Charlotte Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson shared his thoughts on the team's future following major offseason moves.
The Charlotte Hornets have made a flurry of moves this offseason, retooling their roster long-term around budding stars Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller.
General manager Jeff Peterson sent star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Naz Reid, a 2033 first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps, and three second-round picks.
Peterson wasn't done there, as he sent Miles Bridges, a 2029 unprotected first-round pick (the least favorable of Charlotte, Utah, Cleveland, or Minnesota), and a 2027 second-round pick to the Phoenix Suns for Royce O'Neale, Grayson Allen, and a 2033 first-round pick.
The Hornets also took on Dorian Finney-Smith's salary from the Houston Rockets, along with three second-round picks.
Charlotte's been extremely active on the trade market, adding future draft capital to build around the young core led by Knueppel and Miller. The Hornets also added two young pieces in the draft, selecting Hannes Steinbach at 14 and Christian Anderson at 18.
The abundance of moves for Charlotte was shocking after a second-half surge in the 2025-26 season, which put the Hornets just one game out of a playoff appearance, falling to the Orlando Magic in the second Play-In Game.
"...The goal's never been to get to the playoffs one time and then be out for 7-8 years, and then try to get back again," Peterson said. "It's always been about sustainability, and I think the roster we have will give us the best chance moving forward."
David Butler II-Imagn ImagesIt's clear that Charlotte didn't believe in Ball and Bridges leading the charge for the team long-term.
In the 2025-26 season, Ball had a great year, appearing in 72 games, averaging 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, shooting 40.7 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three. It was his healthiest season in years, and Peterson and the front office capitalized on his value.
Bridges is entering the final year of his contract after averaging 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 46 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from behind the arc.
Trading a least-favorable 2029 first-round pick to acquire a potentially valuable 2033 first-round pick from the Suns was a wise move by the Hornets front office.
While Charlotte may take a step back in the 2026-27 season, they have a brighter future ahead with the moves Peterson has made.
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