Here's the next installment of our team-by-team season preview series on the Charlotte Hornets.

2014-15 Record: 33-49

Notable Acquisitions: Nic Batum (Trade), Spencer Hawes (Trade), Frank Kaminsky (Draft), Jeremy Lin (FA), Tyler Hansbrough (FA)

Notable Departures: Lance Stephenson, Gerald Henderson, Bismack Biyombo

Temperature Check:

Following a surprise playoff appearance the year before, injuries, an embarrassing lack of shooting and a risky offseason move for Lance Stephenson saw the Hornets sink back toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference. But this offseason, Stephenson is out and in his place are a plethora of shooters. Charlotte is hoping this revamped roster will be enough to get them back in the playoff race.

Inside the Playbook:

When you play a team that employs Al Jefferson, you know what to expect -- lots and lots of post ups. Long one of the league’s most respected post presences, Jefferson will hope to once again propel Charlotte into the playoffs with his work on the low block.

To categorize the Hornets' offense as simply throwing the ball into Jefferson and letting him go to work is doing them a disservice. Like with pick-and-rolls, there are lots of different ways to get the ball to someone like Jefferson in the post and Charlotte uses pretty much all of them.

From a simple transition push into a post up while the defense is still getting settled….

….to the use of a cross-screen in the half-court….

….to classic NBA “drop” action….

….opponents can’t lock in on any one single type of post up.

Because of the variety of ways to get him the ball, Jefferson doesn’t need spend every possession trying to battle opposing big men for low block positioning or, more importantly, go against a defense that’s set and keyed on him right from the start. So while opposing defense may know Jefferson is getting the ball, will always have to figure out  when, how and where it’ll happen.

Lineup to Watch:

The non-Al Jefferson ones

Last year, the Hornets were marginally better with Jefferson on the floor than with their low-post professor on the bench (-2.8 to -3.5, per NBA.com). Heading into this season, it will be interesting to see how much that number changes.

On one hand, there’s an argument to be made that without Jefferson the Hornets other frontcourt combinations could be a disaster. Tyler Hansbrough is a rebounding machine but has limited range and virtually no post skills. Frank Kaminsky is a rookie with some potential a stretch big, but will likely struggle physically in his first NBA campaign. Cody Zeller is active and mobile, but not a true stretch big, great pick-and-roll finisher or skilled low post player. Then Spencer Hawes is a stretch 5 who struggled with his shot last season (obviously not a promising development). Looking at it that way, Jefferson is the lone big with a truly defined skill/role.

With that said, however, there’s also another way to view the Hornets frontcourt personnel. Jefferson may have a standout skill, but it’s as a post player with two (three if you include Nic Batum) pick-and-roll point guards. The other combinations, while operating mostly in theory, can offer the ideal combination of skills.

Zeller and Hansbrough make fine pick-and-roll partners for Charlotte’s point guards. Hawes and Kaminsky can use their perimeter-based games to complement either player and open up the paint. And this potential offensive boost doesn’t even take into account the fact that replacing Jefferson from a defensive standpoint could make for a stingier defense.

There just isn’t much data to point one direction or the other when it comes to how this will all shake out. We will just have to find out this season if Jefferson’s presence helps or hurts this Hornets team.

The Wildcard:

Jeremy Lamb

For his entire NBA career, talent has never been the issue for Lamb’s success. A long wing with a nice array of offensive skills, Lamb has just never been able to put it together at the NBA level. Now in Charlotte, he may get a chance at grabbing a decent chunk of minutes given the injury to Kidd-Gilchrist.  

Lamb has looked solid in the preseason before an ankle injury sidelined him for the past couple games. And solid is really all the Hornets need from him.

The reason for a shooter/scorer as gifted as Lamb to shoot in the low 40s from the field (he’s at 42.2 percent career) and below league average from 3 (34.8 career) is simple: shot selection. Lamb has always been something of a tough-shot taker instead of settling for a role that grants him more efficient shots. Combine that with his aversion to defense and a frame that isn’t the best for handling some of the world’s best athletes and you get the player we’ve seen over the past few seasons.

But if Lamb turns it on this year, it could essentially save the Hornets season. With MKG out, the team desperately needs some help on the wing. How well Lamb fares filling that role could be a key factor this season for Charlotte.

Coach’s Question:

How will Steve Clifford go about replacing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist?

With all the depth on their roster in both the frontcourt and at the point guard spot, Charlotte was in a good position to withstand the war of attrition that is the NBA season. But in a brutal stroke of luck, the Hornets lost a player who may arguably their most valuable, at least compared to the depth at his position.

The challenge now for Charlotte is figuring out a way to replace one of their most impactful players. The first option, as mentioned above, is hoping that Lamb finally has a light bulb moment, takes advantage of this opening and proves to be a reliable NBA starter. But if that road proves to be a dead end, it’ll be interesting to see what Clifford does.

Given the depth at point guard with Brian Roberts and Jeremy Lin, Clifford could just replace Kidd-Gilchrist by leaning heavily on two point guard lineups. Or maybe just roll the dice with what seems to be a much improved Troy Daniels. Charlotte’s head man could also just try to downshift Marvin Williams to the 3, creating another massive wing combo with him and Batum (who could move to shooting guard) and try to smother opponents with an oversized lineup.

Unless a clear cut answer emerges in the form of improved play from Lamb or Daniels, how Clifford goes about managing the loss of his most reliable wing player will likely define the Hornets season.

Best Case Scenario:

40-42 If…

Someone steps up on the wing to replace MKG’s production on one end or the other. Clifford finds workable, two-way combinations in the frontcourt...and actually plays them the vast majority of the time. Walker takes his playmaking to a different level and Batum rebounds from a subpar season.

Worst Case Scenario:

30-52 If…

MKG’s absence exposes the team’s wing depth. Walker fails to eschew the mid-range jumpers in lieu more efficient shots for the team, slightly handcuffing the team during his minutes. Jefferson suffers an injury and/or fails to mesh with any of the new frontcourt members,

Click here for a full list of NBA Season Previews from Brett Koremenos.