Charles Lee doesn’t sound like a coach simply welcoming a new veteran into the building. He sounds like someone who already knows exactly what Dennis Schröder brings - and exactly why the Charlotte Hornets wanted him.
Lee, who shared time with Schröder in Atlanta, is happy to be reunited with the guard and made it clear the fit goes beyond familiarity. Schröder’s leadership, Lee’s view, is part of the package. That’s not hard to see, considering Schröder has captained the German national team to a European championship and World Cup in recent years.
He has also been outspoken about being a strong example for younger players, including this offseason when he spoke about financial matters around the NBA. That kind of voice matters, especially for a Charlotte team that has leaned into building a better locker room feel.
The Hornets already saw how much a strong atmosphere can matter during last season’s run, and they lost one major piece of that in LaMelo Ball. Schröder gives them another presence who can help fill that space, even if he does it in a very different way.
What stands out most is how Lee described Schröder’s edge on defense. Charlotte’s offseason has centered in part on bringing in players who may not be lockdown stoppers but will fight, harass, and make life uncomfortable for opponents.
Schröder fits that mold. At 6'1 and 175lbs, he is not going to overwhelm bigger guards or wings, but he brings active hands, plenty of energy, and the kind of trash talk that can tilt a possession.
That competitiveness matters because one of Charlotte’s biggest problems last season was getting into the paint consistently. The addition of Grayson Allen helped address that some, but Schröder is the biggest new piece when it comes to speed downhill and beating his man to the rim.
He has never been known as a great shooter from deep or a high-flying athlete. His career, which has stretched well over a decade, has been built on quickness and the decision-making that comes with it. That blend is what has kept him in the league and made him valuable in a role like this.
LaMelo Ball’s departure still leaves questions for Charlotte, but the Hornets at least know this much: their new point guard has the trust of his coach and teammates. For now, that is no small thing.
In Other News...
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 🡒]