Barring any surprising moves, the Charlotte Hornets appear to be already set with their center rotation consisting of Moussa Diabate, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Mason Plumlee, and maybe Grant Williams in small-ball lineups. That could give the team a slight margin for error, and if it results in a string of losses, the Hornets might have to contend with the possibility of LaMelo Ball wanting out.
The star point guard is entering his sixth season in the league. And despite his talent and popularity, he still has only one All-Star nod to his name and has yet to get a taste of the playoffs. More seasons of losing and underappreciation could result in his desire to play elsewhere.
Of course, Ball's persistent bout with injuries has had a hand in the struggles. However, the 2025-26 season might be the start of a string of healthy campaigns. Without a formidable partner at the pivot, though, wins might be more difficult to come by.
The 2021 Rookie of the Year had become notorious for his high-usage play style last season, although that could be attributed to an inadequate supporting cast. Surround him with better teammates, including at least a solid center, and his potentially elite court vision will surface. Unfortunately, the Hornets don't appear to have any more plans to reinforce their platoon of big men.
Maybe they believe Diabate can develop enough of an offensive bag and channel his high motor into a more productive defense to complement his first-rate rebounding skills. Or perhaps Charlotte thinks Kalkbrenner can transform into a poor man's Brook Lopez and provide Ball and the rest of the club with a defensive anchor who can pound the ball inside or open up the floor on offense. Plumlee is expected to be the veteran presence, although many fans aren't expecting him to make too much of a difference after his disappointing first stint with the franchise.
The Hornets could have explored more solutions or depth at the position in free agency, but they were caught sleeping as several possible candidates opted to head elsewhere. They also let go of Summer League standout center PJ Hall, who signed with the Memphis Grizzlies on a two-way deal, and brought in another guard, Antonio Reeves, with their final two-way slot. To be fair, Reeves is a pretty efficient marksman, who also addresses one of the squad's weaknesses in the 2024-25 campaign.
Hopefully, Charlotte's decision not to find a big who can cover Ball's shaky perimeter defense or an elite roll man to give the floor general more pick-and-roll opportunities won't haunt the team in the future.