The Hornets are a team that needs to see some kind of roster change, and from the reports from ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst, the rumor is the Hornets front office is aware of that, too.
The report comes from an anonymous executive, who said, "There may not be too many players on their roster they're not willing to discuss in deals this summer. It may start with Brandon Miller and not go too far after that." He also later hinted at the fact that Charlotte has no intentions of moving LaMelo Ball as well.
While the roster isn’t going to be 13 new guys and then the two young stars in Charlotte there are certain groups of guys who are more or less likely to be moved. I decided to put the players into tiers of how likely they are to not be on the roster come October 2025. This will apply to all players currently signed to the Hornets on full contracts.
Guaranteed a roster spot
This tier is going to be the men who are guaranteed to be wearing the purple and teal next season. It is made up exclusively of guys on their rookie deals.
Brandon Miller
As mentioned, Miller is not leaving Charlotte because of what he has already shown he can do at such a young age. He projects to be an All-Star-level player, having averaged 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per contest in his sophomore campaign. While it ended early due to injury, most guys who have had his injury have come back to have great careers.
The 6-9 swingman has elite positional versatility and shooting ability. He may have experienced a slight sophomore slump from behind the arc, although it can likely be attributed to a jump in 3-point attempts as a whole. Miller could very well join Ball as the Hornets vying for coveted All-Star spots come February 2026.
Tidjane Salaun
It cannot go unsaid: Tidjane Salaun has not had a very good rookie campaign. The 19-year-old forward has been one of the worst offensive players in the entire NBA.
However, there is something we have to remember — he wasn’t picked to be good right now. He was an upside pick with amazing physicals and a high ceiling. The goal for Tidjane was to have him spend most of his time in the G League with the Greensboro Swarm to better develop a feel for the game. Unfortunately, the Hornets have struggled with injuries all year, especially at the forward spot, losing both Grant Williams and Brandon Miller for the season. This has resulted in Tidjane being asked to do more than he should be doing right now.
The rest of the league, at this point, has to be lower on Tidjane than the Hornets’ front office is, which only means they would be delusional to send him somewhere else.
KJ Simpson
KJ Simpson was a more polished recruit coming out of college playing multiple years at the collegiate level. While he doesn’t have nearly the upside that Salaun does, he has still shown flashes of being able to really play at the NBA level.
The difference maker for him compared to other young guards on this list is that he isn’t the guy a team would want thrown in a trade if they were dealing with the Hornets, which makes him safe in my eyes.
Moussa Diabate
What is there not to love about Moussa Diabate? His energy and hustle are unmatched on the court, and while he started the season on a two-way contract, the Hornets upgraded him to a three-year, $5.7 million contract after the trade deadline. The team showed they wanted him around and doing so makes him a guarantee to remain on the roster beyond this summer.
Almost a certainty
While the last section of guys is comprised of roster guarantees, this group has a small chance of not being on the roster. While I assume they will be in Charlotte next season, there are realities that something crazy happens and things change.
LaMelo Ball
You may be thinking to yourself, "Didn’t the article cited earlier state that the Hornets have no intention of moving off of LaMelo? So, why is he in this group?" And your concern would be 100 percent legit.
On the other hand, I assume most people had considered Anthony Davis a guarantee to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers beyond this year's trade deadline. Ball is the only player on the Hornets who could possibly receive a Godfatheresque “offer you can’t refuse.” If the Lakers can be offered Luka Doncic for Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick, anything is possible, and LaMelo is the only guy who could land a similar package for the Hornets.
Grant Williams
Grant Williams has been a glue guy since joining the Hornets during the 2024 trade deadline. He is a leader both on and off the court, and as someone who grew up in Charlotte, he seems to have an extra stake in how the team performs.
The only problem is that Grant tore or injured most of the major ligaments in his knee in early December. He seems to be recovering from the surgery, already joining the team on road trips and walking unassisted. His game is also not based on explosive athleticism, which might have been otherwise limiting for a high flyer. Grant Williams' value is at an all-time low because of the injury, and the only way I see him off the roster after this offseason is as a salary filler in a roster upgrade.
Tre Mann
Tre Mann is in a similar boat as Grant Williams. While not officially listed as out for the season, he has been on the injury report since mid-December with a disc issue in his back that will likely require surgery.
The only true difference between Mann and Grant Williams is that the former is a free agent this offseason. He will likely be seen as a risk to sign with other teams. The Hornets will likely take the risk of offering him a qualifying offer to bring him back for one more season where he can prove he can stay healthy and produce at the high level he did at the start of the season.
Wouldn’t surprise me either way
This group of guys is the largest selection of players on the team. I would put this group at roughly a 50/50 split on if they're staying or not.
Miles Bridges
Miles Bridges is one of the polarizing Hornets going into this offseason. His production has been electric since the All-Star break. He is averaging 24.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. He could be potential trade fodder if the Hornets take a swing at a major roster upgrade.
There is also a world where the front office sees this production and decides to keep him around with the idea that retaining Bridges with a healthy roster and other moves to add around the edges could make this team a play-in or even a playoff team.
Mark Williams
The funny thing about Mark Williams is that he was already traded once, but after the rescinded trade due to some injury concerns from the Lakers, his value has seemed to hit a low point, which is keeping him out of our next category.
Mark Williams has so far proven that he is healthy since the nixed trade, and he has played well on top of that. This creates an interesting scenario where teams know he can be acquired, although we don’t know the value other teams will put on him in a potential deal.
Josh Green
Josh Green is the third Hornets starter in the “wouldn’t surprise me” tier. The wing player was acquired for a second-round pick last offseason, and while his percentages are up, his defensive impact is inferior to what he had shown last season.
He could still be sold as a 3-and-D piece to a contender but in more of a backup role. If he is kept on the roster, the Hornets would likely bring him off the bench. However, with his contract being over $13.5 million next year and growing, it may be beneficial for the future of the Hornets if they look to move off him.
Nick Smith Jr.
Nick Smith Jr. will be an interesting player to track this offseason. His production has been up and down this season. As a silver lining, he is only 20 years old and has shown the ability to get hot from outside.
There is a world where he is part of the backup backcourt of the future with Mann if he can continue to grow as a player. On the other, he can also be traded to a team that needs a guard or included in a bigger deal as a young piece as a sweetener. He is a true 50/50 for me.
Jusuf Nurkic
Jusuf Nurkic was a trade deadline acquisition for the Hornets, and that definitely impacts his future on the team. His contract expires after next year at $19.4 million. That is a contract that is easier to move at the deadline next year to a squad that wants to shed salary in the following 2026 offseason.
The only reason Nurkic isn’t in the previous tier is the fact his contract does expire next season. He could be used in a larger deal for the Hornets as a financial filler in a major move.
Josh Okogie
Josh Okogie was another midseason trade addition for Charlotte. While he has only suited up for a few games for the Hornets because of a left hamstring strain, his impact, especially on the defensive side of the ball, has been felt.
He also seemed to have adopted a leadership role with the roster immediately. Despite the injury, you see Okogie regularly coaching up the guys on the sideline and communicating. The only reason he could not come back on the roster is because his contract next season is not guaranteed and could result in him being cut or traded this offseason.
DaQuan Jeffries
DaQuan Jeffries has been a pleasant surprise this season. He was someone a lot of fans thought might get cut before the season started, but he has now become a real contributor to the banged-up Buzz City squad.
Jeffries is signed to a three-year deal, but the next two seasons aren’t guaranteed. He is someone who will likely not be traded and could very well survive being cut because of his production this season. If he was cut, though, I wouldn’t be surprised.
Seth Curry
Seth Curry is truly only in the “wouldn’t surprise me” tier because he is a Curry. His dad, Dell Curry, is second all-time in career points in franchise history and the current analyst for their Fanduel Southeast broadcasts.
He also wears his dad’s number, 30. Seth Curry is on an expiring deal, and as one of the most efficient 3-point shooters in the league, he could be picked up by a contender. Still, he seems to really love Charlotte, and the Hornets will likely re-sign him if he does choose to come back.
Don’t buy the jersey
The last category is the opposite of the first one. The one guy on this list is essentially guaranteed to be gone this offseason, so don’t buy his jersey now if you want it. Wait until after the offseason for a discounted price.
Taj Gibson
To be blunt, Taj is one of the oldest players in the league, while on an expiring deal and with three other guys currently playing his position on the team. All signs are pointing to Taj not only not coming back but likely retiring this offseason. He has had a great career and will be looked back on fondly by multiple fan bases.
Final Thoughts
There are only a handful of "guarantees" in sports, and the main one is we mostly have no idea what is going to happen. The Hornets have not been good, and while that is mostly due to injuries, this isn’t a contending roster. The team could really benefit from making trades, and as a fan of the team, I would be upset personally if this is the same exact squad we bring back next year.