Summer League in Las Vegas is in the books for the Charlotte Hornets, and while there was no title run to hang a banner on, the trip still offered a few clear takeaways about where this group stands heading into the season.
The biggest bright spot was Hannes. The 14th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft put together a strong five-game stretch, averaging 15.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 60.2% from the floor.
He looked better as the week wore on, too, closing his time in Vegas with back-to-back 20-point double-doubles. He wasn’t shy about physical play, either.
If anything, he seemed to invite it. He may not have locked down a starting role yet, but the signs point to that possibility coming sooner rather than later.
Liam McNeeley also made a real case for himself. The second-year forward appeared in only three of Charlotte’s five games, but he made those minutes count.
He led the Hornets in scoring with 21.7 points per game and added 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks. His shooting numbers stood out as well: 45.2% from the field and 63.2% from three.
Coming into Summer League, he was one of the players under the most pressure, and he answered it well. If training camp goes his way, he should have earned a spot in the rotation.
Not everyone left Las Vegas with momentum. The 6-1 point guard taken 18th in the 2026 NBA Draft had a rough showing overall.
Anderson averaged 10.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, but he shot just 31% from the floor. His toughness was the one trait that clearly stood out, and he did keep battling, finishing with his best game against the Kings.
Still, with so much tied to his role as a backup point guard, Charlotte had to come away disappointed. He’ll need a strong training camp to get his stock back where it needs to be.
TJ’s Summer League looked nothing like last year’s. In 2025, he was one of Charlotte’s better performers in Vegas, putting up 14.0 points and 5.7 rebounds. This time around, he faded into the background, averaging 9.0 points and 7.0 rebounds while going 1-for-10 from three.
Salaun’s third Summer League run also didn’t produce the kind of step forward Charlotte was hoping for. Instead of taking a leadership role, he was in and out of the picture.
He entered the league as a project when the Hornets drafted him in 2023, and the pace of his development still doesn’t look fast enough for the team’s liking. This season, he needs to produce, or he could be in danger of losing his spot.
As for the team result, the Hornets finished 1-4, which is hardly the standard they set in 2025. At the same time, it’s still Summer League, and that record doesn’t really count.
In Other News...
Hornets Linked To Veteran Guard Who Could Shape This New Era
The Hornets offseason has already started to take shape around adding more structure to the backcourt, and a veteran name has surfaced as a possible fit. Dennis Schroder, who has bounced around the league and brings plenty of point guard experience, could give Charlotte a steadier hand behind its young guards if the front office decides to get aggressive on the trade market.
Clevelands situation is part of what makes the idea worth watching, since the Cavaliers may need to clear room for other moves. For Charlotte, the appeal is straightforward: Jeff Peterson has shown interest, and Schroder would bring a level of experience the roster could use as it tries to define this new era without overcommitting to a long-term gamble. [Read more 🡒]
Miles Bridges Trade Has Hornets Fans Asking One Brutal Question
The Suns officially introduced Miles Bridges after landing him from Charlotte, and the move immediately put a familiar Hornets name back in the spotlight for the wrong reasons in Charlotte. Phoenix general manager Brian Gregory framed the forward as a fit for what the Suns need, a bigger presence who can help them play to their style, and Bridges is expected to step right into the starting lineup at power forward.
For Hornets fans, the more painful part is what comes next, because the trade is now about more than just what Charlotte gave up. Bridges is entering the final year of his contract, Phoenix is expected to pursue an extension, and the question hanging over the deal is whether the Hornets moved on at the right time or let another team solve a roster need they still have to address. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets May Have Found A Smart Fix For Their Backup Guard Problem
Charlottes search for a steadier backup guard has been one of the more obvious roster questions of the offseason, and the answer may end up coming from an unexpected place if Clevelands plans change. Dennis Schrder has the kind of ballhandling and late-clock competence that can settle a second unit, and his contract structure gives any interested team a clearer path to evaluating him as more than a short-term patch.
If the Cavaliers decide they need to reshape the roster after a major free-agency move, Charlotte could be positioned to take advantage of the opportunity without blowing up its own books. The Hornets have room to work through a traded-player exception from the LaMelo Ball deal, and a swap built around a rotation piece on Charlottes side could make the math work while preserving flexibility for later. [Read more 🡒]