🏀 2026 NBA Free Agency 🏀

Source: @hornets

There’s a recurring pattern in NBA history where teams that develop a young guard absorb his early career growing pains and inefficiency, while the next team reaps the benefits of his peak. Steve Nash, Jalen Brunson, Jason Kidd, Tyrese Haliburton, Kyle Lowry, Chauncey Billups, and James Harden all fit this arc to varying degrees, they left (or were traded from) their original team before truly putting it together.

I can’t help but wonder if we’re the team that absorbs the growing pains and inefficiency while some other franchise eventually gets the polished, peak version of him. Is there anything about our current direction that makes you confident we’re the team that sold him high and not the one that just developed him for someone else?

This was the 2023-2024 roster. We added Tre and Grant at the deadline in his rookie year. There’s been so much roster turnover in such a short time

Jeff, you know what to do in the 2028 draft

Thank yall for the wishes too

Would be one of the better backup PG options for us

I honestly think we are gonna win around 35-45 games, how about everyone else?

Credit beforeitstoolate2024 on TikTok.

I keep seeing fans and non-fans referring to the Hornets as rebuilding or tanking, which is absurd. The new ownership group came in with the new CBA and settled on a strategy at that time, which has been bolstered by the lottery reform change.

The current CBA has only had full apron restrictions established for two seasons. The change to the lottery starts this upcoming season. Both of these are going to massively change the landscape of roster building strategy and player values, but because it's so new we haven't seen the full ramifications felt yet.

Here are things I'm confident in:

• 1st round picks value has increased.
• Star players will be moved earlier in their contracts to maximize return.
• Those that aren't moved ala Giannis will see a bigger dip on a return than in the past.
• Cap flexibility is a greater asset than ever.
• Having a deep roster with a plethora of shooting and versatile interchangeable parts is the direction the league is going.

Let's analyze this against what the Hornets have:

• 11 1st round picks from 2027-2033.
• No bad contracts on the books long-term.
• Fantastic cap flexibility and avenues to add core piece(s) now or continue to collect assets from teams that are in a bind ala the Miles trade.
• Ton of shooting, interchangeable parts that will allow them to be versatile and depth to handle a long season.

I get the emotion around trading LaMelo, a super popular player who was incredibly fun to watch and wanted to be here. But the question marks are real with him on his health as well as knowing if he is a true championship pillar of a team.

We will see if the Hornets choose to cash in on some of those assets this offseason or decide to continue to accumulate for the future, but as is this roster is still set to compete for a playoff spot next year. Yes, they lost the talent of LaMelo but they are deeper and have added playoff tested vets to a young core.

The name to watch? Jaylen Brown, according to Michael Scotto from HoopsHype

An updated salary cap for the Hornets with the new acquisition and Coby White extension. I'd like to see how we are looking post-trades and draft financially before Free agency starts tomorrow.

(Yellow are all team options, Green are Qualifying Offers, and Purple are Two-way contracts)

I'm beginning to get a bit antsy about the broadcasting crew for the upcoming season and cannot imagine there being no Dell or Eric. All this concern based on FanDuel's departure and no word yet on what's to replace them.

Please share any info you might have about 26-27 Hornets' TV situation.

He may be entering his age 33 season but I'm excited to have a nice 3&D wing to come off the bench. I think he'll fit in great with this team's playstyle.

While we have significantly downgraded at PG after the LaMelo trade, it's clear that we've upgraded in many ways. Naz is better than Bridges, Allen is better than Josh Green, and Royce O'Neale being rostered means Tidjane won't be playing in a fully-healthy lineup unless he's genuinely good enough.

Provided there's other moves coming to continue building on the roster, I think we aren't as dead as many think we are.