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Dorian Finney-Smith Shams: Rockets sending DFS, picks to Charlotte
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 6:36 AM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports the Rockets are trading Dorian Finney-Smith and three second-round picks to the Hornets.
Analysis: For Houston, this move was all about creating financial flexibility. Charlotte adds a veteran forward that can still play a solid role off the bench if needed, but they also added three more second-round picks, pushing their total to 20 over the next seven years. That gives them plenty of ammo to make moves in the future, while DFS will make an impact in the locker room immediately. |
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Royce O'Neale Report: Royce O'Neale traded to Charlotte
Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 8:17 AM
Shams Charania
The Hornets have reportedly acquired Royce O'Neale, Grayson Allen and a 2033 first-round pick from the Suns for Miles Bridges, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick.
Analysis: A consistent presence in the Suns' starting lineup, O'Neale averaged career-highs in points (9.8) and three-pointers (2.7) last season. The veteran wing was also responsible for 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 42.1 percent from the field and 71.1 percent from the foul line. While not a prolific scorer, O'Neale gives the Hornets a veteran 3-and-D wing the team needs, especially with Josh Green (who was not much of a three-point shooter) being included in the LaMelo Ball trade. As was the case in Phoenix, O'Neale stands to be most valuable to fantasy managers needing three-pointers and steals. |
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Grayson Allen Report: Grayson Allen traded to Hornets
Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 8:11 AM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports that the Suns have traded Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and a 2033 first-round pick to the Hornets for Miles Bridges, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick.
Analysis: After three seasons in Phoenix, Allen is headed back to the Eastern Conference. While injuries limited him to 51 games, the veteran guard averaged a career-high 16.5 points, 3.8 assists and 3.1 three-pointers for the Suns last season. When available, Allen is one of the best three-point shooters in the league, and a solid defender as well. His addition gives the Hornets welcome perimeter depth, which is needed in the aftermath of LaMelo Ball being traded to the Timberwolves. However, availability concerns will affect where Allen is selected in most fantasy drafts. |
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Coby White Shams: Hornets sign Coby White to three-year deal
Thu, Jun 25, 2026, 5:42 AM
Shams Charania
Hornets signed Coby White to a three-year, $74 million contract, reports ESPN's Shams Charania.
Analysis: Injuries limited White to 50 games last season. After a midseason trade to the Hornets, his minutes went from 29.1 per game in Chicago to 19.3 per game in Charlotte. White still averaged 15.6 points with the Hornets playing behind LaMelo Ball. With Ball now in Minnesota, White projects as a starter for the Hornets this upcoming season. He's one of the big winners of the early offseason in terms of fantasy value. |
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Naz Reid Shams: Naz Reid headed to Hornets in LaMelo trade
Thu, Jun 25, 2026, 3:51 AM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports the Hornets have acquired Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first round pick swaps and three second-round picks from the Timberwolves in exchange for LaMelo Ball and Josh Green.
Analysis: Reid had a breakout season for the Timberwolves in 2023-24 when he won Sixth Man of the Year while averaging 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and shot 41 percent from three-point range. He finished in the top five of Sixth Man voting each of the last two years as well. Reid signed a multi-year contract with Minnesota less than a year ago, but will now find himself in Charlotte as part of the return for LaMelo Ball. Reid should have a similar role with the Hornets either as a starter or premiere bench option. He joins a frontline that also includes Moussa Diabate, Ryan Kalkbrenner and newly drafted Hannes Steinbach. |
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LaMelo Ball Report: Teams making offers for LaMelo Ball
Wed, Jun 24, 2026, 5:05 PM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports that multiple teams have been âactivelyâ making offers for Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball.
Analysis: While the report says the Hornets have not signaled they're looking to move on from Ball, that has not kept some teams from taking the initiative to see if they can get something done. According to both Charania and NBA insider Marc Stein, Minnesota and Toronto are the teams in question. Having struggled with injuries in recent years, Ball appeared in 72 games last season and was one of the reasons why the Hornets landed in the Play-In tournament. He averaged 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 3.8 three-pointers per game, shooting 40.7 percent from the field and 89.9 percent from the foul line. If Ball is moved, it would be a clear sign that Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel are the Hornets' cornerstones. |
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Xavier Cooks Hornets pick Christian Anderson Jr. at No. 18
Tue, Jun 23, 2026, 4:07 PM
Hornets selected Christian Anderson Jr. with the No. 18 pick in the NBA Draft.
Analysis: Anderson is considered by many to be the best perimeter shooter in this draft class. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound guard was one of the most improved players in college basketball this season, averaging 18.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 3.3 three-pointers in 38.4 minutes. Anderson shot 47.2 percent from the field, 41.5 percent from three and 80.5 percent from the foul line. While Anderson needs to get better defensively, his offensive tools make him incredibly valuable. The Hornets needed another perimeter shooter, especially if they don't re-sign Coby White, and selecting Anderson addresses that issue. In addition to being able to provide playmaking when LaMelo Ball sits, he can also play off the Hornets' star point guard because of his catch-and-shoot ability. |
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Xavier Cooks Hornets select Hannes Steinbach with No. 14 pick
Tue, Jun 23, 2026, 3:39 PM
Hornets selected Hannes Steinbach with the No. 14 pick in the NBA Draft.
Analysis: The 6-foot-10 Steinbach needed just one season to show that he was worthy of being a first-round pick, thanks largely to his hands and rebounding ability. As a freshman at Washington, the German forward/center averaged 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks, shooting 57.7 percent from the field and 75.9 percent from the foul line. Steinbach did show some signs of potentially being able to expand his offensive game, but the rebounding and touch around the basket are where he'll stand out early on in his career. While Moussa Diabaté emerged as a reliable contributor and Ryan Kalkbrenner provided depth as a rookie, the Hornets still needed to improve their options in the post. Adding Steinbach accomplishes that goal, and his ability as a rebounder and defender opens the door for him to earn rotation minutes as a rookie. |
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Miles Bridges Report: Miles Bridges 'expected' to be available
Wed, Jun 10, 2026, 5:51 AM
Marc Stein Substack
NBA insider Jake Fischer reports that the Hornets are âexpectedâ to make Miles Bridges available via trade in conjunction with this month's draft.
Analysis: While there were some rumblings that Bridges could be had for the right price at the February trade deadline, the veteran forward remained in Charlotte. However, that may not be the case this summer, based on Fischer's reporting. Bridges is going into the final year of his contract, with a $22.8 million cap hit. Regarding the draft, the Hornets currently hold two first-round picks, 14th and 18th overall. Would Bridges plus a pick be an approach for the team to take if they wanted to move up? That will be something to keep an eye on, especially with Charlotte also rumored to be seeking an upgrade at the center position. |
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Moussa Diabate Report: CHA guarantees Diabate's 26-27 contract
Tue, Jun 2, 2026, 2:42 AM
Ohm Youngmisuk
According to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk, the Hornets have guaranteed Moussa Diabaté's contract for the 2026-27 season.
Analysis: After a 2025-26 season in which he won the NBA's Hustle Award, Diabaté stands to be one of the biggest bargains in basketball next season. His contract for next season is worth just over $2.46 million, a low amount for a player who emerged as the Hornets' starting center in 2025-26. A starter in 47 of the 73 games he played, Diabaté averaged 7.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.0 blocks in 26.0 minutes. If he holds onto the starting center role, with Ryan Kalkbrenner standing to be the main competition for that role, Diabaté can offer late-round value to managers targeting rebounds and blocks. |
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Xavier Cooks Hornets sign Charles Lee to contract extension
Thu, May 7, 2026, 9:08 AM
Charlotte Hornets
Hornets signed Charles Lee to a contract extension.
Analysis: While the Hornets missed out on a playoff berth in Lee's second season at the helm, the team was much-improved, especially after the calendar flipped to 2026. From January 3 onward, Charlotte went 33-15, finishing the regular season with a 44-38 record. Kon Knueppel finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, while multiple players made notable strides, including LaMelo Ball. |
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Brandon Miller Brandon Miller has shoulder surgery Wednesday
Wed, May 6, 2026, 11:00 AM
Hornets
Brandon Miller underwent surgery to address left shoulder instability.
Analysis: Miller is out indefinitely, but expected to make a full recovery. He hurt his shoulder early in the season, but managed to play 65 games while wearing a wrap on his shoulder most of the time. Miller led the Hornets with 20.2 points per game this season. |
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Brandon Miller Brandon Miller has 14 points, five turnovers Fri.
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 5:05 PM
Brandon Miller totaled 14 points (5-of-10 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, two steals and four three-pointers in Friday's loss to the Magic.
Analysis: Miller shot the ball efficiently and had a great three-point shooting performance on Friday. However, he was responsible for five of Charlotte's 16 turnovers, and was just one of several Hornets to find difficulty on the offensive end. A blowout loss ultimately limited Miller to 29 minutes in the season-ending loss. Nonetheless, he put together another solid fantasy season in Year 3. Perhaps a jump could come in his fourth season. |
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Miles Bridges Miles Bridges adds 15 points Friday in loss to ORL
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 5:00 PM
Miles Bridges produced 15 points (5-of-12 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), two rebounds, one assist and one three-pointer in the loss to the Magic on Friday.
Analysis: Bridges struggled with his three-point shot in the season-ending loss. However, his success inside the arc and at the charity stripe helped him finish as Charlotte's second-leading scorer on the evening. Bridges didn't contribute in many other areas, however, and a bad team performance prevented this contest from being competitive through the final horn. He ends his seventh NBA season with averages of 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. His fantasy production slipped this season, as did his overall numbers. |
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LaMelo Ball LaMelo Ball scores 23 points in loss to Orlando
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 4:54 PM
Lamelo Ball finished Friday's loss to the Magic with 23 points (7-of-17 FGs, 6-of-6 FTs), two rebounds, five assists and three three-pointers.
Analysis: While Ball shot more efficiently from the field on Friday than he did in Wednesday's win, the end result was a blowout, season-ending loss. He scored well from beyond the arc and concluded as the only Hornets player to reach the 20-point mark. Additionally, Ball was Charlotte's only player with more than two assists. The sixth-year guard's scoring numbers took a hit this year as his minutes decreased. Yet, he logged 72 regular-season games and proved he could stay healthy. Ball should be in line for a similarly productive 2026-27 season from a fantasy basketball standpoint. |
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Moussa Diabate Moussa Diabaté (hip) available Friday vs. Orlando
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 12:44 PM
Cody Taylor
Moussa Diabaté is available to play against the Magic on Friday.
Analysis: Diabaté's return supplies the Hornets with their starting center, one who brings energy and activity on the glass. He started 47 of 73 games for Charlotte during the regular season and posted 14 rebounds in the first Play-In Tournament win over the Heat. He'll be on double-double watch vs. the Magic. |
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Moussa Diabate Moussa Diabaté (hip) questionable vs. Orlando
Thu, Apr 16, 2026, 11:08 AM
NBA Injury Report
Moussa Diabaté (hip) is questionable for Friday's game against the Magic.
Analysis: Diabaté, who finished Tuesday's overtime win over the Heat with eight points, 14 rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot in 36 minutes, is dealing with a sore left hip. If he's unable to play on Friday, the Hornets would turn to Ryan Kalkbrenner and Grant Williams to fill the resulting void. |
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LaMelo Ball LaMelo Ball fined $60k for tripping Bam Adebayo
Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 4:35 PM
Shams Charania
LaMelo Ball has been fined $35,000 for tripping Bam Adebayo and $25,000 for cursing postgame.
Analysis: The foul has also been upgraded to a flagrant, but the main takeaway here is that LaMelo will be available for Friday's play-in matchup with the Magic. That will be another win-or-go-home game for them, so having their star point guard serving a suspension would've put them at a massive disadvantage. That won't be the case, which will give them a chance to return to the playoffs for the first time in a decade. |
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LaMelo Ball Haynes: NBA to review LaMelo Ball's conduct
Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 10:04 AM
Chris B. Haynes
NBA insider Chris B. Haynes reports that the NBA will review LaMelo Ball for potentially taking out the ankle of Bam Adebayo in Tuesday's Play-In game.
Analysis: Ball went down in the second quarter and appeared to make contact with Adebayo's ankle. Adebayo took a hard fall that sent him to the locker room and caused him to miss the rest of the game. The NBA will review the footage to determine if Ball's contact was intentional, and Haynes reports that a ruling is expected before Friday's Play-In game. |
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Brandon Miller Brandon Miller scores 23 points in win over Miami
Tue, Apr 14, 2026, 5:12 PM
Brandon Miller added 23 points (9-of-17 FGs), five rebounds, five assists, two blocks and five three-pointers in Tuesday's win over the Heat.
Analysis: In his first taste of the postseason, Miller delivered a well-rounded performance to help Charlotte keep its playoff hopes alive. The third-year forward was one of three Hornets players to score at least 20 points in the night, as he tied a team-high five three-pointers. Miller also made contributions on the glass and as a passer, while recording a couple of blocks to round out a very balanced effort. He'll get a chance to dial up another strong performance on Friday when the Hornets face the winner of Wednesday's Sixers-Magic game. |
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