The Charlotte Hornets defied expectations this year and have jumped to a .500 record after starting off 4-14, with huge credit to Charles Lee. While high stakes playoff games will help this team grow, there are still areas of improvement to make this team a true contender. Free agency is a way to solve that issue.
The Hornets sit at 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 34–34 record, still within striking distance of climbing the standings and securing a more favorable play‑in or playoff matchup. Fans may be locked in on the postseason push, but Jeff Peterson’s front office is always operating with the long view in mind. And if Charlotte wants to make a bigger leap next season, the right offseason additions could be the difference.
With that in mind, here are three free agents who could legitimately help elevate the Hornets into Eastern Conference contention.
Rui Hachimura
The debate over Miles Bridges' place in Charlotte's offense isn't going away anytime soon. At some point, the Hornets have to decide whether they’re upgrading the forward spot or reshaping it with more reliable depth — and Rui Hachimura checks both boxes.
Hachimura has carved out a meaningful role for the Lakers this season, averaging 29.2 minutes with 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds on impressive 50.3/43.6/75.9 shooting splits. While he’s only an average free‑throw shooter, he’s an efficient two‑way forward who raises a team’s floor without demanding touches. Bridges shoulders more offensive responsibility in Charlotte, but that’s largely a product of usage, not necessity.
The Hornets don’t need another high‑volume scorer at the four. With LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel driving the offense, what they need is a complementary forward who defends, spaces the floor, and stays within structure. Hachimura fits that mold. He brings real defensive potential, operates well as an off‑ball helper, and at 6'8" provides the stretch‑four shooting profile that opens the floor for the Hornets as a whole.
Anfernee Simons
Whether Charlotte simply wants to bolster its guard depth or finds itself navigating a potential fallout from Coby White’s contract negotiations, Anfernee Simons is a name that makes a ton of sense for this offense. He fits Charles Lee’s three‑point‑heavy philosophy perfectly and could become an instant spark plug off the bench.
Simons is shooting 38.1% from deep this season, a mark that would rank second on the current Hornets roster among players taking at least three three-pointers per game. Charlotte could use an additional high‑volume scorer in its second unit, which sits outside the league’s top 15 in bench points per game. Simons brings exactly that—shot creation, spacing, and the ability to swing momentum in short bursts.
Defensively, he’s mediocre at best, but it’s a fair tradeoff when the offensive payoff is high. If he’s giving you 15+ efficient points in limited minutes, that’s real value—especially for a team that can collapse offensively whenever the starters sit.
Walker Kessler
Walker Kessler, who’s out for the season with a shoulder injury, is heading into restricted free agency, and his future in Utah suddenly looks less certain. After the Jazz swung a blockbuster deal for Jaren Jackson Jr. at the trade deadline, there’s a chance they won’t be eager to match a hefty offer sheet for another young big.
Charlotte has been starving for length and size. Kessler, a 7'2" force with far more defensive versatility than he gets credit for, checks every box. He’s an elite rebounder, a top-tier rim protector, and was logging over 30 minutes per game before the injury. He only took eight threes this season, but he knocked down 75 percent of them, an encouraging sign of where his three-pointer development could go and his future ability to stretch the floor.
There’s a lot to like about Kessler as a long-term fit in Charlotte, especially if Peterson wants to upgrade the center position without relying solely on the draft. But prying him away won’t be cheap. To even get his attention, Peterson would likely need to put more than $20 million per year on the table.