The Charlotte Hornets are set to open their NBA Summer League slate in eight days, with their first Vegas Classic game coming July 9 against Orlando, and now the team’s roster is official.
One of the biggest positives on the list is Christian Anderson Jr., giving Charlotte another Summer League run with what the source describes as an actually competent point guard.
Tidjane Salaun stands out as the player who could define this group. The source frames this roster as his to lead, with the expectation that he needs to show a major leap on the floor.
The Hornets are also expected to start Kalkbrenner, while Hannes Steinbach’s dual positioning appears designed to test what Steinbach can do at the four next to Ryan in likely closing lineups during the tournament.
There was also a notable omission: PJ Hall is not on the roster. That stood out because he is one of Charlotte’s two confirmed two-way players on the main roster. An update later explained that Hall’s ankle is not quite 100%, according to a family source, which is why he is missing from the group.
Another detail worth watching is how Charlotte listed Liam McNeeley. He appears on the main roster as a forward, not a guard. The source notes that while many around the Hornets viewed McNeeley more as a wing, it is still surprising to see him designated strictly as a forward.
Steinbach, meanwhile, is listed as F/C, which suggests the dual positional tag was available - Charlotte simply chose not to use it for McNeeley. That makes the roster labeling itself a small but interesting detail heading into the team’s first Vegas Classic game.
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Even so, the Hornets do not seem eager to force the issue. The market right now is thin, and the kind of players who would make sense are not always available within that exceptions range, which helps explain why Charlotte appears willing to wait and keep its options open. The exception can be held for roughly a year after the trade, so the real question is not whether the Hornets have a major asset to deploy, but when they will finally find the right deal to use it. [Read more 🡒]
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For a team still trying to build something lasting around LaMelo Ball, the broader fallout matters almost as much as any single move. Charlotte has been one of the leagues pesky upstarts at times, but with rivals getting stronger around the conference, the margin for error looks even smaller now as the franchise tries to keep its footing in a much less forgiving landscape. [Read more 🡒]