Two preseason games in, Charlotte’s new-look roster has already started sorting itself into winners and warning signs. That’s the fun - and the danger - of this part of the calendar. The games don’t count, but as Hornets head coach Charles Lee likes to say, “Everything matters.”
For Brandon Miller, everything has looked encouraging so far.
Coming off a compromised offseason while recovering from shoulder surgery, Miller was excellent in his preseason debut against Milwaukee. He looked like the best player on the court no matter which lineup was out there, and he did it by playing with pace, confidence, and control.
Offensively, Miller was sharp reading Milwaukee’s drop coverage and quick to make decisions with the ball. He mixed in crossover moves, movement shooting, and that ability to create just enough space with his shoulder to get defenders off balance and fire over the top. He was a real engine for Charlotte’s offense.
He also looked spry and springy, with no obvious sign that last season’s injuries were still dragging him down. Defensively, he stayed active in the gaps and brought a competitive edge that showed up on both ends.
It wasn’t flawless. Miller still has stretches where finishing at the rim can be inconsistent, and he had a few turnovers that came at the wrong time. But as the focal point of Charlotte’s attack in a larger role, he handled the job cleanly.
Tidjane Salaün has been at the opposite end of the early preseason spectrum.
No Hornets player has logged more minutes through the first two preseason games, but the production has not matched the workload. The third-year Frenchman is shooting just 20% from the field and 20% from three, and the offensive issues have been hard to miss.
That matters for a few reasons. Salaün is still battling for rotation minutes, and with the early November deadline approaching for Charlotte to pick up his $10.4 million team option for 2027-28, this is a stretch that carries real weight for his future with the team.
The problems have been familiar: too many out-of-control drives, slow reads, missed defensive cues, and the kind of attention-to-detail lapses coaches notice immediately. He has shown some encouraging signs as a defender, especially against bigger players in the post, along with better verticality, better work on the perimeter, and strong defensive rebounding. But the offensive process still isn’t tight enough for regular-season minutes right now.
Salaün’s offensive profile last season was more useful than the preseason numbers suggest, with roughly 43% shooting from three and 70% at the rim, but this preseason has shifted the conversation. His strengths appear to be leaning more heavily toward defense at the moment, even if the overall package still points to a long NBA career based on his youth, motor, and competitiveness.
Ryan Kalkbrenner has given Charlotte something it hasn’t really had from the center spot, but Liam McNeeley has been just as important in terms of how naturally he’s fit into the offense.
The 21-year-old swingman has carried his strong Summer League into preseason, hitting 50% of his three-point tries on seven attempts per game through the first two games. That kind of shot-making matters, but McNeeley hasn’t been just a spacer. He’s also shown that he can handle more.
After a quiet first half against Brooklyn, he bounced back with 14 points in the second half. He followed that with an 11-point, five-assist performance against Milwaukee that stood out for its all-around impact.
McNeeley has looked more comfortable initiating with the ball, shown real promise as a live-dribble playmaker, and worked well in Charlotte’s dribble handoff actions. He’s also used shot fakes smartly to open lanes for teammates while holding his own on defense.
The Richardson, Texas, native looks like the kind of high-feel, adaptable player who could become a useful NBA reserve if he keeps this up. With a healthy roster, he’s probably sitting behind Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and Sion James in the depth chart, but he’s making that evaluation tougher by the day.
And then there’s Kon Knueppel, whose offensive versatility has been one of the most intriguing early developments of the preseason. He’s been used in all sorts of ways: ghosting into space, popping open as a screener, catching and shooting quickly, attacking closeouts, making plays from the high post, and punishing mismatches when defenders switch.
That kind of size-skill-shooting-passing blend at the four gives Charlotte a dimension it hasn’t really had before. It opens up the half court in a meaningful way.
Of course, there’s a defensive tradeoff. Knueppel is not a plus defender, he had trouble with Julius Randle in the preseason opener, and his foot speed can be an issue when he’s forced to slide laterally. He’s also been late on some closeouts.
Still, pairing him with Moussa Diabaté or Ryan Kalkbrenner could help cover for those issues enough to keep the offensive upside front and center.
Through two preseason games, the picture is already forming. Miller looks ready to drive things.
McNeeley is making a real case. Knueppel is bringing something new.
Salaün, for now, is fighting to stabilize his place.
In Other News...
Brandon Miller Just Put Serious Pressure On The Hornets
Brandon Millers emergence has put Charlotte in a familiar but important spot: the Hornets now have a young cornerstone worth paying like one. Miller is eligible for a five-year, $275 million extension, and after a season in which he averaged 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists, the team has every reason to treat this as more than a routine contract decision. With LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges already moved out in the roster overhaul, Miller has moved closer to the center of everything Charlotte wants to build.
The timing matters because the Hornets are expected to open the season with a newly constructed lineup that includes Miller alongside Coby White, Kon Knueppel, Naz Reid and Moussa Diabat. If no deal comes together, Miller will be headed toward restricted free agency next offseason, and that creates a real test for a franchise trying to reset while also locking in its best young piece. For Charlotte, the next step is not just about keeping Miller happy, but about proving the new version of the roster has a clear direction. [Read more 🡒]
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For the Hornets, the bet is straightforward: Miller has to score more and create more, because Charlottes push toward the playoffs starts with someone turning promise into nightly production. If he makes that leap, the conversation around the Hornets changes fast, especially for a franchise trying to end a drought that has stretched for more than a decade. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Miller Is Giving Hornets Fans A Reason To Believe
Brandon Millers return from a shin contusion gave Hornets fans an early reminder of why he is such an important part of Charlottes future. In the preseason win over Milwaukee, he put up 18 points in 23 minutes and looked like a player settling back in quickly, with the kind of comfort and activity that can carry over once the games start to matter.
Charles Lee liked what he saw from Miller on both ends, particularly the way he stayed involved defensively and offensively. Miller said his confidence is growing with the effort and winning plays he is stringing together, and for a Hornets team looking for reasons to believe, that matters just as much as the box score. [Read more 🡒]