NBA.com released its 2026-27 season outlook for the Charlotte Hornets.
Charlotte Hornets media day for the 2026-27 season is almost here, so NBA.com released its season outlook for Charles Lee's group.
The Hornets will look very different next season after trading LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns this offseason.
Additions: G Christian Anderson, G Grayson Allen, F Dorian Finney-Smith, F Royce O’Neale, C Naz Reid, G Dennis Schröder, F Hannes Steinbach
Subtractions: G LaMelo Ball, F Miles Bridges, G Josh Green, G Tre Mann
The Hornets went 44-38 last season. They missed the playoffs by one game after losing the 8-9 NBA play-in game to the Orlando Magic.
Lee is expected to start Coby White, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Reid and Moussa Diabaté next season.
On paper, that looks like a talented starting five.
"It’s rare when a team that rallies to a winning record decides to scrub its two best players, both just touching their prime, the very next offseason," NBA.com's Shaun Powell wrote. "Yet, the Hornets believed the deals for Ball and Bridges were too good and figured their roles and responsibilities would be replaced immediately.
"The point guard now belongs to Coby White, who showed solid results since arriving from the Bulls, while Brandon Miller seems ready to be a top-15 scorer in the league and therefore makes the loss of Bridges’ buckets less worrisome.
"Plus, the Hornets should get rotational production from Allen and Reid, who were crucial in Phoenix and Minnesota, respectively, last season. If the pieces and process come together quickly, a playoff appearance is possible."
The Hornets never made the playoffs in the Ball-Bridges era. They haven't made the playoffs since 2016. It will be fascinating to see if Charlotte can snap its playoff drought in Year 1 of the post-Ball-Bridges era.
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 usage rates offensively.
"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."
Charlotte opens the 2026-27 season on the road against the Brooklyn Nets.
The home opener is against the Atlanta Hawks.
