The Charlotte Hornets’ season opener will begin without Coby White and Kon Knueppel in the starting five, and the lineup gives a clear look at how the team is trying to patch things together.
Dennis Schröder gets the call at point guard, with Sion James slotting in next to him. James is in Knueppel’s place, and the fit appears to be driven by defense. His agility, nimbleness, and communication should matter against a Nets group that leans heavily on handoffs.
Brandon Miller starts at forward, and the expectation around him is obvious with LaMelo Ball gone and a sizable extension in place. He was not in rhythm through the three preseason games he played, even though he missed the preseason opener against Brooklyn.
Naz Reid also starts in the frontcourt. As the only returning piece from the LaMelo Ball trade, he comes in with pressure already attached, and his preseason form did him no favors. Still, that can change fast if he delivers against Brooklyn.
Moussa Diabaté rounds out the starting five at center after missing the final preseason game against Memphis, which now looks like a precaution. Before that, he had been solid, though not quite at the level he showed in the back half of last season.
The supporting cast around that group includes Egor Dëmin and Keon Ellis, both of whom can swing the game with the jump shot. Dëmin is coming off a season in which he took 6.2 threes per game and hit 38.5 percent, while Ellis has long been viewed as a defensive specialist whose offense can make him tough to play. If his shot goes in, that changes quickly.
The other side brings serious firepower. Michael Porter Jr. already showed what that can look like against Charlotte about two weeks ago, when he scored 16 points on 6/9 shooting in the first half.
Julius Randle is in the mix too, and his preseason matchup with Reid produced a few intriguing sequences. Randle can create offense on the nights when he has it rolling, but he can also press when things are not coming easily.
At center, Day'Ron Sharpe gives Brooklyn a mobile big in a handoff-heavy system, though his lack of rim protection could give Charlotte some room to attack inside.
For a deeper breakdown of the matchup, there is also an in-depth preview available on the Charlotte Hornets on SI YouTube and Spotify podcast channel.
In Other News...
Hornets Are Positioning For The Move Fans Have Been Waiting On
Jeff Petersons latest update offered a pretty clear read on where the Hornets see themselves right now: still building, but with the kind of optionality that can change quickly. Charlotte has spent the summer stacking financial flexibility and draft capital while reshaping the roster through a flurry of moves, including trades involving LaMelo Ball, Josh Green and Miles Bridges, plus the additions of Naz Reid, Dennis Schrder and a new deal for Coby White. The bigger picture is that the front office is not just collecting pieces for the sake of it, but creating room to chase a specific type of upgrade when the time is right.
For Hornets fans, that is the part worth watching as the team works toward the 2026-27 opener. The organization has leaned into future assets, with several incoming picks and swaps now part of its path forward, and Petersons comments made it clear those tools are meant to be used, not just stored away. The question is less whether Charlotte has the means to make a meaningful addition than when it will decide the market presents the right opening to do it. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets New Core Is Earning Attention Ahead Of A Pivotal Season
The Hornets spent the offseason turning over the top of their roster, moving on from LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges and Tre Mann while bringing in Naz Reid, Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and Dennis Schroder. It is the kind of reshaping that usually comes with a waiting period, but Charlotte appears ready to skip ahead, with Coby White, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Reid and Moussa Diabate projected to make up the starting group when the season opens.
What makes the new-look lineup interesting is how quickly the conversation around the franchise has shifted toward Miller and Knueppel as the next faces of the team. Thats already drawing notice outside the organization, too, with Blake Griffin telling Bill Simmons that he likes what the Hornets are building. For a team that has spent plenty of time searching for direction, the attention is a sign that this version of Charlotte may have at least changed the way people view its future. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Opener Already Comes With A Rotation Concern Fans Will Notice
The first injury report of the season already gives the Hornets something to monitor as they head toward Wednesdays opener against Brooklyn. Charlotte and Orlando both released availability updates ahead of their season openers, and the Hornets side comes with the usual early-season caution, the kind that can force a coach to shuffle plans before the first game even tips.
Kon Knueppel, Grant Williams and Coby White have all gotten back to individual on-court work, which is encouraging in a broader sense, but none of them will be available for this one. Their absences leave Charlotte with an immediate rotation question to solve, and the team will have to manage those injuries carefully while trying to set a tone right away in the new season. [Read more 🡒]