How the Charlotte Hornets Are Having a Sneaky Good Offseason!
They didn’t sign a superstar. They didn’t trade for a headline name. And yet, the Charlotte Hornets might be having one of the smartest off seasons in the NBA. You have nowhere to look. In a league obsessed with splashy moves, Charlotte played a different game this summer. Quietly stockpiling assets, adding vets, and surrounding their young core with structure. This isn’t about winning the press conference. It’s about building something sustainable. Let’s break down why the Hornets 2025 offseason could be the beginning of a very real turnaround. At the center of it all, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. The franchise has made it clear this duo is the future. Ball was entering his prime. Miller was runner up for Rookie of the Year. Together, Daryl’s ticket to relevance. But after a brutal 19 and63 season, it was obvious they needed help. Not necessarily another star, but spacing, toughness, leadership, and above all, options. Let’s talk about the moves. Colin Ston was the first big addition acquired from Utah for Ysef Nurgich in a second rounder. Sexon averaged 18.4 points last season and brings instant scoring to the back court. He’s not a star, but he’s the kind of aggressive shot creator that takes pressure off ball. He’s also a combo guard that can defend decently well. Then came Pat Conson, a proven 3 and D wing for Milwaukee. Charlotte took on his $9.4 million salary, but got two second round picks in the process. A classic asset play. They also brought back Treyman, signing him to a three-year $24 million deal after he flashed serious upside last season. And for Depp, Spencer Denwitty and Mason Plumbley were added on short-term deals. The kind of lowrisk vets you want around a young team. But here’s where it gets really interesting, the draft. So Charlotte walked away with four picks, each serving a different purpose. Let’s start with Conan, the fourth overall pick. He might be the best shooter in this draft, 40.6% from three in college. The Hornets openly said, “We got the best shooter in the draft.” I mean, that’s confidence. Liam McNeely at 29 was a Yukon standout. Polished, versatile, and fits perfectly alongside the Wings. Scion James and Ryan Calbrer picked at 33 and 34. Bring defense and toughness, two traits Charlotte desperately needed. And may I remind you, these guys just led the Hornets to a summer league title. The first trophy the Hornets have ever won in anything in the NBA. Draft picks aren’t guaranteed goal, but they’re currency. and the Hornets are collecting. But let’s take a step back. So what’s the actual strategy here? Well, in my point of view, it’s balance. On one hand, the Hornets are clearly trying to improve now surrounding Ball and Miller with scorers, shooters, and vets. On the other hand, they’ve been extremely careful not to overcommit. Most of the contracts they handed out this year are one-year deals. There’s cap flexibility, there’s trade flexibility, and there’s zero panic. They’re not rushing the rebuild. They’re buying time and they’re doing it intelligently. So if you’re a fan of team building, this is where it gets fun. So remember, Charlotte traded away Mark Williams, draft night, and you turned those two players into Liam McNeely at the 29th pick, a 2029 first round pick, Colin Ston, and a 2030 second round pick. I mean, that’s valued. They took on slightly more salary to get better players and future draft capital, and they did it without giving up their top young guys. This is the kind of cap manipulation and trade stacking that contenders use. Charlotte is doing it before they even arrive at that stage. All right, guys. If you made it this far, consider hitting that subscribe button. We’re trying to hit those 1,000 subscribers. And I also want to know if what you guys are thinking about the Charlotte Hornets off season this year. And if you think they’re finally going to turn it around, let me know. But of course, even with all these moves, not everyone is convinced. So ESPN Zack Low called the roster a strange conglomerate. Too many guards, not enough bigs, which is a fair critique, let’s be honest. But even if he admit it, this year isn’t about perfection. It’s about growth and flexibility. Others are more optimistic. So, local reporters and fans praise the front office vision, especially the Canelo pick and the Conetan trade. Charlotte President Jeff Peterson said, “These guys equate to winning.” And well, maybe he’s right. So, here’s kind of an outlook of the roster today. So at the back court we got LaMelo Ball, Trey Man, Colin Sexton, Spencer Denwidy, and Sion James. On the wings, we got Brendan Miller, Conan, Lee McNeely, Pat Coneton. And for the bigs, we got Miles Bridges, Musa Diabate, Mason Plumbley, Ryan Calbrer. And I know there are more players. I just, you know, kind of giving you guys an outlook on this. It’s not a star-studded team, but it’s much deeper than it was last season. It’s smarter and it’s more mature. And for a team that won just 19 games last year, that’s really all that matters. Ball and Miller now have reliable shooters around them and I think they have guys with a winning mentality. Connele from Duke, Lee McNeely from Yukon. These guys were winners in at the high school level, at the college level. So I think, you know, Charlotte really had an emphasis on the exact type of player that they wanted to draft. And I don’t think the Hornets are chasing the number eight team. You know, I think they’re playing the long game. With multiple future picks in their hand, with short-term contracts that can be flipped, with four rookies developing in a young star duo leading the way, Charlotte has built something we rarely see, a flexible rebuild with upside, much like the Oklahoma City Thunder. If it works, they’ll be a playoff team within two seasons. If it doesn’t, they still have assets to pivot. No, the Hornets didn’t make headlines, but they made progress. And in a league where front offices often chase quick fixes, Charlotte chose patience, precision, and planning. Call it sneaky, call it subtle, but if you ask me, the Hornets might be playing chess while everyone else is still playing checkers. And as always, guys, if you enjoyed the video, make sure you hit that like button, subscribe to the channel, you know, comment down below. I love to chat with you guys in the comments. And I’ll catch you guys on the next one. Peace.
š The Charlotte Hornets Just Had a Sneaky Genius Offseasonā¦ Hereās Why. š
The Hornets didnāt land a superstar.
They didnāt dominate headlines.
But make no mistake ā Charlotteās 2025 offseason might be one of the smartest in the NBA.
In this deep-dive, we break down how the Hornets reshaped their roster around LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller by making a series of calculated trades, savvy draft picks, and short-term signings. From acquiring Collin Sexton and Pat Connaughton, to drafting Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeeley, this franchise is quietly building for the future ā without sacrificing flexibility.
š What Youāll Learn in This Video:
Full analysis of the Hornets’ 2025 NBA Draft strategy
Breakdown of every major trade and free agent signing
Why Collin Sexton and Tre Mann could transform the backcourt
How Charlotteās front office is maximizing cap space and draft capital
Expert opinions from ESPN, SI, and more on the Hornets’ future
Whether you’re a Hornets fan, an NBA junkie, or just love smart roster building ā this is a rebuild you need to understand.
š„ Donāt forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more in-depth NBA content every week!
#CharlotteHornets #NBAOffseason #LaMeloBall #NBARebuild #NBADraft2025 #HornetsNews #BasketballAnalysis #NBATrades #HornetsDraft #BrandonMiller #CollinSexton #KonKnueppel #NBANews #NBAYouTube
1 comment
I don't think they would get to the finals or even semi finals…