By May 7, 2025
For the third consecutive year, the Charlotte Hornets wrapped up their season in early April — this time with a dismal 19-63 record, their worst finish since the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season (7-59), and before that, the 2004-05 campaign (18-64). With a critical offseason ahead, all eyes are on President of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson. Now with a full year under his belt — having assembled a front office and coaching staff in his vision — the pressure is now on to deliver.
Here’s the current state of the team heading into the 2025 offseason:
Charlotte is locked into a top-7 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft and also owns picks No. 33 and 34 early in the second round — valuable assets for a team in need of both talent and depth. On the financial side, however, things are more constrained. The Hornets are projected to remain over the $154 million salary cap, effectively ruling out any pursuit of marquee free agents. For those holding out hope of a splashy signing — it’s time to wake up.
That said, Charlotte will have access to the Mid-Level Exception ($14.1 million) and the Bi-Annual Exception ($5.1 million), which can be used to sign players above the minimum. Outside of those tools, expect the roster to be rounded out by veteran minimum deals.
Despite the team’s need for improvement, Jeff Peterson has made his approach clear during his exit interview: “We’re not going to expedite anything, we’re not gonna skip steps… We’re going to be patient, diligent, opportunistic — very strategic in terms of how we build.”
In other words, don’t expect win-now moves for the sake of a short-term playoff push. Every decision will be filtered through a long-term lens — a rebuild with purpose, not panic.
The Current Roster
Below is a breakdown of the Hornets’ current roster heading into the offseason (excluding two-way contracts), including player salaries, contract details, and free agency status. With nine players — including all five starters — locked into guaranteed deals, there’s a real possibility that Charlotte could return next season with a roster that looks very similar to this year’s.
Given their strong performances and team-friendly contracts, both Josh Okogie and Moussa Diabaté are strong candidates to have their deals guaranteed. On the other hand, DaQuan Jeffries appears to be the most likely odd man out.
Draft Lottery Looms Large
The next key date on the Hornets’ offseason calendar is the NBA Draft Lottery, set for May 12. Charlotte enters the night tied for the best odds (14%) of landing the No. 1 overall pick — and with it, a shot at drafting Duke sensation Cooper Flagg. Widely regarded as a generational talent, Flagg has drawn comparisons to past No. 1 picks like Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson for his impact on both ends of the floor.
That said, the odds are a bit sobering. While the Hornets have a 14% chance to land the number one overall pick, they’re nearly twice as likely to pick sixth (26%). It’s a stark reminder that lottery luck will play a huge role in shaping the direction of this rebuild.
If not Flagg, then Who?
If the Hornets miss out on the top pick and Cooper Flagg, the focus shifts to the next tier of elite prospects — starting with Dylan Harper. The big-bodied point guard and son of former Chicago Bull Ron Harper, has firmly established himself as the consensus No. 2 player in the class. His selection would raise immediate questions about the long-term fit alongside LaMelo Ball, but when a talent like Harper is available, you make the pick and sort out the logistics later.
Beyond Harper, Ace Bailey and V.J. Edgecombe are battling for spots in the top four — and as prospects, they offer very different skill sets. Bailey is a high-upside swing; a potential offensive star with elite contested shotmaking ability, but with questions around his ability to pressure the rim, create for others, and score within the flow of the offense. Edgecombe, meanwhile, presents a higher floor — a polished, two-way wing primed to be a plug-and-play starter from day one. His 43.1% accuracy on open catch-and-shoot threes is enough to get you out of your seat, but you might sit back down when you realize only 17 of his 153 three-point attempts came off the dribble, a major weakness for an undersized shooting guard who isn’t an advanced playmaker.
Given the current roster construction, Edgecombe’s catch-and-shoot reliability paired with elite defensive instincts makes him an ideal fit alongside Ball, Brandon Miller, and Miles Bridges — all of whom have notable gaps on the defensive end. More than just a shooter, Edgecombe embodies the coveted “Hornets DNA,” highlighted by an unwavering work ethic. As NBA Draft analyst Sam Vecenie of The Athletic put it: “VJ is a super nuclear athlete who plays hard all the time. The intel is absolutely fantastic on the kid; you can really buy into him continuing to get better and better.”
However, if Peterson envisions a future that involves trimming one — or even two — pieces from that core, the argument for Bailey’s long-term star potential becomes more intriguing. Unlike Edgecombe, Bailey’s path as a high-usage offensive threat could position him as a potential franchise cornerstone if the roster shifts.
Beyond the top four picks, the draft board starts to blur, and a clear consensus has yet to emerge. If shooting is your priority, Tre Johnson might be your guy. If more playmaking is coveted, Kon Knueppel brings that acumen.
In the market for a new center? Especially with Mark Williams already floated in trade talks by Peterson, then Khaman Maluach’s rim protection or the crafty, off-the-dribble scoring of Derik Queen could enter the mix.
Need a primary ball-handler? You’ve got options: the lightning-quick Jeremiah Fears or the polished pick-and-roll game of Kasparas Jakucionis might just fit the bill.
Second-Round Strategy
With back-to-back picks at No. 33 and 34, the Hornets hold valuable early second-round capital, but it’s unlikely they keep both. Unlike later second-rounders, players taken at these spots typically receive guaranteed contracts. Adding three rookies to the main roster would risk overloading the team with youth — a move reminiscent of the Mitch Kupchak era, and one that the current front office should be careful not to repeat.
Several options are on the table for Charlotte. The team could package both second-round picks to move into the late first round (24-28 range), or trade one back to secure a two-way contract slot. Another viable strategy would be to draft and stash an international prospect, similar to James Nnaji — though hopefully with more success. Real Madrid’s Hugo González and Le Mans’ Noah Penda are the top candidates for this approach. Given the lack of a clear talent drop-off between the late first and early second rounds in this draft, stashing a player overseas or trading back might be the most forward-thinking option.
A few names to watch who jump off the screen with “Hornets DNA” include Florida’s Aussie big man Alex Condon, Kentucky’s versatile wing Adou Thiero, and hard-nosed guard Boogie Fland. Each brings an intriguing skill set that could fit within Charlotte’s long-term plans.
Free Agency and Potential Trades
Charlotte’s approach to free agency and trades will be heavily influenced by their draft position, but expect the team to be proactive in shaping their roster. When asked about the likelihood of further trades this offseason, Peterson said part of his philosophy is to be “proactive.”
Is Tre Mann the Man?
The first order of business in free agency is determining Tre Mann’s future. The 24-year-old guard was contending for Sixth Man of the Year and Most Improved Player honors before a back injury prematurely ended his season. As a restricted free agent, Charlotte has the right to match any offer, but Mann’s market will likely be limited due to the injury. Moving on from Mann wouldn’t free up any cap space, so a reasonable path forward might be agreeing to an injury-discounted contract in the $8-12 million per year range. However, if the Hornets draft a player like Dylan Harper, Jeremy Fears, or Kasparas Jakucionis, the likelihood of Mann returning diminishes significantly.
Free Agent Options
While the Hornets do have access to the Mid-Level Exception ($14.1 million) and Bi-Annual Exception ($5.1 million), they may choose not to utilize them. Instead, they could follow last offseason’s strategy, where they added six second-round picks by absorbing the contracts of other teams’ castoffs into their cap space and exceptions — all without trading away a single player.
If Charlotte decides to dip into the free-agent market, they’ll likely need to overpay for more proven names, as they won’t be offering a starting role or a team with immediate playoff aspirations. However, here are my top attainable free-agent targets at each position:
- PG: Dennis Schröder
- SG: Luke Kennard
- SF: Amir Coffey
- PF: Jake LaRavia
- C: Luke Kornet
Trade Options
While there’s no shortage of contending teams looking to offload overpaid, underperforming players to Charlotte for second-round picks, that’s not the most exciting route to explore. Instead, let’s dive into some under-the-radar trade possibilities — those that could provide real value, similar to the Josh Green addition last offseason.
One intriguing option is Jonathan Kuminga, the restricted free agent who has fallen out of Golden State’s playoff rotation. At just 22 years old, Kuminga has shown flashes of being a versatile two-way forward. Averaging 15.3 points per game, he’s been effective scoring at the rim and drawing fouls, which would immediately bolster Charlotte’s lackluster interior offense. He won’t come cheap, but he’s an exciting gamble with substantial upside.
Herb Jones and Jabari Smith are two defensive Swiss Army knife forwards who are more proven than Kuminga, but they’re also costlier options who could become available. Both would likely command multiple future first-round picks — a price that would probably put them out of Charlotte’s range.
On the other hand, players like Cam Whitmore and Isaac Okoro may be more attainable. Both are on the fringes of their teams’ rotations, making them potential trade targets who would likely cost significantly less. Charlotte showed interest in Okoro last summer before ultimately trading for Josh Green, so he could still be on the team’s radar.
The Charlotte Hornets face another pivotal offseason, with multiple avenues to reshape the roster and build toward a more competitive future. Whether through the draft, free agency, or trades, Peterson has a clear mandate to improve the team without sacrificing long-term growth. While the draft lottery will play a significant role in shaping this offseason, the right moves could set Charlotte on a path to future contention — though I wouldn’t start budgeting for playoff tickets just yet.
The NBA Draft Lottery will take place on Monday, May 12 at 7:00 p.m., airing live on ESPN.
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