Coby White sees plenty to like in Grayson Allen, and he didn’t hide it.
After Charlotte brought Allen in from the Phoenix Suns as part of the Miles Bridges trade, White pointed to the veteran guard’s track record as a major reason the fit makes sense. The Hornets are adding a player who has carved out a reputation as a reliable shooter, but White’s biggest emphasis was on something less flashy: winning.
“The one thing I’ve always noticed about G.A. is his ability to impact winning,” White said. “Everywhere he’s gone, he’s won.
Whether it’s Milwaukee. … he’s been a winner everywhere he goes. He’s been part of a winning culture.
He’s been part of a winning organization. So I think first and foremost, he knows what winning looks like, and he knows what it takes to win at this level.
I think obviously being one of the best shooters in the NBA is going to help us a ton."
Allen’s shooting resume backs that up. Since the start of the 2021-22 season, only Stephen Curry, Desmond Bane and Allen have hit 800-plus 3s while shooting at least 40.0% from deep. That kind of efficiency is exactly why Charlotte expects him to matter.
Last season with Phoenix, Allen put up 16.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 40.3% from the field, 34.9% from 3-point range and 85.7% at the line. He’s projected to give the Hornets scoring and shooting off the bench next season.
Allen, a Duke product, has been in the league since 2018 and has played for the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks and Suns. Over his NBA career, he’s averaged 11.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists in the regular season, along with 8.0 points per game in the playoffs.
Charlotte has been busy reshaping the roster this offseason. The team traded LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, then sent Bridges to Phoenix for Allen and Royce O'Neale.
The Hornets also used the 2026 draft to add Hannes Steinbach from Washington with the 14th overall pick and Christian Anderson Jr. from Texas Tech at No. 18. On top of that, White re-signed in free agency and Charlotte brought in Dorian-Finney Smith from the Houston Rockets.
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Hornets Still Have One Guard Problem That Could Hurt This Season
Charlottes roster for the 2026-27 season is largely coming into focus, with the front office expected to tidy up the final spots by trimming contracts. Even so, one issue keeps hanging over the group: the Hornets still need to sort out how the offense will function beyond their starting point guard, especially after moving on from LaMelo Ball and reshaping the backcourt around a different kind of creator.
Coby White gives the team a capable offensive initiator to lean on, but the question becomes sharper when he leaves the floor. The backup choices in the mix, including rookie Christian Anderson, Tre Mann, Sion James and possibly Grayson Allen, bring useful traits, yet none looks like a clean answer as a lead ball-handler if Charlotte wants to keep its attack organized and steady throughout an entire game. [Read more 🡒]