Charles Lee is setting a clear tone for the Charlotte Hornets heading into the new season: own the glass, push the pace, and make the most of what this roster can do.
That message comes after a rough start to the 2026-27 preseason, when Charlotte opened with a loss to the Brooklyn Nets and flashed some of the concerns that come with a team still waiting on key injured pieces. For now, the Hornets are focused less on the result and more on getting sharper in the areas that matter before the regular season arrives in a few weeks.
The big-picture outlook around the team hasn’t changed much. Charlotte has talent, but it’s not being viewed as a playoff team in a crowded Eastern Conference.
The Hornets are going to have to fight for everything they get this season, even with a few new additions who should help on both ends of the floor. The front office and coaching staff believe the pieces are there for a competitive group, but the proof has to come on the court.
Lee’s priorities are straightforward. Rebounding sits near the top of the list, along with a stronger playing pace.
That focus makes sense considering Charlotte finished second in both offensive and defensive rebounding last season, and Lee wants that edge to stick. Controlling the boards gives a team a built-in way to win possessions, and it’s one of the cleanest paths to steady production.
The other part is speed. Charlotte was bottom four in transition points frequency last season, and that’s an area the Hornets want to clean up. The idea is simple: rebound, move the ball quickly, and turn those possessions into better shots before the defense gets set.
Doing that without LaMelo Ball will be a different challenge. With Ball no longer on the roster, veteran guard Coby White is stepping into the starting lineup and taking on a much bigger role. Charlotte is banking on the players it has to handle that responsibility and carry Lee’s expectations into the season.
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Hornets Already Have A Point Guard Problem After Moving LaMelo
Moving on from LaMelo Ball was always going to reshape the Hornets backcourt, and the early returns have only made the point guard picture look more unsettled. Charlotte tried to patch things up by re-signing Coby White, drafting Christian Anderson Jr. and bringing in Dennis Schrder, a group that was supposed to keep the position steady while the franchise moved into its next phase.
Instead, the preseason has already brought more questions than answers. Anderson struggled in Summer League and is dealing with an injury, while White is sidelined with a calf issue and will miss preseason games, leaving Charlotte thin at the spot before the games even count. Ball, meanwhile, opened his Minnesota preseason looking comfortable in his new uniform, which only sharpens the contrast for Hornets fans still waiting to see whether the team's next answer at point guard is actually in place. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Miller Injury Creates An Early Hornets Concern
Brandon Millers preseason has already hit a small snag for the Hornets, with the second-year wing dealing with a shin contusion he picked up in practice. Charlotte has been taking the cautious route, keeping him day-to-day as the team works through the opening weeks of exhibition play and prepares for its next preseason test against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Millers absence from the recent game against the Brooklyn Nets added a little more early-season concern, especially for a player whose development remains central to Charlottes plans. There is already outside buzz about a possible long-term extension down the road, but for now the Hornets are focused on getting Miller back on the floor and making sure a preseason bump does not linger. [Read more 🡒]
Naz Reid Already Feels Like A Huge Part Of Charlottes Reset
Before Charlottes first preseason game against Brooklyn, Charles Lee was already talking about Naz Reid like a player who can help steady the Hornets new direction. The big man arrived from Minnesota as part of the LaMelo Ball trade, and his first taste of a Charlotte uniform offered a quick glimpse of why the team wanted him in the mix as it starts over with a reshaped roster.
Reid wasted little time showing he can bring scoring and activity in short bursts, and that matters for a Hornets group still sorting out how its pieces fit together around young talent such as Miller and Knueppel. With the season just getting underway, Charlotte is trying to establish roles and identity, and Reids early return has at least given the coaching staff one more reason to believe the reset can take hold sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]