The Charlotte Hornets are headed into the 2026-27 season with real intrigue around them. After reshaping the roster this summer, the franchise looks like it’s trying to turn the page, and the additions already in place have given the team a different feel.
Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, and Coby White form the core, and Charlotte also brought in Naz Reid to help bolster the frontcourt. Even with that work done, the Hornets’ offseason may not be finished. They’ve been connected to Sacramento Kings star Domantas Sabonis, a move that would give them a dependable starting center alongside Reid.
If that pursuit falls apart, Charlotte still has options. Three names stand out as possible answers in the middle.
One path would send the Hornets after Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner. Milwaukee acquired Turner last season in a move aimed at satisfying Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the fit never produced enough to lock Giannis in long term. The Bucks are now trying to move Turner and his $26.5 million salary, though there hasn’t been much of a market for him.
For Charlotte, Turner brings clear appeal. His floor-spacing would overlap some with Reid’s game, but his rebounding and shot-blocking could make the Hornets tougher in the East. Turner’s numbers last season weren’t eye-popping - 11.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game on 44.0% shooting from the field and 38.3% from three - but his defensive production stood out with 0.7 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.
The Hornets could absorb that contract thanks to a $40.7 million trade exception. But in this scenario, they’d use Grant Williams and Tidjane Salaun to match salary, preserving the exception for another move later in the season.
Another possible target is Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford. Charlotte could build a deal around Grayson Allen and a 2027 first-round pick from Dallas that is top-2 protected.
Gafford would give the Hornets a different kind of frontcourt partner for Reid. He’d offer interior presence, rim protection, and a steadier inside counterweight that could free Reid up more offensively. That kind of pairing could be appealing if Charlotte wants more balance around its new big man.
Injuries limited Gafford’s 2025-26 season, but he still put up 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. He had been linked with the Lakers this offseason, though nothing materialized, and Dallas has shown a willingness to keep him. Still, with the Mavericks’ depth up front and Charlotte’s offer, the Hornets could have a case.
The final route is a less expensive one: Chicago Bulls center Jalen Smith. Chicago has retooled this summer and added Nic Claxton, which has strengthened its center rotation and could make Smith available.
Smith spent last season backing up Nikola Vucevic, but he took a step forward and may now be looking for a larger role. He averaged 10.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks while shooting 48.3% from the field and 37.3% from three. That kind of offensive versatility could make him a sensible fit next to Reid in Charlotte.
Smith is on an expiring $9.4 million contract, so Chicago may prefer to hold onto him early in the season. Even so, the Hornets could tempt the Bulls with Grant Williams’ $14.2 million expiring deal and a 2027 second-round pick from Memphis.
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Mavericks Are Quietly Making Moves Fans Should Be Watching
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One of the more interesting under-the-radar developments is the way Dallas keeps positioning itself for what comes next, both in the organization and around the league. With other front offices still sorting through unresolved business, including Jalen Durens looming decision in Detroit and the ripple effects of delayed roster moves elsewhere, the Mavericks are making sure their own house is in order. It is the sort of steady churn that does not always grab headlines right away, but often ends up mattering when the season begins to turn. [Read more 🡒]