The Charlotte Hornets missed the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season last year as they continue to be stuck in a rebuild.
Despite this, Charlotte has created a solid core led by LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges and they also made some notable additions to their roster this offseason.
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) and forward Brandon Miller (24) © Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Charlotte selected Kon Knueppel, Liam McNeeley, Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner in the 2025 draft and they also acquired both Collin Sexton and Pat Connaughton.
The Hornets also had a major loss as they traded Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns on draft night, leaving them with a thin frontcourt rotation, primarily at the center position.
Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel in the Summer LeagueLucas Peltier-Imagn Images
With these moves, the Hornets are looking to compete for at least a Play-In spot this season and to do so, they may elect to make more moves ahead of the trade deadline.
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If Charlotte does elect to try and upgrade their roster ahead of the deadline, these three players could be potential targets.
Walker Kessler
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24)© Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images
The Hornets are in need of center depth after trading Williams this summer and Nick Richards last season and they could target Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz.
Of course, the Jazz have a high asking price for their young center but the Hornets have enough assets to pull off a trade for him to give them a key young big man to add to their rebuild.
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Kessler is a solid inside scorer and he is also a great rebounder and defender who would be a major upgrade to Charlotte’s center position.
Anfernee Simons
Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (1)
Anfernee Simons could be another target for the Hornets as they could look to land another guard to pair alongside Ball in the backcourt and Simons could be a solid option.
For Simons, he may be on the move once again this season after the Boston Celtics acquired him earlier this summer from the Portland Trail Blazers and if he becomes available, Charlotte could have interest.
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The young guard would give the Hornets another solid offensive guard who could pair well next to Ball in the backcourt and be another solid addition during their rebuild.
Mitchell Robinson
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
With the Hornets in need of center depth, they could target Mitchell Robinson from the New York Knicks if they look to move him.
Robinson is a solid inside scorer but he is more known for his work on the glass and defensively which the Hornets are in need of.
Despite this, New York may not look to move him this season and even if they do, the Hornets may hold off due to his injury history.
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While the Hornets could target these three players, they may also elect to keep their current core together as they continue to go through their rebuild.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Sep 17, 2025, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.