If the Charlotte Hornets could have any wish as they ring in the New Year, it would probably be a postseason berth. A top-six seed, which means reaching the playoffs outright, is probably off the table right now. However, the play-in tournament seems like a feasible target.
The Hornets are currently 11-21, tied for 12th place in the Eastern Conference. However, they are just three games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 10 seed.
Although we would like to say that gunning for that last spot for the postseason is as simple as it sounds, it is anything but.
First of all, such a feat would require overtaking the Hawks, who have surprisingly been decent this year whenever Trae Young sits and have a dismal record when their star suits up. They appear to be looking to pull off a seismic change in the roster, which could give them a boost in their hunt for a postseason berth.
It’s also worth noting that the team ahead of Charlotte in the standings is the Milwaukee Bucks. Even though the perennial playoff contender has had a disappointing campaign so far, the combination of having Giannis Antetokounmpo and a desperation to keep the superstar in the fold for many more years could push the Bucks toward a rise in the standings.
Can’t count the Hornets out
Despite the hurdles, Buzz City can still crash the party as long as its stars’ health holds up. Before its bout with the Golden State on New Year’s Eve, the team has gone 7-5 when LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel play together. That winning percentage would have it possessing the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference.
A look at the Hornets’ results in the past four weeks can also inspire some optimism, as they are 7-7 in their last 14 contests. They appear to be a much better team than what their 4-14 record to start the 2025-26 campaign suggested.
So, securing at least a spot in the play-in tournament seems doable.
Does that mean Charlotte should rather chase a lower seed in the East than stouter odds in the 2026 draft lottery? In a way, that sounds about right. While the franchise would probably be open to landing a top pick in what might be a strong draft class, it’s not like tanking has favored it in the lottery in the past years.
As such, it’s probably better for the Hornets to have another taste of the postseason atmosphere and allow their young core experience at least one high-stakes game in the play-in this year crather than perpetuate the losing tradition.