The Charlotte Hornets awed plenty of people around the league with their flurry of offseason moves that have set them up nicely for the future. The roster still has some holes, mainly at the frontcourt. Even so, Dan Favale of Bleacher Report named them as one of the five teams that quietly dominated this summer.
We all know the reasons. For one, Charlotte pulling a fast one on an NBA executive known for fleecing other organizations was a masterclass. Who would have thought that the Hornets had it in them to turn a third-string center, Jusuf Nurkic, into a possible starter, Collin Sexton, and a future second-round pick?
Favale also highlighted the addition of two snipers who can provide LaMelo Ball with "divine" spacing through the selections of Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeeley in this year's draft. Of course, the only reason the Hornets were able to obtain McNeeley was by shipping Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns on draft night. They also brought in a 2029 first-rounder, which will likely land late in the opening round, and Vasilije Micic in the deal.
Not mentioned in the Bleacher Report article were Charlotte unloading Micic for another second-round pick and a big wing in Pat Connaughton, who has a strong case to remain on the roster by the start of the regular season, and re-signing Tre Mann with a team-friendly contract.
Hornets' outlook this season still doesn't look bright
Despite an offseason of mostly praiseworthy upgrades and a Summer League championship, Charlotte has yet to be acknowledged as a surefire playoff squad. The seeming lack of a starting-level center and a possible lackluster defense could hinder it from fielding a competitive squad on some nights. The injury bug can also sting the club anew, although hopefully, that won't turn out to be the case anymore.
Wherever the Hornets end up in the standings at the end of the 2025-26 campaign, though, they at least have laid what appears to be the solid foundation of a future contender. As long as the pillars, particularly Ball, Brandon Miller, and Knueppel, develop as they likely hope, there is a valid basis to be optimistic about Charlotte's chances in the following years.
Besides, who's to say that the club wouldn't be able to join the race for a play-in spot this season? While some pundits believe it should pursue another high draft pick next summer, it doesn't really have as much incentive to do so as other rebuilding franchises that don't have building blocks that could be in the same tier as Ball or Miller.
Moreover, the Hornets have several assets they could cash in when the right opportunity presents itself. Fans will just have to put their faith in the Jeff Peterson-helmed front office. Based on their performance in the previous weeks, there's little reason, if any, not to trust them.