Just 24 hours after parting ways with former franchise center Mark Williams, the Charlotte Hornets officially ushered in a new era. With Williams headed to the Phoenix Suns, Charlotte took advantage of having two early second-round draft picks at its disposal.
After selecting Sion James at No. 33 overall, it added center Ryan Kalkbrenner at No. 34 to fill the void it didn't even have time to worry about addressing.
Charlotte selected Williams at No. 15 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. He'd won the 2022 ACC Defensive Player of the Year award during his sophomore season with the Duke Blue Devils and thus represented an opportunity for the Hornets to anchor their interior with a captivating talent.
Williams has delivered when he's been on the court, as evidenced by his averages of 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.0 offensive boards, 2.5 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 0.7 steals in just 26.6 minutes per game.
Unfortunately, Williams has missed 140 games between his first three NBA seasons. That's inevitably played a part in Charlotte's inability to build a sustainably strong team, as one of the most important players on the roster simply hasn't been available on a consistent basis.
After a failed physical was the only thing that stood in the way of Charlotte moving Williams at the 2025 NBA trade deadline, they've finally completed a deal at the draft—and instantly replaced him.
Ryan Kalkbrenner instantly replaces Mark Williams as Hornets' center
Kalkbrenner is one of the most physically imposing players in the 2025 NBA Draft. He checked in at 7'1" and 257 pounds with a 7'6" wingspan and a 9'4" standing reach—measurements that will place him among the biggest players in the Association from day one.
The former Creighton Bluejays star translated those physical gifts to five years of sensational play for the Big East program.
Kalkbrenner finished the 2024-25 season averaging 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.4 offensive boards, 1.5 assists, 2.7 blocks, and 0.6 three-point field goals made per game. He shot an absurd 65.3 percent from the field and buried a respectable 34.4 percent of his shots from beyond the arc.
A 3-and-D big who thrives as a shot-blocker and profiles favorably as an ideal fit for the modern standards of play, Kalkbrenner could be the long-term starter in Charlotte.
Even if it takes time for the big man to find his place, the Hornets deserve credit for acting quickly to fill the void at the 5-spot. In addition to losing Williams, they traded Nick Richards to the Phoenix Suns ahead of the 2025 NBA trade deadline and needed depth at the position.
By adding Kalkbrenner, there's at least a future to be intrigued by as the Hornets attempt to balance their rotation with a big they can depend on.