Charlotte Hornets

Front office and bench

Ownership

Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin

President of Basketball Operations

Jeff Peterson since 2024

Assistants

• Lamar SkeeterLead assistant coach
• Chris JentAssistant coach
• Josh LongstaffAssistant coach
• Ryan FrazierAssistant coach
• Matt HillAssistant coach
• John BryantAssistant coach (added in August 2026)

The direction

What the franchise says and what its moves show

Charlotte has given up on winning now, despite coming off 44 wins, to bet on a young, sustainable project. Jeff Peterson has made it clear the team belongs to Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel and that the goal isn't to sneak into the play-in for one year. He has stockpiled picks and a big trade exception for future moves, with veterans covering the transition.

Building around

Brandon Miller Kon Knueppel

What they have said

• He explained that the LaMelo Ball trade was about sustained long-term success, not fighting for the play-in or a one-off playoff run.

  President Jeff Peterson · NBC Sports / ABC11 · July 2026

• He said they want Brandon Miller in Charlotte for a very long time and praised Knueppel's historic rookie season.

  President Jeff Peterson · SI (All Hornets) · July 2026

What the data points to

• Extension coming Very likely

  • Brandon Miller is finishing his rookie deal and producing: he needs to be locked up before he reaches the market.
• Seller Likely

  • Royce O'Neale and Grayson Allen are the kind of veteran a contender asks for in February.
  • If the start goes badly, that is the natural way out.
• Will hit free agency with cap space Likely

  • It has 140.7 M committed for next season: about 35.8 M under the cap (estimated).
  • Expensive free agents can only go to teams with space or via sign-and-trade.
• Flight risk Likely

  • Grayson Allen can leave next summer through his player option.
  • If the project does not convince him, better to trade him than lose him for nothing.

Moves

Summer 2026

• Four-team trade: LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota for Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, three first-round swaps (2028, 2029 and 2030), three seconds and a $40.7M trade exception.
• 2026 Draft: Hannes Steinbach (No. 14, Washington) and Christian Anderson Jr. (No. 18, Texas Tech).
• Coby White re-signs (three years, $74M).
• They sign Grayson Allen, Dennis Schröder, Royce O'Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith.
• Miles Bridges (in a separate deal) and Tre Mann depart.

Latest

• Oct 20 Extensión · sin oficializar Hornets, Brandon Miller agree to 5-year, $209M rookie extension
• Oct 17 Waived Waived Gs. Jarkel Joiner and Latrell Wrightsell.
• Oct 17 Waived Waived Gs Jarkel Joiner and Latrell Wrightsell.
• Oct 16 Waived Waived G Pat Connaughton.
• Sep 28 Waived Waived G Rob Dillingham.
• Sep 27 Trade Acquired G Rob Dillingham from Chicago Bulls for G Buddy Hield.

The roster

15 NBA contracts · 2026-27 salaries

Strengths and weaknesses

Today's roster, facet by facet (league rank)

• Defense 20th
• Rim protection 23rd
• Three-point shooting 1st
• Playmaking 11th
• Scoring 21st
• Rebounding 17th
• Offensive impact 13th

Roster holes

• Weak in rim protectionWith today’s rotation it ranks 23rd in the league in rim protection.
• Weak in scoringWith today’s rotation it ranks 21st in the league in scoring.
• Only 1 center in the rotationOne injury leaves it without a backup in the paint.

Contracts and extensions

Expiring this season

• Brandon Miller 23 years old · paid 15.1 M Restricted free agent Re-signing him would cost about 21.6 M a year
• Grant Williams 27 years old · paid 14.3 M Salary coming off the books

With an option next summer

• Grayson Allen18.1 M · can leave early

Bargains (produce far above their salary, for several years)

• Ryan Kalkbrennerpaid 2.4 M, produces like 15.5 M · through 2028-29

Pricey but short (paid more than they produce, but ending soon)

None.

Money and picks

Payroll 170.6 M Cap 165.0 M Tax 200.4 M 1st apron 209.0 M 2nd apron 221.7 M

Payroll

170.6 M · over the cap

Distance to each line

tax: 29.9 M below · 1st apron: 38.4 M below · 2nd apron: 51.1 M below

Next summer

140.7 M committed · 35.8 M in cap space

First-rounders it can trade

2027, 2031 · holds 5 other teams’ firsts and 4 swaps

Radar and possible trades

Who could ask about its players

• BOS → Royce O'Nealesigned through 2027-28, produces above his salary
• MIN → Royce O'Nealesigned through 2027-28, produces above his salary
• HOU → Royce O'Nealesigned through 2027-28, produces above his salary
• DET → Grayson Allensigned through 2027-28

A trade that works under the CBA

Trade pieces

Assets

Kon Knueppel (worth 26.3 M more than his salary), Ryan Kalkbrenner (worth 12.9 M more than his salary), Moussa Diabaté (worth 17.6 M more than his salary), Royce O'Neale (worth 9.7 M more than his salary)

Contracts that weigh

Coby White (overpaid by 19.5 M), Naz Reid (overpaid by 13.9 M), Dennis Schröder (overpaid by 9.3 M)

To match salaries

Brandon Miller (15.1 M), Grant Williams (14.3 M)