Charlotte Hornets Announce 2026-27 Schedule

The Charlotte Hornets announced their 2026-27 schedule.

Charlotte has six nationally televised games next season. 

Hall of Fame writer David Aldridge of The Athletic believes the Hornets had the third-best offseason in the NBA. 

Charlotte's front office was very, very busy this offseason. The blockbuster move was trading LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

Added: F Naz Reid (acquired from Minnesota); G Grayson Allen (acquired from Phoenix); F Royce O’Neale (acquired from Phoenix); F Dorian Finney-Smith (acquired from Houston); F/C Hannes Steinbach (first round, 14th pick); G Christian Anderson Jr. (first round, 18th pick); G Kylan Boswell (two-way); F Michael Ajay (two-way); 2033 first-round pick (acquired from Minnesota); 2028, 2029, 2030 first-round pick swaps (acquired from Minnesota); 2033 first-round pick (acquired from Phoenix); 2027, 2028, 2033 second-round picks (acquired from Houston); 2029, 2032, 2033 second-round picks (acquired from Minnesota)

Lost: G LaMelo Ball (traded to Minnesota); G Josh Green (traded to Minnesota); F Miles Bridges (traded to Phoenix); 2029 first-round pick (traded to Phoenix); 2027 second-round pick (traded to Phoenix); G Tosan Evbuomwan (waived); F Mouhamadou Gueye (waived)

Retained: G Coby White (three years, $74M); Pat Connaughton (team picked up 2026-27 option)

Charlotte is expected to start White, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Reid and Moussa Diabaté next season. That's a strong starting five on paper. 

The Hornets missed the playoffs last season by one game. They haven't made the playoffs since 2016, but the future of the franchise looks bright with White, Miller, Knueppel, Reid and Diabaté leading the way.   

Charlotte also has a ton of future draft picks, and while Ball was fun to watch, we have to remember that the Hornets never made the playoffs with him leading the way.

"Ball is a human Rorschach Test — everyone has a different interpretation of his skills," Aldridge wrote. "I see: 'Crazy talent but can’t be your lead dog.' Charlotte apparently felt similarly, moving Ball and Green for Reid and a haul of future picks. The Hornets got another first, with Allen and O’Neale, for Bridges, then got three seconds attached to Finney-Smith to take DFS from Houston. It was a mature understanding by general manager Jeff Peterson and Charlotte’s front office that the sugar high of a 25-win improvement last season didn’t mean they’d arrived. They’ll lean into Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel next season — with, now, a war chest of firsts between 2027 and 2031."