The Charlotte Hornets are hoping to upset expectations during the upcoming 2025-26 season. Perhaps they will surprise the NBA world and make a postseason run. In all reality, though, the Hornets will likely struggle amid their continued rebuild. Charlotte's roster is continuing to improve, but there is still work to be done. Speaking of that work, the Hornets' NBA trade deadline plans may already be clear despite the fact that training camp has yet to begin.
Michael Pena of The Ringer recently said he expects the Hornets' roster to "look different" following the trade deadline. There are likely many people around the NBA world who would agree with Pena's prediction. Charlotte wants to compete within the next couple of years, but 2025-26 is not expected to be their season. As a result, trading impactful players may emerge as a realistic option at the deadline.
LaMelo Ball still features the ceiling of an MVP candidate. If he can stay healthy, then Charlotte will have a tremendous chance to perform better than people expect. Ball has dealt with injury trouble at times, however. Ball's health in 2025-26 will go a long way toward determining how the team plays.
Beyond Ball, the team has question marks. Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges can make impacts, but how good will they truly be? Players such as Josh Green and Collin Sexton will also help matters, but the team's depth is not especially reliable. Rookie Kon Knueppel -- the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft -- is an exciting player, but he is only 20 years old and will likely require a few years before becoming a star-caliber player.
So, who will the Hornets trade? The answer to that question will depend on which players are performing well and who is healthy. If an average player performs better than expected, they could be moved in a deal to acquire a quality package. Charlotte will have difficult decisions to make in February.
At the moment, the team is focused on making possible final roster moves before training camp and the NBA preseason. The players are looking to get into the best possible shape ahead of the new campaign. The Hornets have surely heard all of the doubters, so they would love to silence the critics.
Charlotte is not expected to compete at a high level, but anything can happen once the 2025-26 NBA season begins.