Hornets Ranked 17th in Future NBA Power Rankings for the Next 3 Years

Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes ranked the Charlotte Hornets 17th in his future NBA power rankings for the next three years.

The Hornets traded LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns this summer, making Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel the new faces of the franchise. 

"Some view the LaMelo Ball trade as an intentional step backward, but the presences of Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller mean the Charlotte Hornets still have the potential stars they need to climb the standings between now and 2029," Hughes wrote. "While Ball clearly made those two better when sharing the floor last year, Knueppel and Miller could both expand their games in larger roles. Charlotte could use the flexibility and draft capital it gained in the Ball trade to fill in around its new core, and we should give this organization the benefit of the doubt.

"The Hornets have won virtually every transaction they've made in recent seasons, highlighted by a series of moves that resulted in sending the Suns back their own 2029 first-rounder for an unprotected 2033 pick. That selection won't feature in Charlotte's three-year window (unless it goes out in a trade), but it exemplifies the smart, measured thinking that has the Hornets so well positioned."

The Hornets went 44-38 last season. They beat the Miami Heat in the 9-10 NBA play-in game but lost to the Orlando Magic in the 8-9 play-in game and missed the playoffs again. Charlotte hasn't made the playoffs since 2016. 

In the post-Ball-Bridges era, the Hornets are expected to start Coby White, Miller, Knueppel, Naz Reid and Moussa Diabate. Charlotte acquired Reid from Minnesota in the blockbuster Ball trade. 

Some Charlotte fans weren't happy with the Ball trade, but Hornets president of basketball operations and general manager Jeff Peterson told Marc J. Spears of Andscape he was comfortable trading Ball because of Miller and Knueppel. 

With Ball gone, Miller and Knueppel will see increased offensive usage, which should be excellent for their development. 

"I’m very comfortable," Peterson said. "Charles and I had a conversation with both of them knowing that these trades can be challenging. Sometimes I do think we forget that we’re human beings dealing with this stuff — lives and its emotions. Those guys are friends and they are in the locker room every day. At the same time, Charles and I kind of explained, We believe in you guys, too. You guys are here. We want to continue to see you guys grow. This is going to challenge you guys. You guys got to continue to get better.' We wouldn’t have made that trade if we didn’t feel comfortable with what they can continue to be developing into."