believes the Heat are deep enough to contend, as we relayed here.

Knicks

Knicks legend Walt Frazier is among the many who believe in the team’s chances to be a true contender next season.

New York last won a championship 51 years ago.

“I see the vibes,” Frazier said, via Zach Braziller of the New York Post. “I see a lot of similarities with [our] championship teams, starting with the coach. [Tom Thibodeau] is a lot like Red Holzman. He holds the guys accountable, and they’re defensive-oriented, and the players actually like each other.

“I think this is going to be our year. Obviously, health is going to play a big factor into it. But if the Knicks can stay healthy, I think we can get back to our former grandeur.”