Charlotte Hornets' Top 3 Priorities During 2026 NBA Offseason
After playing the entire second half of the regular season as one of the hottest teams in the NBA, the Charlotte Hornets suffered an earlier-than-expected exit and are now headed to their offseason.
Even with the disappointing loss, this team is in great shape for both the short and long term. There is plenty for the organization to build on.
But there are also a handful of immediate needs they can address now.
We have their top three priorities between now and 2026-27 below.
3. Nail the Draft
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Charlotte has plenty of developing talent. LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Moussa Diabaté, Liam McNeeley, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Sion James are all under 25. That represents one of the best young cores in the NBA.
But after Ball, Miller, Knueppel and maybe Kalkbrenner, there are plenty of question marks in that group. With a middle-of-the-first-round pick, the Hornets can give themselves another chance at a potential difference-maker.
And this class could have several where Charlotte will pick.
If Yaxel Lendeborg slips because of his age, he'd be a solid addition to a frontcourt that's a little lighter than some other spots on young talent. Braylon Mullins would be an interesting pickup for more shooting around Ball's playmaking. Karim López, a 19-year-old forward who may have some point forward potential could check multiple boxes.
In short, the Hornets now have an opportunity to improve on one of the stronger foundations in the NBA.
2. Beef Up the Frontcourt
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Charlotte has plenty of forwards with enough size and athleticism to play either the 3 or the 4. Miller, Knueppel, Miles Bridges and McNeeley are all under contract for next season.
Up-and-coming centers Kalkbrenner and Diabaté were instrumental in the mid-season turnaround too.
But if the Hornets have one part of the rotation that could use a bit more depth, it might be the frontcourt. And ideally, it'd be a sort of change-of-pace big who could better deal with bulkier 5s.
Diabaté is listed at just 210 pounds, and though Kalkbrenner is huge even by NBA standards (7'1" and 256 pounds), he's not really known as a bruiser.
Landing a more physical 4 or 5 (or combo 4-5) in the draft, free agency or through a trade would better equip Charlotte for another long-haul regular season.
1. Re-Sign Coby White
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The Hornets made one of the best trades of the season when they exchanged Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and some second-round picks for Mike Conley (who was later waived) and Coby White.
Sexton was solid in his role, but White supercharges it.
In 21 appearances for Charlotte, he averaged 15.6 points in 19.3 minutes, while shooting 39.1 percent from deep. The team's net rating soared to 11.6 when he was on the floor.
The biggest potential downside to the deal is White's contract expiring after this season. And his next annual salary will be much higher than the $12.9 million he's making for 2025-26.
Barring some crazy demand (like $30-plus million per year), Charlotte should be willing to pay for that raise. White's offensive ability brought a whole new dynamic to the second unit. He and Ball are both big enough to play together, too.
White's contributions were critical for the Hornets gaining the momentum they did late in the season. Keeping him around will push that momentum forward into 2026-27 and beyond.
