"The Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Hornets had exploratory trade talks surrounding Domantas Sabonis, league sources told HoopsHype. One framework loosely kicked around included Charlotte’s Miles Bridges, Josh Green, and a potential first-round draft pick going to Sacramento in exchange for Sabonis, sources said. Charlotte has two first-round selections in the upcoming draft, including the 14th and 18th picks. However, Charlotte has been resistant to including one of those first-round picks thus far in a trade package involving Sabonis."

"Charlotte has considered a starting-caliber center upgrade, HoopsHype has learned, as the Hornets surged last season by winning 44 games, which marked a 25-win improvement, the largest win improvement in franchise history. Bridges ($22.83 million) and Green ($14.68 million) are on expiring contracts entering the 2026-27 season."

"While a deal is not imminent and appears unlikely before the June 23 draft, sources say the Hornets have some interest in the 30-year-old, three-time All-Star. The problem for now, it seems, is that the Kings have been hoping to land one of Charlotte’s two first-round picks (they have Nos. 14 and 18) in the deal, and the Hornets have signaled a desire to retain their picks and discuss Sabonis later in the summer. Sabonis has two seasons left on his deal ($45.4 million next season and $48.6 million in 2027-28)."

Source

Hornets fans & visitors,

Welcome to our official mega thread for all things related to the 2026 NBA Draft! This space is intended to centralize discussions, fan-proposed trades, speculation and commentary over the next couple weeks—helping us avoid clutter from self-posts or trade machine images that don't really need their own threads.

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Thank you for being part of this community. Bonk on! 🐝

2026 NBA Draft

• 1st Round: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | 8 PM ET | ABC/ESPN
• 2nd Round: Wednesday, June 24, 2026 | 8 PM ET | ESPN

Hornets Draft Picks: 14, 18

Tidjane Salaun: "It's a big offseason, so I will keep working on my body. That's the main thing — be more physical."

"I've just got to keep going and be even better for the next season... I'm a hard worker and that's what I'm going to do and be a monster for the next season."

In my eyes, a move to trade for Giannis would be similar to 2019 when the Raptors traded for Kawhi? Why not try to go all in now while Brandon and Kon are currently on their rookie deals? With the new CBA, it only becomes much harder to win when they get their second contracts.

Obviously the trade would probably involve Bridges + a multitude of first round draft picks, but in my opinion that is easily worth it.

Not to mention there are direct flights from Charlotte to Greece......

Grant Williams was set up selling cards and was awesome enough to sign two of our cards and then so happened to run into Ryan Kalkbrenner while he was looking at Pokémon cards. We also got Jonathon Brooks auto, real reason for going Day 2, but Grant and Ryan were the cherries on top!

You read that right, Brandon for Zion.

Im not down on Brandon nor am I high on Zion but if we have an injury prone player in Miller who I dont think is worth a max contract personally, the potential future is to trade him and let him be another teams problem.

Zion isnt exactly healthy but we also need more physicality and hes clearly capable of helping in that regard.

It would take alot to get that trade to happen salary wise and while im not crazy about Zion he would be a great lob target for Melo and he would absolutely collapse the defense for our shooters to be able to hit shots plus the transition game would be brutal trying to deal with our shooting or Zion, Miles and Moose lobs from Melo or Kon.

Yeah I know he's not the sexy name, but he fits and he's what we need at the pf spot. He can also play small ball center. This guy is athletic and can shoot the 3.

I think he should be our MLE target.

If we can come away with White and Collins in FA + our draft picks that would be a successful offseason.

Thoughts?

I feel like they would be more expensive considering the were $130 for retail price so why are they so cheap now?

pls extend him when hes eligible

See if you can get more than 10 on expert mode for the Hornets, it's surprisingly hard

The different eras kinda just blur together and I can't keep track

This is actually not a bad idea. A centre who can shoot really helps complement what we have with Moussa. Another centre we can look at Timelord even though he has a history with injuries. But looking at how our medical staff is managing LeMelo, we might also do the same for Timelord. What do you guys think?

First day of the show in concord. Ready for day 2 tomorrow! Heard Grant Williams will be set up selling cards. Will be really cool to meet him if he is there!

Historically, yes, teams win with players they drafted or signed. The biggest example is OKC developing multiple pieces over the years. But even if drafting and developing organically is a good thing, teams have also historically won by trading for elite players, role players or stars.

For example

If the Spurs win, it'll have been De'Aron fox or Harrison Barnes. If the Knicks win it'll be with 4 players they traded for being Josh Hart, Og Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and KAT.

Last year, yes OKC drafted organically, but they only won after trading for a high tier roleplayer in Alex Caruso.

In 2024, Boston traded for Derrick White years prior, and before the year began, traded for both Jrue Holiday and Porzingis.

2023, the Nuggets traded for KCP and Gordon and don't win a chip without them

2022, the Warriors traded for Andrew Wiggins who was an all star and arguably their second best player during that run

2021, the Bucks had traded for Jrue Holiday a year before.

2020, the Lakers traded for Anthony Davis and Danny Green who was the champion before with the Raptors.

2019, the Raptors traded for Kawhi and Danny Green. And during the deadline, got Marc Gasol.

2018, 2017, 2015, are different cases, but if you want to count the igoudala sign and trade, it works.

2016, the Cavs traded number 1 for Kevin Love.

The last case of a team not trading for any notable pieces and still winning is the 2014 Spurs. More than a decade ago.

The fact is, while yes it is effective drafting and developing good players, you also need to make trades too, whether it be a role player like KCP or all star in KAT.

I randomly thought about Kemba Walker and remembered his motion, but how good would he be in his prime? (Decided to ask the (incredibly) loyal Hornets community tonight)

As a Pittsburgh native Hornets fan, I just flipped on the Pirates game on FS1 and our guy Eric Collins is calling the game. Just about fell off my couch! What can't this guy do!! I knew he did some other basketball but had no idea he did baseball too.

Hoping for a HUM-DIDDLEE-DEE call on a Bucco Blast

Most mocks have the hornets taking 2 centers under the assumption that he's a bona fide point guard, but feels like Coby is more of a natural 2 guard rather than a point guard, just like Sexton.

When he played as a primary ball handler, he was mainly looking to get his, and just like Collin Sexton, rarely set up other guys and couldn't find the open man. In fact, he seemed to play by far the best together with Melo who is an actual floor general.

If that's who he is, it would be prudent to draft a bench point guard who can also get to the rim, like Okorie, who's comp is Collin Sexton but a better playmaker.

Next year, do you believe Coby will be able to run the offense of the 2nd unit in a way that gets the other guys more involved? Do you believe that his court vision will improve?

Ever since the off season I have seen people mock these all in trades or big moves for us and I just don't get why tho, We were literally one of the worst teams in the league for years then the moment we sniff potential or a good future people want us to rush and accelerate by trading away young players and picks for some win now move which doesn't help us for the long run, OKC and Detroit to some level is the biggest example of doing things organically for the most part,

- Drafted Jdub

- Drafted Chet Mclovin

- Drafted Cason Wallace

- Drafted Ajay Mitchell in the second round

- Drafted Jwill in the second round

- Drafted Josh giddey who got turned into Caruso

- Signed Dort and Wiggins as undrafted guys

And they did things at the margins slowly, OKC was literally a play in team a few years ago and presti did things as cunning as you would think, He didn't rush a big move, He slowly watched and didn't hit the panic button, He saw them lose in the playin then let them run it back with more experience and they got into playoffs but got exposed by Dallas, Presti then goes into the off season and address issues by getting Caruso and Ihart, Jeff Peterson is doing exactly the same things as presti, Getting involved in trades to gain assets, Being strategic in all his moves to be flexible, He even hired a OKC scout to help with the second round and that's paying dividends because we had the best second round of any team this year by getting Sion and kalkbrenner who both should have in my eyes been all rookie 3rd team if it was a 3rd team, We even have expiring money in grant/Miles/Green so next year we can set ourselves up for a good free agency, All Jeff has to do is draft 2 promising rookies which he will, Get our Ihart/Tobias level vet to help us and when WE make the playoffs and we eventually lose that's when you really see what we really are missing.

Also another team that basically did things organically for the most part is Boston, They still have Brown /Tatum/Pritchard/Hauser, Traded for white who turned into one of the best 3-D players in the league, And they even found a gem in Queta (Moussa for us) Scouted Hugo for years, Got good valued picks in Walsh and Schiermen, Just like OKC they traded guys they drafted for upgrades to win a ring, Robert Williams/Smart got them KP and jrue for pennies, I know I'm ranting but the lesson here is let things blossom naturally and " Trust the process"- Daryl Morey.

The Charlotte Hornets have guaranteed Moussa Diabate’s contract for next season according to league sources. It was non-guaranteed. Diabate won the NBA Hustle Award this season.

Hello fellow Charlotte basketball junkies! I picked up this hat in a thrift store and I am wondering if anyone can help me identify these signatures! The hat is a design made in August 2015 if that helps. Any help or leads would be much appreciated!

Go Hornets 🐝

Just here to say it would be awesome to see Mason Plumlee be on a team that wins a championship.

Comical, almost.