Updated June 19, 2026, 7:15 a.m. ET
The Charlotte Hornets acquired Coby White at the February trade deadline.White averaged 15.6 points in 19.3 minutes per game after joining the team.League sources suggest the Hornets may face more competition than expected to re-sign White.Charlotte could pursue a sign-and-trade to avoid losing the guard for nothing.Anfernee Simons or Collin Sexton are potential alternatives if White leaves in free agency.
The Charlotte Hornets did well to land backup point guard Coby White at the February trade deadline, acquiring him for a package that included Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and second-round draft capital. Following his arrival, White was a pivotal piece in Charlotte’s offense, averaging 15.6 points, three rebounds and three assists in 19.3 minutes. White’s impressive play also included NBA Play-In Tournament heroics against the Miami Heat, forcing overtime with a turnaround 3-pointer.
While all signs pointed to Charlotte re-signing the former UNC guard this summer, the Hornets received bad news on that front earlier this week. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, league sources believe that Charlotte may have more competition to retain the guard than initially anticipated. “League sources say that, while the Hornets hope to retain Coby White, there is a perception in circulation that he could indeed be gettable this offseason. In that scenario, Charlotte could certainly try to execute a sign-and-trade deal to prevent losing him for nothing.”
If unable to reach an agreement with White, the Hornets could pivot to free agent guard Anfernee Simons or reunite with the aforementioned Sexton, who played well during his tenure.
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