Charlotte Hornets at Miami Heat preview

The Charlotte Hornets won their first preseason game against the Orlando Magic last night, and it was a wonderful thing to hear about.

The team tallied 30 (!!!) assists last night, a feat they accomplished just three times last season, and the highlights floating around the internet are simply beautiful to watch. It's preseason, sure, but it's been a long time since I've seen the Hornets successfully move the ball with purpose.

Tonight, the Hornets are taking on the Miami Heat. The Heat are a team in flux, with a blend of aging, proven superstars and young, high-potential youngsters that could lead the Heat into their next era.

LeBron James is gone. Dwyane Wade is 33. Chris Bosh is 31. Amar'e Stoudemire is 31. Luol Deng is 30. The Heat need to figure out what direction they're going in, and soon.

To their credit, they have a handful of good, young players. Hassan Whiteside broke through as a legitimate starting center last season, and the Heat drafted Justise Winslow over the summer as well. While neither player is a guaranteed superstar, each has a high floor and lacks a visible ceiling. The sky is the limit, as they say.

Granted, things are a bit more complicated than that, and if you're interested in the state of the Heat, I highly recommend their season preview.

Tonight's projected starters:

Injuries:
Hornets: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (dislocated shoulder), Troy Daniels (hamstring), Elliot Williams (hip)
Heat: Hassan Whiteside (calf), John Lucas III (leg)

We'll have a GameThread posted at 5:30 or so, as tonight's game is televised!

When: 6 p.m. EST
Where: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
TV: Sun Sports