How could Charlotte approach the offseason and free agency? When Ball signed a five-year, $204 million extension in 2023, the intention was that he would be the face of the franchise. But that new contract was under the previous ownership and management group. Now with a full year to evaluate, general manager Jeff Peterson will need to decide if Ball is a foundational player or someone they should explore moving for significant draft compensation and players. Ball has played like an All-Star but is on pace to appear in fewer than 50 games for a third straight season. The Hornets will enter the offseason well below the luxury tax and again should be a facilitator for teams looking to shed contracts. Their lone free agents are Tre Mann, Seth Curry and Taj Gibson. — Marks