Hornets mailbag: Who will start at shooting guard and center for Charlotte?
It’s that time of year again.
Training camp is less than a week away for the Charlotte Hornets, bringing a close to an offseason highlighted by the addition of four rookies and the franchise’s first summer league championship.
In this latest mailbag, we answer reader queries about two key starting positions, whether health had been a focus in the offseason, could Miles Bridges be traded by the deadline in February and more.
Playoffs
alexgunn1 asks on BlueSky: This team has famously never won a seven-game series. Could this finally be the year?
Let’s start with the basics first: That’s very optimistic of you to think they will even make the playoffs this season, given they own the NBA’s longest drought that’s nearing a decade. If somehow things worked out in the Hornets’ favor and they were able to make the postseason for the first time since 2016, that will be a good initial step.
Because when you think about it, besides making the play-in tournament and getting bounced in the opening game in both appearances, the franchise hasn’t experienced anything close to that Game 7 in Miami nine years ago. So, just getting to a Game 7 (which would likely be on the road) is tough enough, but it’s a difficult proposition for a group that’s still trying to grow with a young core to fully believe they could accomplish that feat.
Miles Bridges trade
Dave Enna asks on X: Will Miles Bridges get traded before the mid-season deadline?
That will depend on several factors. The first being exactly where the Hornets stand come late January and early February. If the team is reeling and injuries are rearing their ugly head once again, leading to a disappointing record, then there’s a chance because only a select player or two are untouchable. And with Bridges having one season remaining on his three-year, $75 million contract following the 2025-26 campaign, whether the Hornets might part ways with him would depend on the market for him and if Charlotte views him as a long-term piece.
He’s stated several times his desire to remain with the Hornets for his entire career, similar to Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas. But that can only happen if the feeling is mutual and both sides want to continue that partnership moving forward — even if the team isn’t winning the way both sides may hope.
Rounding out Hornets’ starters
@SueBurn73 asks on X: Who is starting at shooting guard and center?
We’ll have to wait to get the official word on both of those positions when we truly see the collective groups together. But from the early indications, it would be hard to imagine not putting a couple of veterans in those particular positions.
First, starting off with the shooting guard spot, Collin Sexton seems like the most logical candidate to slide into that role at the season’s outset. He’s apparently developed a certain chemistry already with LaMelo Ball, and that could only help in having them on the court together to begin ball games.
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As for center, rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner isn’t ready yet and Moussa Diabate is somewhat undersized to start things off against some of the taller, elite centers. That leaves veteran Mason Plumlee as the probable candidate, but that spot could be fluid depending on matchups and how the team is faring in certain areas (ie: defensive rebounding) during a particular stretch.
Win total for 2025-26 season
Josh Gattis asks on X: Hornets win 35 games this season if …
If everyone stays healthy. That’s been the Hornets’ biggest problem over the last half-decade. Injuries, injuries and more injuries. When they’ve had their key players available, specifically their core players, they’ve been able to compete with some of the top teams in the NBA. But each season, the eternal optimism quickly wanes when one of the team’s top players gets injured.
Should that be different in 2025-26, then the Hornets can definitely hit that number. Especially given the wide-openness of the Eastern Conference in particular. And of course, it all starts with the man himself, LaMelo Ball. If he can play more games than he has in any season since his second year in the league, without a doubt the Hornets can compile a victory total ranging in the mid 30s.
Hornets’ health
B asks on X: With so many season ending injuries for the team last year, like Grant Williams, Tre Mann, LaMelo and Brandon Miller, has health and recovery been a major focus for the team?
It absolutely has. In speaking with Grant over the summer and even Charles Lee as well, rehabilitation and getting guys healthy has been one of the main tasks throughout the offseason. It’s also part of the reason why the Hornets increased their guard depth.
They wanted to make sure that if, for some reason, health isn’t there again the way they hope, they can still move forward somewhat until those players return. But, yes, health has definitely been at the forefront of the Hornets’ preparations since the season concluded.
This story was originally published September 25, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Hornets mailbag: Who will start at shooting guard and center for Charlotte?."
