Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets remain a franchise in search of an identity. It’s been eight years since the team made the postseason and they have yet to advance out of the first round since returning to Charlotte in 2004. Part of their struggles have been linked to injuries for their top talent, specifically LaMelo Ball. Ball has appeared in 58 total games over the past two seasons as recurring ankle injuries have prevented him from building on his 2022 All-Star appearance. Last season, injuries to Mark Williams and Cody Martin further elevated the total dropping the team to third worst in the NBA.

The Hornets ownership group opted to makeover the front office, hiring a new head coach in Charles Lee and naming Jeff Peterson Vice President of Basketball Operations. They also elected to remake the medical staff, expanding the unit and naming Trent Salo as the Vice President of Player Health and Performance. Matthew Tuttle was brought in as Director of Sports Medicine and Bryce Daub as Director of Athletic Performance. Former Memphis Grizzlies athletic trainer Pete Elliott was named associate Head Athletic Trainer to work alongside the only incumbent from last year’s staff Quinton Sawyer. Sawyer, who spent the offseason with Team USA Men’s Basketball in Paris, was promoted to Head Athletic Trainer.

The reformed unit will look to start fresh, each managing a various aspect of player health in hopes of improving a team that has seen their total games lost to injury increase for three consecutive seasons. Unfortunately, they enter the season already short-handed with Williams still recovering from a tendon strain in his foot and guard DaQuan Jeffries sidelined with a broken hand.