Opinions have been divided on whether the Charlotte Hornets can vie for a postseason spot in 2026. If they find themselves in the position to fight for one during the homestretch of the regular season, they should take advantage of a favorable schedule, one that will see them play at Spectrum Center in 10 of their last 14 matches.
Over that period, the Hornets will also figure in a seven-game homestand. The challenge, though, is that they will face several opponents who are likely going to be in the playoff picture. However, if they are hypothetically contending for at least a Play-In Tournament berth at that point, they shouldn't be a cakewalk from the view of their supposedly stronger matchups.
Interestingly, such a scenario might seem unrealistic for people who believe Charlotte should instead focus on positioning itself well for the 2026 draft lottery rather than pursue a top-10 position in the Eastern Conference. But should the franchise unofficially tank one more time when it already has several assets that could either serve as foundations in its rebuild or be used as trade pieces to bring in the players it covets?
Hornets have nothing to lose in trying to rise in the standings
With the East as wide open as it has been in years, the Hornets might want to try to take a stab at joining the challengers for the conference crown. What have they got to lose?
If Charlotte fails to achieve the goal, the silver lining is that it would send a message to stars who will be entering free agency in the following summers or are disgruntled with their incumbent squads and looking to start fresh elsewhere that the organization is serious in putting together a competent roster.
Of course, that could entail missing out on the chance to land any of the top 2026 draft prospects, which include AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Nate Ament. On the other hand, the trade-off could be the opportunity for the current core, primarily consisting of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel, to fast-track their development as they help Charlotte go toe-to-toe against some of the league's best teams.
So, it is probably in the Hornets' best interest to try hopping onto the next step in their rebuild, especially since they have been given a possibly favorable schedule to start and end the regular season.