The Hornets’ move away from the LaMelo Ball era came with a clear signal attached: they’re high on Coby White as a starter.
That belief showed up quickly after the trade, when Charlotte brought White back on a three-year deal. The numbers he posted after arriving midseason were hard to ignore.
In his bench role for the Hornets last year, White put up a per-36 line of 29.1 points, 5.7 assists and 5.5 rebounds. Measured per 100 possessions, he scored 40.1 points, which was the best mark of his career by a wide margin.
Put simply, he was excellent. And while he’ll never be in the same backcourt as LaMelo Ball, he should be strong again in 2026-27.
That leaves the bigger question: what exactly is White for Charlotte? Is he the franchise point guard, or is he a very good placeholder until the next one arrives?
At minimum, White is a starting point guard in the NBA. He was one before the trade, and with Ball gone, he’ll be one again. The bench role was beneath him.
The harder part is the franchise-player conversation. That seems unlikely.
White has now been in the league seven years, and even with a better supporting cast than he’s ever had, he’s still probably close to what he is at this point. A superstar leap doesn’t feel like the next step.
So he lives in that middle ground: more than a bridge, but maybe not the guy who defines the next era. He’s good enough that it wouldn’t be a shock if he stayed in Charlotte for the next eight years and finished his career there.
It also wouldn’t be a surprise if his deal runs out in three years, he moves on, and the Hornets eventually hand the keys to Christian Anderson Jr. or another young point guard.
That said, stars are hard to find, and teams don’t need a franchise-level player at every position. Sometimes the smart move is simply having a very good one.
This season should say plenty about where White stands. If he takes another step with Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel getting regular minutes in Charles Lee’s system, then maybe the franchise-point-guard label starts to fit.
If not, Charlotte still has a strong answer at the position for as long as it wants one.
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For Charlotte, it is another small but telling reminder that Kalkbrenner is already on the radar beyond the box score. The card market has also been led by Nolan Traore, whose sale set the pace for the group so far, but the presence of Kalkbrenner near the top of the list says plenty about the interest surrounding his rookie profile. It is the kind of off-court buzz that does not change anything on the floor, but it does add a little more intrigue every time Hornets fans look at the rookie class. [Read more 🡒]
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Even with the calendar still getting in the way, the bigger issue is whether the Pelicans would entertain the idea at all. New Orleans executive Joe Dumars has already said the team has no intention of trading Williamson and expects him back next season, which leaves the Hornets waiting on a door that, at least publicly, does not look ready to open. [Read more 🡒]