The Charlotte Hornets have quickly become a hot topic in the NBA after trading star point guard LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In return, they received Naz Reid and a draft pick. Just days later, they followed up that move by sending starting power forward Miles Bridges—who has a close friendship with Ball—to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neal, and yet another draft pick.
Basketball enthusiasts are left scratching their heads over the Hornets’ decision-making. Many thought the team was finally coming together and on track to compete, emerging as a strong team as the 2025-26 regular season wound down. Sure, there were concerns—especially about the frontcourt—but the general belief was that Charlotte would make minor adjustments to improve. Instead, they’ve opted for a complete overhaul, which could turn out to be one of the smartest moves the franchise has ever made.
LaMelo Ball’s Unique Influence
It’s tough to talk about LaMelo Ball without critiquing him a bit, but let’s be real—he’s exceptionally gifted. He can pull off shots, like a one-legged three-pointer with the shot clock winding down, that leave others in awe, simply because he can.
However, that flair was also the downfall of his time with the Hornets. Building a cohesive offense around Ball has been challenging, mainly because his style is unpredictable. Even when he seemed to be playing within the team framework, he’d often take over a play, opting for his creative approach instead of sticking to a structured game plan.
This approach worked well enough when he was surrounded by less talent. Ball could control the game’s pace and distribute the ball as he saw fit, creating a vibe where he was the royal figure, and others merely played along. But things got complicated when Brandon Miller and Con Knuppel joined the team. Suddenly, there were three players vying for attention, and it felt a bit unfair that Ball continued to take charge, even though Miller and Knuppel were capable scorers and often more involved.
With Ball leading, it became increasingly difficult to envision a successful future for the Hornets. His tendency to dominate the ball was coupled with frequent injuries. Last season, he played 72 games, but required considerable load management, averaging just 28 minutes a game to maintain his health. Fans were on edge every time he left the court or showed any signs of discomfort, fearing it could derail the entire season.
This predicament made him a less reliable cornerstone for the team. While he has a higher ceiling than Coby White, White offers consistency in a facilitator role that allows Miller and Knuppel to take charge—something they seemed wary of with Ball on the floor.
Time to Move On, Miles
Miles Bridges has been a talking point for various reasons. His most redeeming quality may be the bond he built with LaMelo Ball, but aside from that, his performance has been inconsistent, and some might argue he hasn’t been the best person, either.
Bridges possesses strong athletic ability and has the potential to be a valuable stretch-four player, but he often lacks the drive needed on defense and puts in effort on offense only when he thinks he’ll score.
With Ball gone, it made sense for Bridges to leave as well, as he didn’t fit into the new direction of the team.
What’s the Plan, Anyway?
Looking at the Hornets’ roster now, it’s not entirely dismal.
PG: Coby White/Christian Anderson/Tre Mann
SG: Con Knuppel/Grayson Allen/Sion James
SF: Brandon Miller/Lois O’Neill/Liam McNeely
PF: Naz Reid/Royce O’Neal/Grant Williams/Tijan Saraun
C: Moussa Diabate/Hannes Steinbach/Ryan Kalkbrenner
The Hornets seem to be banking on a shift away from offensive reliance to bolster their defense. They also have some moves left to make, holding onto MLE and a $40 million trade exception, while their current salary is below the floor. It feels unfinished at this point.
Unlike several teams, the Hornets have stockpiled resources for the future. By 2027, they’ll have their draft picks, with protections on some from Dallas and Miami. They’ll also have trade rights with the Timberwolves in 2028 and 2030, which could be meaningful with the new draft lottery adjustments. If the partnership between Melo and Ant doesn’t pan out and the Timberwolves find themselves in the play-in mix, the Hornets could have another chance to boost their draft position. Plus, by 2033, they’ll have unprotected picks from Phoenix and Minnesota. It may seem far off, but with Devin Booker aging, the Hornets could be well-positioned depending on how things develop.
The Hornets are not settling for just being a play-in team; they’re aiming for supremacy in the Eastern Conference for years to come. Adopting a strategy similar to what the Oklahoma City Thunder did could lay the groundwork for long-term success. It’s no longer about accepting mediocrity; it’s about envisioning a dominant future, as long as they can maintain this course.
Whether they can achieve this new vision is still uncertain, but it’s clear that it wasn’t happening with LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, and the Hornets recognized that.
