The Hornets Are Having The BEST Offseason In The NBA

The Hornets Are Having The BEST Offseason In The NBA

The Charlotte Hornets have been absolutely dominating the offseason so far. It feels like a dream, but we are finally moving like an organization that wants to win and taking steps in the right direction. After years of inconsistency and injuries derailing the process, the front office has completely revamped the roster. Building around LaMelo Ball with a mix of proven veterans and exciting young talent, the Hornets have pulled off multiple savvy trades and draft moves. And for the first time in years, there’s a genuine optimism that this team can make a real playoff push in the Eastern Conference. In today’s video, we’re going to break down every player the Hornets drafted and then I will get into all the crazy trades. Let’s get right into it. Starting off on draft night, the Hornets had the fourth overall pick and they selected Khan Canapple from Duke. At first, when they made the selection, I was very upset. I’m not going to lie. I was so bummed out that VJ Edgecom went to the 76ers at three. And at the time, I felt like Trey Johnson or Ace Bailey would have been the right selection. But as time has gone on, I have realized that Conano will fit alongside Brandon Miller and Laamela Ball so well, way better than the other prospects that I mentioned. Ace Bailey would have just been another copy and paste version of B Mill and Trey Johnson needs the ball in his hands so much that he would have been taking shots away from our franchise guy. The thing I love about Khan is how unselfish he is, but he can step up when needed. Playing with the number one pick, Cooper Flag, Khan really had to learn how to find his perfect role on one of the best teams in the country. But in the ACC tournament, when Cooper Flag got hurt, Khan stepped up and carried the Duke squad to an ACC title as the number one option. Khan Canipple has an elite shooting ability with a polished all-around game. At 6’6 and around 215 lbs, he has an ideal size for an NBA wing and plays with a high basketball IQ. He’s not the flashiest athlete, but he’s incredibly skilled and efficient. The kind of player who never forces shots, and always makes the right read. He spaces the floor, plays unselfishly, and doesn’t need high usage to be effective. he can operate as a deadly offball threat and a secondary playmaker. His ability to read defenses and hit timely shots should allow him to contribute right away. The Hornets only went into the draft with one first round pick, but as the night went on, chatter around the league started to emerge that the Hornets wanted to make a trade to select again. The Hornets ended up trading the 23-year-old center Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns. In return, Charlotte received the 29th overall pick, Fosa Meich, and a future 2029 firstrounder. Charlotte didn’t see Williams in their long-term plans, and he was entering rookie contract extension eligibility. They already tried to move him earlier in the year to the Los Angeles Lakers, so you just had to have a feeling that they were going to try to move him again soon. Analytics immediately graded the trade favorably for Charlotte. For instance, Sports Illustrated gave Charlotte an A+, noting it accelerates the Hornets rebuild and sets them up with more options and roster flexibility moving forward. The Hornets used the Sun’s 29th pick to select Liam McKenna from Yukon, and I absolutely love this selection. Liam McKenna is one of the most versatile and NBA ready role players in the draft. A product of Yukon’s elite development system, McKenley stands about 6’8 with a strong frame, high motor, and deep basketball instincts. He’s a knockdown spot-up shooter, nearly 40% from three, but also a very smart cutter, and a sneaky good defender. He won’t blow by defenders, but his decision-making and off-ball movement makes him effective without needing the ball in his hands at all times. McNeel’s value will be a floor spacing combo forward who can defend multiple positions. If the Hornets don’t land another power forward or stretch big in free agency, McNeely may earn real minutes by mid-season. But I also wouldn’t be surprised to see him spend some time with the Greensboro Swarm throughout the year. The only thing I’m worried about with McNeely is that I feel like his game is very similar to Conan. So, it should be interesting to see how these two share the floor together at summer league. On day two of the NBA draft, Charlotte selected Seion James from Duke and Ryan Kulk Brener from Kraton. Seion James is one of the most underrated 3 and D wings in the 2025 draft class. At 6’5 with a 610 wingspan, he’s known for his ability to guard one through three effectively at Duke. He earned a reputation as the team’s best perimeter defender. He’s a dog on defense and is exactly what the Hornets need. He shot a respectable 36% from three and was often tasked with guarding the opposing team’s top score. He may not be a high ceiling star, but he’s an ideal rotational piece. His game is very similar to Drew Holidays. James will likely split time between the G-League and on the main roster early on, but the other second round pick may be a day one starter in the Queen City. Four-time Big East defensive player of the year, Ryan Culbriner should fit in perfectly. Standing at 7T tall, Ryan Culbriner is a traditional rim protecting center with elite shot blocking instincts. He averaged over 2.5 blocks per game and shot over 65% from the field mostly on dunks and hook shots. He fills a very specific role. Protect the rim, rebounds, set screens, and finish lobs. In a pick and roll heavy offense with ball and man, Colin should easily find looks. Don’t get it twisted, though. He’s a great three-point shooter and averaged 19 points per game during his senior season. Charlotte walked away with four high IQ well-developed prospects who each fill a specific need and every pick seems to fit the exact direction the front office and new coaching staff are heading towards. The Hornets then chase big names or raw athleticism. They drafted players who can contribute right away and thrive within a system. This might be a hot take, but I feel like this is one of the best overall draft classes in franchise history. And the city should be excited to watch all of these guys play. The Hornets absolutely shocked the NBA world when they received Colin Ston and a 2030 second round pick from the Jazz for Yousef Nerkage. What a fleece by the Hornets. Respectfully, as a Hornets fan, I feel like Utah could have gotten a way better package from a different team for Ston. Colin Ston averaged 18 points and four assists for the Jazz last season. His aggressive high motor style provides the Hornets with a muchneeded secondary ball handler and shot creator. I can’t wait to see how he plays alongside LaMelo. This move not only strengthens the guard rotation, but also adds scoring insurance in case of injuries, which has been a major issue in recent seasons. I am also shocked that we got a future pick on top of this deal. I give this an A+ trade for the Hornets. When free agency opened up, I was very interested to see what the Hornets were going to do. There was not a lot of good big men on the open market. Charlotte made the decision to bring back Mason Plumbley on a one-year, $3.6 million deal. And I’m not the biggest fan of this move, but it makes sense. The signing of Plumbley brings stability and veteran leadership to a young evolving roster. Plumbley, who previously played for the Hornets from 2021 to 2023, is a familiar face who understands the organization and brings valuable experience to a front court that just lost Mark Williams and Ysef Nerkage. He’s not going to wow anybody with his athleticism or his flashy numbers, but he’s a dependable rebounder, solid passer for a big man, and a high IQ role player who can mentor young centers like Ryan Caulk Brener. At 34 years old, Plumbley won’t be logging 30 minutes a night, but his presence on the court and in the locker room will matter. With so many young pieces in the mix, having a steady veteran like Plumbley around on a cheap deal is essential to balance out the roster. Hornets fans got nervous when Trey man declined his one-year $6.9 million team option, making him a free agent. However, head of basketball operations Jeff Peterson recently referred to the former first round pick as a priority and said he expected him to return. It turned out to be a stunt by his agent to get more money and a bigger deal. Man ended up agreeing to a three-year $24 million contract to resign with the team. In just 13 games played last season before his back injury that ended up holding him out for the rest of the season. Man averaged 14 points and three assists. He’s a fan favorite player that I believe will be in a serious contention for the six man of the year award and might have won it last year if he never got hurt. He’s still just 23 years old and his ceiling is rising, especially under a new coaching staff focused on player development. He should be a lot of fun to watch next season if he can stay healthy. The next day, Charlotte acquired Pat Conington plus Milwaukeee’s 2031 and 2032 second round picks in exchange for guard Vicilia Meech, who they are flipping from the Mark Williams deal. Connington, a season wing with seven seasons in Milwaukee, including a standup performance in the 2021 finals, brings reliable shooting, defensive tendency, and championship experience. He averaged 5.3 points and 2.7 assists last season in a reduced role. I love bringing in Pat, but I am honestly not sure if the Hornets will try to move him again before the offseason is over. The Hornets still have a lot of decisions to make, and the offseason is far from over. The Hornets and Joshua Kogi agreed to push back the decision date on a 7 million non-G guaranteed salary to July 15th. So, it should be very interesting to see what happens with him. The Hornets will have to figure out what to do with guys like Nick Smith Jr., Josh Green, and Taj Gibson. The team has to wave a couple of guys to trim down the roster to 15 players, and we are currently at 24. Also, keep in mind, we have 14 second round picks for the next six drafts. So, I feel like the Hornets aren’t done yet, and another big trade could be happening very, very soon. We have a lot of wings and guards and not a lot of height. I would love to see us go after a guy like Sabonis or we could honestly throw a hall at the Bucks and try to grab Giannis, but that might be too big of a stretch. We truly just need one more power forward or center and I will say this off season is completed. We also added another veteran guard in Spencer Diddwy on a one-year deal. Didwy entering his 12th season in the NBA averaged 11 points, 4.4 assists, and 2.6 rebounds across 79 games last season with Dallas. Didwy’s blend of size and playmaking ability also makes him a natural fit in multiple lineup configurations. This signing underscores Charlotte’s commitment to compete now stacking their back court with depth and veteran leadership to support LaMelo and emerging talent. With Didwitty on a short-term pact, he provides low-risk highreward insurance for Ball and others. While the Hornets return flexibility to adjust the roster as the season evolves, this is what I think the rotation will look like for the 2025 2026 season. LaMelo Sexton, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, and Musa Diabate as starters. Treyman will be six-man and lead the second unit of Spencer Diddwy, Pat Conington, Grant Williams, and Ryan Caulk Brener. Guys like Daquin Jeff and Damen Ba are so gone. For Nick Smith Jr., it might be time to pack your bags and go ball out on another team because we got way too many guards for you to get any serious minutes. I would say expect a lot of rookies in Tan Salon because he’s the youngest guy in the team to spend some time in the G-League throughout the season. The Charlotte Hornets have quietly built one of the most complete and promising rosters in the Eastern Conference, giving them a real shot at making the playoffs for the first time since 2016. After a disastrous 19 and63 season, the front office responded with their best off season in years, highlighted by a smart, well-rounded draft class, the additions of Colin Saxon and Pat Conington, and the return of big pieces like Mason Plumbley and Trey Man. With LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller back healthy, they are now surrounded by an improved roster, shooting, and leadership, plus breakout potential from rookies like Conanol and Liam McNeely. This Hornets team finally has the firepower, structure, and culture to compete in a wideopen East. With injuries expected to sideline stars on teams that were top seeds like the Celtics and Pacers, Charlotte is no longer building for the future. They are built to win now. They are no longer tanking or banking on lottery balls after seeing Dallas get the number one pick with a 1.5% chance. Spread the word because it is now a new era in Charlotte. My name is Hornis Culture. If you enjoyed the video, don’t forget to like and subscribe. Culture is out.

The Charlotte Hornets have quietly built one of the most complete and promising rosters in the Eastern Conference, giving them a real shot at making the playoffs for the first time since 2016. After a disastrous 19 and 63 season, the front office responded with their best offseason in years. highlighted by a smart, well-rounded draft class, the additions of Collin Sexton and Pat Connaughton, and the return of big pieces like Mason Plumlee and Tre Mann. With LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller back healthy, they are now surrounded by an improved roster, shooting, and leadership, plus breakout potential from rookies like Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeeley, this Hornets team finally has the firepower, structure, and culture to compete in a wide-open East. With injuries expected to sideline stars on teams that were top seeds like the Celtics and Pacers. Charlotte is no longer building for the future—they’re built to win now. They are no longer tanking and banking on lottery balls after seeing Dallas get the number 1 pick with a 1.5 percent change. Spread the word because it is now a new era in Charlotte.

CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:37 Round 1 NBA Draft
2:06 Suns Trade
3:38 Round 2 NBA Draft
5:15 Jazz Trade
5:58 Free Agency
7:32 Bucks Trade
8:05 Decisions To Be Made…
8:51 Spencer Dinwiddie
9:30 Predicting Rotation
10:03 Outro