The Hornets didn’t just tweak the roster this summer - they tore it down and rebuilt it in a hurry.
Charlotte’s offseason kicked off on June 23 when the team used the 14th pick to draft center Hannes Steinbach, then followed that up later in the first round by selecting guard Christian Anderson at No. 18. That was only the opening act.
The biggest shock came the next day, June 25, when the Hornets moved LaMelo Ball, the face of the franchise, to Minnesota along with guard Josh Green. In return, Charlotte landed forward Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029, and 2030, plus three second-round picks in 2029, 2032, and 2033.
That deal left a massive hole at point guard, and the answer started to come together almost immediately. On the same day, reports surfaced that the Hornets were closing in on a long-term deal with Coby White. The agreement was later finalized on July 6 and was reportedly worth $74 million over three years.
Charlotte stayed busy after that. On June 28, the Hornets shipped Miles Bridges to Phoenix and received Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, and a 2033 first-round pick, while also adding a 2029 first-rounder and a 2027 second-rounder in the package. A little later, before summer league, Jeff Peterson made another move, bringing in Dorian Finney-Smith from Houston along with three future second-round picks in exchange for cash considerations.
July 6 brought more roster housekeeping. Peterson signed Michael Ajayi and Kylan Boswell to two-way deals and waived Tosan Evbuomwan.
Now the hard part begins. Charlotte is sitting at 20 players, which means at least two more cuts have to come before the regular season starts. Under league rules, teams can carry no more than 15 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals.
Here’s where the roster stands now:
Guards: Grayson Allen, Christian Anderson Jr., Kylan Boswell, Pat Connaughton, Sion James, Tre Mann, Coby White
Forwards: Michael Ajayi, Dorian Finney-Smith, Kon Knueppel, Liam McNeeley, Brandon Miller, Tidjane Salaün, Royce O'Neale, Naz Reid, Grant Williams
Centers: Moussa Diabaté, PJ Hall, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Hannes Steinbach
In Other News...
Hornets Suddenly Face A Tough Moussa Diabat Decision
The Hornets suddenly have a good problem in the frontcourt, with Moussa Diabat and Ryan Kalkbrenner adding to a group that already looks crowded. Diabats advanced metrics last season were strong enough to keep him in the conversation as more than just a depth piece, but the fit questions have never gone away for Charlotte. Hes undersized for the position and does not bring much shooting, which makes him easier to evaluate as a useful player than as a clean long-term answer.
So the front office may have to decide whether to cash in that value while the market still has interest. Charlotte needs roster balance as much as it needs more size, and that is why Diabat could become a trade chip even after showing he can help on the floor. The exact return is still uncertain, but this is the kind of decision that can shape whether the Hornets keep stockpiling bigs or start turning that surplus into help elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Came Closer Than Expected To A Major All-Star Swing
The Kings spent much of the 2026 trade deadline and the offseason taking a hard look at moving All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis, and Charlotte was among the teams that at least checked in along the way. Sacramentos search for options reached into multiple markets, with the Raptors, Pistons and Celtics all entering the conversation at different points as the Kings weighed what a deal could look like for one of the leagues more productive big men.
For the Hornets, the interest never got far enough to produce anything concrete, but it still offered a glimpse of how wide Sabonis market could have been. A move of that size would have altered the shape of Charlottes roster conversation, especially with a high-end frontcourt piece suddenly in play, but Sacramentos talks kept shifting and Sabonis remains with the Kings for now. [Read more 🡒]
Coby White Just Put Hornets Fans On Notice About This Season
The Hornets have spent the offseason trying to redraw their identity, and Coby White is already sounding like a player who believes the new version can be better than the one that came before it. With LaMelo Ball gone and Naz Reid added to the mix, Charlotte has altered both its ceiling and its responsibilities, and White has made it clear he sees the groups potential even in a crowded Eastern Conference.
Whites confidence matters because it comes with a bigger workload attached. He is positioned to handle more of the offense and help steer the teams tempo, a shift that would put real pressure on him to keep Charlotte organized while still producing. For a Hornets team searching for stability, the early signs of buy-in around the roster may end up telling as much about this season as any individual move. [Read more 🡒]