Charlotte Hornets 2026-2027 Season Preview
Following a 44-win campaign last year, expectations in Charlotte have changed considerably. However, a major off-season rebuild means the team faces a different challenge, with several familiar faces departing and a new group of players taking on greater responsibility.
The Hornets finished ninth in the Eastern Conference last season, recording their best win total since 2015–16 before being eliminated in the Play-In Tournament. Although that represented significant progress, the front office made some major decisions over the summer, trading franchise guard LaMelo Ball and forward Miles Bridges.
Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel are now central to the team’s long-term plans, while additions including Naz Reid, Coby White, Grayson Allen and Dennis Schröder provide a mixture of scoring, experience and versatility. The challenge for head coach Charles Lee is to bring those players together and establish a consistent identity.
With the 2026–27 campaign already underway, we examine last season’s achievements, the significant off-season changes, the players to watch and what supporters can realistically expect from Charlotte.
Charlotte Hornets 2025-2026 Season Recap
The Hornets enjoyed one of their most encouraging seasons in recent years during the 2025–26 campaign, finishing with a 44–38 record and ninth place in the Eastern Conference. Their 44 victories represented the franchise’s best regular-season total since 2015–16, providing evidence that the team’s rebuilding project was beginning to deliver results.
Charlotte made considerable improvements at both ends of the court. The team averaged 116 points per game, ranking 13th in the NBA, while allowing 111.2 points per contest, the seventh-best defensive record in the league. Their offensive rating placed fifth overall, demonstrating how much the team’s attacking play had developed.
LaMelo Ball played an important role in that improvement, providing creativity and playmaking from the backcourt. His availability was better than in the previous campaign, allowing Charlotte to benefit more consistently from his ability to create scoring opportunities. Brandon Miller also continued his development, averaging 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.
Another major positive was the emergence of Kon Knueppel. The young guard made an immediate impression during his rookie season, averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists across 81 appearances. His three-point shooting provided an important additional dimension to Charlotte’s offence.
Despite their impressive regular-season progress, the Hornets were unable to secure a direct play-off place. Their ninth-place finish meant they had to compete in the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament, where their campaign ultimately came to an end.
Nevertheless, a 44-win season was a significant achievement for a franchise that had struggled for consistency over several years. The challenge entering 2026–27 is to maintain that progress despite losing some of the players who helped deliver it.
Who Is The Head Coach of the Charlotte Hornets?
Charles Lee remains the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, having taken the position in May 2024. Previously an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks, Lee arrived in Charlotte with considerable experience of successful NBA programmes.
His coaching background includes helping Boston win the 2024 NBA Championship and being part of Milwaukee’s championship-winning staff in 2021. He also gained valuable experience working alongside Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta, where the Hawks developed into a competitive Eastern Conference team.
Lee has placed considerable emphasis on player development, ball movement and creating an organised approach on both ends of the court. His work has helped younger players develop their understanding of the professional game while encouraging a more collective approach to attacking and defending.
The 2025–26 season provided evidence of that progress, with Charlotte finishing above .500 and recording its highest win total in a decade. However, the departure of Ball and Bridges means Lee must now adapt his tactical approach to a significantly different roster.
Coby White, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel offer different offensive qualities, while Naz Reid provides additional options in the frontcourt. Establishing effective combinations between these players will be particularly important as Lee looks to maintain the team’s competitive momentum.
Charlotte Hornets Offseason Trades
The Hornets underwent a major transformation during the 2026 off-season, with the front office choosing to reshape the roster rather than simply retain the group responsible for last season’s improvement.
One of the biggest moves involved trading LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a multi-team deal. Charlotte received forward Naz Reid, draft assets and future pick swaps as part of the transaction. Losing Ball represents a significant change, given his importance to the team’s playmaking and offensive creativity, but Reid provides a versatile frontcourt option with the ability to score both inside and from the perimeter.
The Hornets also traded Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns in July. In return, Charlotte acquired Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, together with a future first-round draft pick. Allen adds reliable outside shooting and scoring, while O’Neale offers defensive versatility and experience.
Another important move saw Charlotte acquire Dennis Schröder in an August multi-team trade involving the Cleveland Cavaliers and other NBA teams. His experience as a point guard gives the Hornets another option to organise the offence following Ball’s departure.
The team also retained Coby White, who provides scoring and ball-handling ability in the backcourt. Other additions included Christian Anderson and Hannes Steinbach, while Ryan Kalkbrenner adds another centre option.
Charlotte subsequently moved Dorian Finney-Smith to Atlanta in September, receiving Buddy Hield and Ryan Nembhard in return. Hield was then traded to the Chicago Bulls later that month for Rob Dillingham.
These transactions demonstrate that Charlotte is taking a longer-term approach to building its roster. Rather than relying on the previous core, the organisation is placing greater responsibility on Miller and Knueppel while adding experienced players and collecting valuable future draft assets.
Who Are The Key Players For The Charlotte Hornets?
The Hornets enter the 2026–27 season with a different group of leading players. With Ball and Bridges no longer part of the squad, several individuals will need to take on increased responsibility if Charlotte is to remain competitive.
Brandon Miller is one of the most important players in Charlotte’s plans. The forward averaged 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists during the 2025–26 season, establishing himself as a leading offensive option.
His ability to score from the perimeter, attack the basket and create opportunities makes him particularly valuable. With Bridges having departed, Miller will be expected to shoulder an even greater share of the team’s scoring responsibility as he continues his development.
Kon Knueppel enjoyed an outstanding rookie campaign, averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 2025–26. His outside shooting was particularly impressive, making him an important part of Charlotte’s offensive plans.
His ability to stretch the floor and contribute without dominating possession gives the Hornets valuable flexibility. Alongside Miller, he represents a major part of the franchise’s future, although managing his fitness will be important following his hamstring problems.
Coby White is expected to play a central role in organising the Hornets’ backcourt following Ball’s departure. Having established himself as a productive scoring guard, he offers the ability to create his own shots while also providing playmaking opportunities for teammates.
His experience and attacking versatility should make him an important figure as Charlotte adjusts to its new offensive structure.
Naz Reid is one of the most significant additions to the roster. Acquired from Minnesota as part of the LaMelo Ball trade, he averaged 13.6 points and 6.2 rebounds during the 2025–26 season.
The forward-centre can score from different areas of the court, stretch opposing defences with his outside shooting and contribute valuable rebounding. His versatility gives Lee several options when constructing frontcourt combinations.
Grayson Allen joined Charlotte from Phoenix in the Miles Bridges trade and brings considerable NBA experience. A capable three-point shooter, he provides another reliable perimeter scoring option and can contribute both as a starter and from the bench.
His shooting should help create additional space for Miller, White and Reid, while his experience will be useful in a relatively young squad.
These players will be central to Charlotte’s hopes of maintaining its recent improvement. The combination of Miller’s scoring, Knueppel’s shooting, White’s ball-handling and Reid’s frontcourt versatility gives Lee several options, although the team will need time to establish chemistry following such significant changes.
What Are The Charlotte Hornets’ Season Expectations?
Expectations for the 2026–27 campaign are more difficult to assess following Charlotte’s major off-season changes. Last season’s 44 victories demonstrated that the franchise was capable of competing for a post-season place, but trading LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges has created considerable uncertainty.
The decision to build around Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel suggests that the organisation is prioritising long-term development. Both players have already demonstrated considerable potential, while the additions of Coby White, Naz Reid and Grayson Allen provide valuable experience and additional scoring options.
However, Charlotte’s early-season results highlight the difficulties involved in bringing together a new roster. By 9th November, the Hornets had won just three of their first ten games and were averaging 96.3 points per contest, placing them last in the NBA in scoring.
The Hornets will need to improve their offensive production, maintain defensive intensity and find greater consistency if they are to challenge for a play-off position. Their young core offers reasons for optimism, but expecting an immediate return to last season’s level of success may be unrealistic.
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