“We talked about this isn’t just a preseason game, this is a hell of an opportunity to get better and to play someone else.” Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee recently revealed what transpired in the pre-game discussion between him and LaMelo Ball. In his first three seasons with the Hornets, the player had established himself as one of the team’s top scorers. Thus, it didn’t help that prior to the recent Knicks matchup, the 23-year-old had been absent from the NBA court for a staggering 254 days. Having played during the Hornets’ pre-season debut game, North Carolina fans may be questioning whether the player would return for the next one as well. While there is good news in that regard, it is also accompanied by a concerning update.

Earlier today, an X account called ‘HornetsHoops’ shared details from the franchise’s latest injury report. LaMelo Ball’s name was absent. This suggests that, barring any emergencies or personal matters, there is no reason for the player to miss the game. Unfortunately, the report does carry the names of four players: Mark Williams, Grant Williams, Cody Martin, Nick Smith Jr. On top of that, all four of them have been listed as ‘OUT’ for the upcoming game.

Before the commencement of the pre-season, LaMelo Ball had been absent from the main lineup since January 26. He was initially sidelined after developing a lingering soreness in his surgically repaired right ankle. Later on, however, he was diagnosed with tendinopathy, leaving no doubt that the player would be absent for the remainder of the season. His non-availability proved harmful to the Hornets, as they would go on to only establish a 15–38 win record. By the time the regular season came to a close, the team was occupying the third-last seed on the Eastern Conference points table.

Mark Williams’s status had been questionable even before the start of the pre-season, as he developed a left foot strained tendon during an offseason workout. After missing training camp, the team announced on September 27th that they would “re-evaluate” him in two weeks. Williams did average 12.7 points and 9.7 rebounds during the previous season, but his back issue only allowed him to appear in 19 games.

Recruited by the Hornets in 2024, Grant Williams’ 13.9 points average provided hope that another scorer would change the team for the better. However, thanks to a recent hamstring, he won’t play for some time. This is also true for Cody Martin and Nick Smith Jr., who are suffering from wrist and groin injuries respectively. Although these injuries will significantly impact the team’s positioning, the starting lineup will remain largely unaffected.

The Charlotte Hornets starting lineup and depth chart for the Miami Heat clash

LaMelo Ball’s presence during the debut pre-season matchup against the Knicks showed that the franchise is almost back on track. The player was instrumental in leading the scoring effort through his 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists. Four other players followed through by scoring in the double digits. Despite the Hornets’ 111-109 loss, the narrow margin suggests that the starting lineup, including Ball’s position, should stay intact for the upcoming game against the Heat. This close result highlights the potential for success if they maintain their current strategy.

Except for Mark Williams, none of the other players declared ‘OUT’ belong in the main lineup. Since the Hornets prioritized Nick Richards as the secondary center during Williams’ absence, they are likely to do the same in the upcoming game. With Cody Williams and Mark Green absent, the strain on Josh Green and Miles Bridges would only increase. Having clocked 21 and 22 minutes respectively against the Knicks, their playtime may remain the same, or increase, against the Heat. Since Nick Smith Jr. is the 5 Shooting Guard of the squad, his absence would not affect the Hornets a lot.

Based on these observations, the starting lineup for the Hornets against the Miami Heat could be:

The Charlotte Hornets or the Miami Heat? Who will you be rooting for? Let us know in the comments below.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.