The Charlotte Hornets have been one of the busiest teams in the NBA heading into the stretch run, and they’re not just shuffling the deck-they’re making real moves with postseason implications.
Let’s start with the trade flurry. First, Charlotte sent Collin Sexton to the Chicago Bulls and brought back Coby White and veteran point guard Mike Conley.
That move alone raised eyebrows, but they weren’t done. The Hornets then acquired Tyus Jones from the Orlando Magic, only to flip him to the Dallas Mavericks for young guard Malaki Branham.
That’s three trades, four teams, and a clear signal: Charlotte’s front office is actively reshaping this roster.
Then came the waivers. Pat Connaughton was let go, followed shortly by Conley, who is expected to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Because he was dealt again after Minnesota traded him, league rules allow him to re-sign with his former team. So while Conley’s Charlotte stint was brief-and purely transactional-it clears the way for the Timberwolves to bring him back into the fold.
Now, let’s talk about why all this matters. The Hornets are currently sitting at 23-28, just outside the Eastern Conference play-in picture in 11th place. But they’re only one game behind the 10th-seeded Bulls, and with seeds 7 through 10 earning play-in spots, Charlotte is very much in the thick of it.
And if you haven’t been paying attention to what they’ve been doing on the court lately, it’s time to take notice.
Charlotte caught fire in January, going 11-6-the best win total in the East for the month. But it wasn’t just about stacking wins.
The Hornets led the entire NBA in net rating (11.5) and offensive rating (121.1), while ranking fifth in defensive rating (109.6). That’s not just good-that’s elite.
They were the only team in the league to crack the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency in January.
Dig a little deeper and the numbers tell a story of a team that’s not just hot, but dominant. They led the NBA in rebounding percentage (55.6%) and second-chance points per game (18.3), while also finishing third in three-pointers made per game (15.8) and fourth in three-point shooting percentage (38.9%). That’s a team that’s crashing the glass, creating extra possessions, and converting from deep-three pillars of sustainable success in today’s NBA.
The Hornets capped off January with a six-game winning streak and a staggering +151 point differential on the road. That ties the highest road point differential in a calendar month in NBA history.
Let that sink in. This is a team that went into hostile environments and didn’t just win-they dominated.
They set a franchise record for largest road win with a 55-point demolition of the Utah Jazz. They held the high-powered Oklahoma City Thunder to their lowest scoring output of the season in a 27-point beatdown. And they snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Philadelphia 76ers with a statement 37-point win at home-their biggest home win of the season.
All of this paints the picture of a team that’s not just making noise on the transaction wire-they’re backing it up on the court. The Hornets are surging at the right time, and with the play-in tournament within reach, they’ve put the rest of the East on notice.
Charlotte’s not just playing for the future anymore. They’re playing for right now.