We're looking at a fascinating ESPN article that uses one number to define the Hornets' upcoming season: 35.9%. That was LaMelo Ball's league-leading usage rate last year, a number that puts him in historical territory alongside superstars. However, the piece points out his player efficiency rating was the worst in NBA history for that level of usage, asking if he's a true franchise player or just a ball-dominant entertainer. We'll examine the context of that stat—including the severe lack of talent on the floor with him—and propose a different number, his assist-to-usage ratio, as a better indicator of his success this year.

From there, the conversation turns to another young player, Tidjane Salaun. A new redraft of the 2024 class from The Athletic notably left the Hornets' sixth-overall pick out of the top 20 entirely. We'll consider if this is a premature judgment or an early warning sign, reminding everyone that patience was always part of the plan with this raw prospect. Finally, we celebrate Mousa Diabate, who was cut from the French national team, received an offer to return after an injury, and respectfully declined. His choice to focus exclusively on preparing for his season with the Hornets is a fantastic sign of his commitment, and we're excited to see him compete for big minutes in a very thin center rotation.

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