Hornets Forward Named Breakout Candidate for 2026-27 Season

The Charlotte Hornets have made a ton of changes to their roster this offseason, including trading star guard LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid and draft capital.

Reid will now assume a major role for the Hornets as the starting power forward. There is a lot of promise around Reid, as Danny Chau of The Ringer named him as a breakout candidate for the 2026-27 season.

Reid was a bench player for the Timberwolves and won the 6th Man of the Year Award in the 2023-24 season. In that season, Reid averaged 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from three.

The 26-year-old forward has remained a consistent piece over the years, as he averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, a steal, and a block per game. Reid shot 45.6 percent from the floor and 36.2 percent from behind the arc.

Reid's versatility and ability to space the floor make him a great fit for the Hornets. With Ball and Miles Bridges off the roster, Reid will be one of the go-to scorers for Charlotte alongside Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, and Coby White.

His shooting ability allows him to fit seamlessly alongside the Hornets' centers Hannes Steinbach, Moussa Diabate, and Ryan Kalkbrenner.

Steinbach is entering his rookie season after playing at a high level in the 2025-26 season at Washington. The 20-year-old was one of the best rebounders in the nation, averaging 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game, shooting 57.7 percent from the field and 34 percent from deep.

While he hasn't shot at a high clip from three, he has shown some ability to space the floor, which could create the potential for a five-out lineup alongside Reid.

Kalkbrenner is a more traditional center, averaging 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting an efficient 75.3 percent from the floor. Diabate is also more in the mold of a traditional big, as he averaged 7.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and a block, shooting 63.1 percent from the floor.

Reid will be a phenomenal fit for the Hornets alongside their young centers and could have a breakout year as a starter.