Power Ranking the Hornets' Core Roster for the 2026-27 Season

The Charlotte Hornets have remade the roster heading into 2026-27. The previous era is over, and a new one has officially dawned, but how good are the players?

We're mainly looking at the core, which does include rookies, but it does not include players like PJ Hall, Tre Mann, and others buried at the end of the bench.

No. 13: Liam McNeeley

For the second straight year, Liam McNeeley has enjoyed a really good Summer League session. But this time, can the second-year wing put it all together and make an impact for the main Hornets roster?

No. 12: Tidjane Salaün

The jury is still out on Tidjane Salaün, but there are signs of life. Virtually every metric jumped significantly from year one to year two. It was all in a small sample size, but some of his numbers were actually quite good and bode well for the future.

No. 11: Christian Anderson Jr.

There's no shame in needing the G League, which it looks like Christian Anderson Jr. does. His playmaking is as expected, but the shooting that he showcased in college is nowhere to be found.

No. 10: Grayson Allen

Grayson Allen can be a tough one to predict coming off a down year from three, but historically, he's one of the best shooters in the sport. With Charlotte's spacing, a 40% clip should come back for the backup guard.

No. 9: Ryan Kalkbrenner

Charlotte Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) shoots against Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It hasn't yet come together for Ryan Kalkbrenner, but he has a few things to really build on. He's obviously quite tall, which can help for rim defense, and he shoots with excellent touch near the basket.

No. 8: Hannes Steinbach

It's foolish to extrapolate too much from Summer League, but rebounding usually translates, and Hannes Steinbach was an excellent rebounder in those games. He also avoided fouling, which is uncommon for rookies. He looks quite good.

No. 7: Sion James

Unfortunately, Sion James is going to have some PG duties again this season. He is at his best when he can simply go out there and stop the opposition's best player, which he's pretty good. He's an excellent defender, but the offense isn't there as of now.

No. 6: Grant Williams

Grant Williams was awesome off the bench last year, and he should remain an excellent backup big in 2026-27. The Hornets' forward shoots pretty well, but he's a great defender. He had one of the lowest opponent field goal percentages as the primary defender.

No. 5: Naz Reid

Naz Reid is the type of big man Charles Lee has likely coveted, someone who can play the four and the five and shoot the ball from three. Reid's never been a starter before, but the uptick in minutes should drive his solid production even higher this season.

No. 4: Coby White

Though not as good as LaMelo Ball and in a smaller sample size, Coby White was quietly excellent last year. What's more, his numbers with the other core players were good, too, which probably gives the Hornets hope that losing Ball won't be massively detrimental.

No. 3: Moussa Diabaté

Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate (14) handles the ball during the second half | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Moussa Diabaté is one of the best offensive rebounders in the sport and a relentless worker. Whether he gets the rebound or not, he will tire out the opposition and make them work and potentially foul for it.

No. 2: Kon Knueppel

Without LaMelo Ball setting him up, Kon Knueppel's historic efficiency might wane, but his scoring and other production should not. He can and has absorbed more usage, so giving him the ball a lot more this season won't be problematic.

No. 1: Brandon Miller

If he can be at his best, Brandon Miller will be almost unstoppable. He can score from three and the midrange, so if he improves his finishing, he'll be a true, elite three-level scorer. A little more defensive intensity would go a long way, too.

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