Offseason 2025 Thread

[MasterIchiro]

I do not see him pairing well with Miles at all. Like we'd survive a few minutes with them together, but Kuminga would be our 5th leading scorer. He's not getting "featured" anywhere that isn't outright tanking, or Phoenix.

Even if we were to re-home Miles, Kuminga would be no higher than 4th option after LaMelo - Miller - Sexton.

But something tells me Kuminga will look to sign for the most money offered regardless of role.

Kuminga is not a connector but the team just brought in Sexton, Kon, Liam to help balance that shortcoming, plus committed to Mann.

What do ya'll think about sending Miles to Detroit for Beef Stew? Tobias Harris is walking after the season, and Miles could slide right into his role at a similar salary slot and has roots there.

15 players

LaMelo / Mann / Dinwiddie
Sexton / Kon / Sion
Miller / Liam
Kuminga / Grant / Salaün
Beef Stew / Moussa / Plumlee / Kalkblocked

[Bassman]

I’m gonna keep beating this drum about our center situation, just as major NBA writers are also doing. An article in Bleacher Report has Dan Favale including the Hornets among 5 teams whose rosters don’t make sense. Quote below and link to Hornets SI where it was noted.

This has resulted in Bleacher Report's Dan Favale listing Charlotte as one of five NBA rosters "that make zero sense." It's easy to see why since the team just isn't very balanced and has a really depleted center rotation, specifically.
"Rookies Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeeley each have the size of a wing but don't really defend like one. Tidjane Salaün and Miles Bridges are more like tweener forwards, though Bridges' case is debatable. Brandon Miller looms as the only true wing on the roster," Favale said.
Favale also said he's not thrilled about and is surprised that Charlotte is happy with the center rotation of Moussa Diabaté, Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kalkbrenner.
"Diabaté is worth further exploration, but it'd be better to have a higher-end option alongside Knueppel, McNeeley, LaMelo Ball, and Collin Sexton. A 6'6" Grant Williams doesn't do the trick," he added.

https://www.si.com/nba/hornets/news/nba-analyst-urges-hornets-to-make-a-move-to-fix-roster-that-makes-zero-sense

[GoBobs]

I’m gonna keep beating this drum about our center situation, just as major NBA writers are also doing. An article in Bleacher Report has Dan Favale including the Hornets among 5 teams whose rosters don’t make sense. Quote below and link to Hornets SI where it was noted.

This has resulted in Bleacher Report's Dan Favale listing Charlotte as one of five NBA rosters "that make zero sense." It's easy to see why since the team just isn't very balanced and has a really depleted center rotation, specifically.
"Rookies Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeeley each have the size of a wing but don't really defend like one. Tidjane Salaün and Miles Bridges are more like tweener forwards, though Bridges' case is debatable. Brandon Miller looms as the only true wing on the roster," Favale said.
Favale also said he's not thrilled about and is surprised that Charlotte is happy with the center rotation of Moussa Diabaté, Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kalkbrenner.
"Diabaté is worth further exploration, but it'd be better to have a higher-end option alongside Knueppel, McNeeley, LaMelo Ball, and Collin Sexton. A 6'6" Grant Williams doesn't do the trick," he added.

https://www.si.com/nba/hornets/news/nba-analyst-urges-hornets-to-make-a-move-to-fix-roster-that-makes-zero-sense

Maybe they just think we can win without having a great center. Mark Williams turned out to not really be a difference maker when it came to winning. I think most of us would say Nick Richards wasn't really a huge difference maker. Which ever plumblee boy we signed might not be a huge difference maker either, but he has a team friendly contract.

If we get 60 games from LaMelo, Miles, and Brandon, there is ablsolutely no excuse for this team not making the playoffs in the east.


(brandon is 1/2, lamelo is 1/5, miles is 6/7)

[Diop]

My only argument would be the Tiddy being more a tweener size, he's got the size and strength to be a 4, he's just not good enough/ready.

Otherwise it's obvious.
San Antonio played a full season with Sochan playing point guard for Wembys first season while they were "developing", I'm just hoping we are waiting for the right trade or trying that spurs 4d chess tanking

[Bassman]

ESPN article: view of rookies by 20 NBA anonymous executives, relative to 5 questions. Interesting read. Spoiler-Kon is not mentioned but Liam is briefly:

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45807536/2025-nba-draft-executives-debate-espn-poll-rookies-year-best-picks-summer-league

[NMBSurfin]

ESPN gives Hornets a B- for offseason

Charlotte Hornets
Grade: B-

The Hornets should be more competitive in 2025-26 after finding playmakers to supplement LaMelo Ball. Charlotte's offense collapsed without Ball last season, which doesn't figure to continue with the additions of veterans Spencer Dinwiddie and Collin Sexton and the return of Tre Mann. And No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel, MVP of the summer league championship game, should help the Hornets' shooting immediately.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45836861/nba-offseason-grades-2025-26-season-boston-celtics-oklahoma-city-thunder

[MasterIchiro]

ESPN gives Hornets a B- for offseason

Charlotte Hornets
Grade: B-

The Hornets should be more competitive in 2025-26 after finding playmakers to supplement LaMelo Ball. Charlotte's offense collapsed without Ball last season, which doesn't figure to continue with the additions of veterans Spencer Dinwiddie and Collin Sexton and the return of Tre Mann. And No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel, MVP of the summer league championship game, should help the Hornets' shooting immediately.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45836861/nba-offseason-grades-2025-26-season-boston-celtics-oklahoma-city-thunder

I was just in the trade forum explaining this (how the FO addressed the critical missing ingredient of playmaking).

Adding Kon and Liam in the 1st round, Sexton in a trade, and Dinwiddie & Tre (to a lesser extent Plumlee) in free agency. We recognized a glaring weakness.

We will not be trading Sexton anytime soon. And a Dallas fan just suggested we surrender the Nurk 1st for Gafford.

Gonna be much easier on the eyes watching Hornets other than LaMelo do the right thing with the ball in their hands.

We added playmaking as a priority and are not likely to subtract it and go back to square one where we were last year with LaMelo, so dependent on him or the offense imploded.

We did downgrade at center whether you like/dislike Diabaté or approve/disapprove of the Mark Williams trade(s).

I still refuse to believe Moussa is plan A, and I'm a fan.

I just think the addition of a legit center (not Gafford) makes the offseason an A-. So I hope Jeff is working on something and actually has options. Otherwise he will be diminishing his other work, which doesn't seem intentional if options are available.

Is there a special target for center? Or do we just punt the position after adding all this missing playmaking?

[MasterIchiro]

Centers - you can make a case for Vuc (5-out), Claxton (defends 1-5), and many other centers, but the planning for the position looks highly unorthodox. Seems Hornets have staked a pathway that may not conform to current trends.

After witnessing Mark play at half-speed or half-heart, the allure of someone who plays so relentlessly like Diabaté may hint at their thinking. It's a position that demands physicality and tenacity as much as skill there gives some teams a distinct positional advantage. Figure the championship winner Hartenstein will earn 28.5 million this season to do nothing exceptional. He just balls out of his mind with relentless motor.

So I'm wondering if (injury concerns aside) we may covet someone like Robert Williams III more than we let on.

When healthy (rarely) that guy is a **** maniac. He can change a game with a big stop on defense.

I distinctly recall the Blazers were fielding offers for him but didn't like them, and felt fine holding him and holding out for 1st round pick compensation. They paid 20 million to make Ayton go away - someone with questionable effort/motor, inconsistent play like Mark. Yet RWIII survived there, even after drafting Clingan and Yang.

Of course you hope his price tag falls and that the Blazers would take Grant or (preferably) Green as matching, but at some point maybe you cave to demands because you believe in his archetype.

I'm not sure about the nature of his current health status. I just know he started last season on the shelf. He was an absolute terror with the Celtics. He's a different breed of center. I just think he's more like Diabaté and less like Mark or Vuc skill wise. The skilled centers cost a serious premium, and can throw off the whole budget of a small market team. We won't be paying someone like Hartenstein close to 30 million anytime soon.

But trading a weak protected 1st to test drive Timelord? Could make the season more interesting. He could help set the tone for other defenders as Diabaté does.

[wilson115]

Aww, takes me back.
(Fingers crossed nothing from 2025 ends up on this list five years from now.)

Watch on YouTube

[Bassman]

Responding to MasterIchiro’s posts; I’m convinced Peterson and Lee are planning to run with the pieces they’ve got at center. Absent an unexpected trade opportunity, they will see who blends best with the core starters. I predict they hope to run, run, run a la the Pacers, mixed with the Celtics 5 out spacing and three-crazy offense (of course none of the centers has real consistent shooting range, so let’s say 4 out, 1 making circles setting screens).

Problem with that is the what if’s. What IF Moose doesn’t progress to the next level? What IF Kalk never has a consistent 3 point shot, nor is a strong rebounder at the NBA level? I suppose they tackle that down the road…

[Chapelchilla]

There are a couple dates to pay attention to with trades - the Sept one when Pat can be added and then the actual trade deadline (of course). For the early one, they may have a deal already worked out and are waiting on the Sept deadline for $ purposes.
Pretty sure they will also be looking to make moves when they can take advantage of other teams tanking or not jelling in the post holiday period, that could include themselves if Melo gets hurt again or whatever. It seems like they want to try out the new guys/system with the OG core and see how that looks before tweaking it accordingly but they do need and want to add more talent.
On the other hand, it seems like this is a really deep draft and the next one is terrible, so a slow roll towards say 35 wins and one more (last?) shot at the lotto may become the smarter route. Guess we will all have to see how these dudes look. They could actually be pretty good with all the non-center depth and that could accelerate the timeline into making a bigger move this season - when the price is right and a difference maker becomes available. I think they will be lot more fun to watch while this plays out either way. Lot's of good passers and shooters for a change.

[fatlever]

sounds like green wont be ready by training camp.

[HornetJail]

take as long as you need Josh

[Chapelchilla]

take as long as you need Josh

Yep, at least long enough for Liam and Kon to take over any minutes Green may have received

[SWedd523]

sounds like green wont be ready by training camp.

I'm whelmed by this news

[Snidely FC]

MIchael Pina at the Ringer riffing on how Horford might end up a Hornet:

There’s a scenario in which the Warriors sign Kuminga to a tradable short-term contract (similar to the one Jalen Green agreed to with the Houston Rockets) that puts them into the tax and then use their taxpayer mid-level exception to add Horford on a two-year, $11.6 million deal—an order of operations that would allow Golden State’s payroll to climb above the first apron.

But if the money drops that low, could other teams swoop in with better offers for Horford? It’s hard to know what his priorities are considering he just won a championship, which opens the door for someone like, I don’t know, the Charlotte Hornets to give him the full mid-level exception. Charles Lee coached Horford during Boston’s championship season, and Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson worked for the Atlanta Hawks when Horford was their best player.

It sounds illogical, and Charlotte would need to make a few moves to free up a roster spot, but if Horford would be happy closing out his Hall of Fame career getting overpaid to babysit a young team that could really use one of the league’s most professional figures in its locker room, all the best to him.

https://www.theringer.com/2025/07/29/nba/nba-free-agency-2025-ben-simmons-russell-westbrook-rumors

[Chapelchilla]

MIchael Pina at the Ringer riffing on how Horford might end up a Hornet:

There’s a scenario in which the Warriors sign Kuminga to a tradable short-term contract (similar to the one Jalen Green agreed to with the Houston Rockets) that puts them into the tax and then use their taxpayer mid-level exception to add Horford on a two-year, $11.6 million deal—an order of operations that would allow Golden State’s payroll to climb above the first apron.

But if the money drops that low, could other teams swoop in with better offers for Horford? It’s hard to know what his priorities are considering he just won a championship, which opens the door for someone like, I don’t know, the Charlotte Hornets to give him the full mid-level exception. Charles Lee coached Horford during Boston’s championship season, and Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson worked for the Atlanta Hawks when Horford was their best player.

It sounds illogical, and Charlotte would need to make a few moves to free up a roster spot, but if Horford would be happy closing out his Hall of Fame career getting overpaid to babysit a young team that could really use one of the league’s most professional figures in its locker room, all the best to him.

https://www.theringer.com/2025/07/29/nba/nba-free-agency-2025-ben-simmons-russell-westbrook-rumors

That would be pretty cool for us

[yosemiteben]

Tony Parker 2.0

[HornetJail]

sign me the hell up

even in his current form, he'd be our best center

[JustBuzzin]

Man Horford is old as dirt. He's not the answer.