Photo: Peter Baba

The Charlotte Hornets may have quietly assembled one of the league’s most versatile backcourts. With LaMelo Ball, Collin Sexton, Tre Mann, Spencer Dinwiddie, Nick Smith Jr., rookie Kon Knueppel, and defensive-minded Sion James, Charlotte has an arsenal of ball-handlers and decision-makers.

Coach Lee sees this not as a problem of “too many guards,” but as an opportunity to match the league’s evolution:

“I think we had a pretty good roster last year, but this year we are definitely a little more versatile… If we watch the league, everybody’s playing a lot faster, it’s becoming a lot more positionless… Having so many guards and so many competitors with high basketball IQ… is gonna help us be able to play in a lot of different ways.”

In today’s NBA, versatility is currency. The Hornets now have the ability to put multiple playmakers on the floor at once, increasing ball movement, pace, and adaptability.

Smaller, faster lineups can attack mismatches and push the tempo, while still having the length and smarts to defend multiple positions.

This guard-heavy roster isn’t just about depth – it’s about flexibility. And as Lee hints, it’s about embracing a style of basketball where titles are won by teams that can play big or small, fast or slow, without sacrificing execution.

Charles Lee Talks Hornets Offseason https://t.co/S9eVrSMk82 pic.twitter.com/6zBVy1JxcO