News Hornets Team Notes

[Charlotte Hornets]

Insider Says Hornets Got A ‘Steal’ In NBA Draft

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The Charlotte Hornets were one of the biggest winners of the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.

First, they got the best sharpshooter in this class by landing Duke star Kon Knueppel.

Then, they landed two first-round selections in a deal for big man Mark Williams.

They later used that pick on who plenty of people believe could end up being one of the steals of the night.

At least, that’s how CBS Sports’ analyst Matt Norlander feels, as he gushed about Liam McNeeley’s potential as the ultimate sleeper.

"He could grow into one of the 10 or 8 best players from this draft."@MattNorlander believes that the Hornets got a steal at the end of the first-round in Liam McNeely. pic.twitter.com/fUR57gFlft

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 26, 2025

The Connecticut product was teammates with fellow first-rounders Cooper Flagg, Derik Queen, and Asa Newell at Montverde Academy.

He’s coming off earning Big East Freshman of the Year honors at UConn, and he was a Jordan Brand Classic and McDonald’s All-American selection coming out of high school.

He can play at both forward spots, and most scouts had him going in the 20-pick range.

He boasts a high basketball IQ, and while he doesn’t boast elite athleticism and struggles to create separations at times, he’s a versatile scorer.

The Hornets could use as much help as they can get right now.

More importantly, they also need to stay healthy, as franchise cornerstones LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller missed most of last season with injuries.

History isn’t on this organization’s side, and they have a long history of botched draft picks.

But early on, it seems like they’ve done an outstanding job with the assets they had at their disposal.

The post Insider Says Hornets Got A ‘Steal’ In NBA Draft appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/insider-says-hornets-got-a-steal-in-nba-draft/

 

[Charlotte Hornets]

Hornets Make Major Contract Decision With Josh Okogie

(Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)

The Charlotte Hornets had a difficult decision to make with Josh Okogie, and they just made it.

According to Michael Scotto, the Hornets have now waived Okogie.

His $7.75 million salary was set to be guaranteed this week unless Charlotte dropped him from their very crowded roster.

Now, Okogie will try to find a new home in the NBA, and the Hornets will attempt to move on without him.

Just In: The Charlotte Hornets have waived Josh Okogie, league sources told @hoopshype. Okogie’s $7.75 million salary was set to guarantee today if he remained on the roster. Okogie averaged 8.9 points and 1.8 steals in 18.3 minutes per game in 15 games for Charlotte last season. https://t.co/xuWkCMCsVr

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 15, 2025

Okogie only played in 15 games with the Hornets last season, averaging 8.9 points and 1.8 steals during his 18.3 minutes on the court.

He was quietly doing some good work for Charlotte, but they simply did not have space for him in 2025-26.

Their roster was already too full, and they didn’t have options for Okogie.

There was some talk about them possibly trading him to another team, but they didn’t have any leverage because the rest of the league knew how crowded their lineup was.

No team was willing to make a trade with the Hornets, knowing that they were already over their limit with guaranteed roster spots.

This meant that Charlotte only had one move to make: waive Okogie or someone else.

In the end, they decided to part ways with Okogie.

Since coming into the league in 2018-19, Okogie has played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, and now the Hornets.

Where will he head next?

As for the Hornets, will they miss his defensive skills?

Charlotte is a young team that would benefit from more experience in the lineup.

Did they just say goodbye to one of their most helpful veterans, and will this end up biting them?

The post Hornets Make Major Contract Decision With Josh Okogie appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/hornets-make-major-contract-decision-with-josh-okogie/

 

[Charlotte Hornets]

Collin Sexton Has Decided On His Jersey Number With Hornets

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

After three seasons with the Utah Jazz, Collin Sexton is on the move again, this time settling with the Charlotte Hornets.

The future could be very bright in Charlotte for Sexton, and he is already making choices about what’s next for him.

According to Etienne Catalan, Sexton will wear No. 8 for the Hornets.

This number was last used by Nick Smith Jr. in 2025.

Collin Sexton (@CollinSexton02) will wear No. 8 for the #Hornets. Number last worn by Nick Smith Jr. in 2025. #NBA pic.twitter.com/VM5iMslDqZ

— Etienne Catalan (@EtienneCatalan) August 12, 2025

Sexton’s career has been mixed, but he has always held a lot of potential.

When he got his start with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he was a Rookie of the Year candidate and was scoring more than 24 points per game for a while.

But then he experienced a dropoff, and the Cavaliers began to move on without him.

That is when he was shipped off to the Jazz.

During his three seasons in Utah, Sexton averaged 17.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists.

Sexton is now moving to a Hornets team that is desperate to turn things around and actually compete.

At 26 years old, he is still a young player but has enough experience to become a team leader for the Hornets.

Plus, he is entering the final season of his contract, which is worth a bit more than $19 million.

That means that if he plays well for Charlotte in the new season, he could receive an extension from the Hornets.

That makes 2025-26 even more important for Sexton.

He is looking to start a new chapter, and the Hornets are too.

Perhaps they can work together and begin a promising and productive era in Charlotte.

The post Collin Sexton Has Decided On His Jersey Number With Hornets appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/collin-sexton-has-decided-on-his-jersey-number-with-hornets/

 

[Charlotte Hornets]

Hornets Urge LaMelo Ball To Embrace Bigger Team Role

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Charlotte Hornets are sick and tired of being one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference, and they want to change that in 2025-26.

Because of that, they will turn to LaMelo Ball and ask more of him.

“Among the things to keep an eye out for in 2025-26: LaMelo Ball’s leadership. As the face of the franchise and the team’s highest paid player, there are certain responsibilities that come with that, and the Hornets want to see Ball take a leap in becoming more of a leader,” Rod Boone reported.

The Charlotte Hornets want LaMelo Ball to become a better leader, per @rodboone

“Among the things to keep an eye out for in 2025-26: LaMelo Ball’s leadership. As the face of the franchise and the team’s highest paid player, there are certain responsibilities that come with… pic.twitter.com/RejEsbtdjV

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 21, 2025

Ball is about to start his sixth season in the NBA, and Hornets fans hope it’s one that finally sees the team turning around.

Last year, Ball posted 25.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.4 assists on 40.5 percent from the field.

Sadly, he only played in 47 games because of injuries.

Physical problems have been a repeated issue throughout his career, and that will need to change if he is going to accept this role as team leader.

Ball is a young man with plenty of room for growth, despite how good he already is.

It’s now time for him to prove that he can reach the next level of his development and lead instead of only scoring.

It’s fair to ask what will happen if that doesn’t occur in the new season.

If Ball doesn’t take a leap forward and the Hornets still dwell toward the bottom of the standings when the year comes to an end, there will be many questions about his skills and abilities, and his future in Charlotte.

The Hornets likely won’t give up on Ball, but their demands from him will only grow.

The post Hornets Urge LaMelo Ball To Embrace Bigger Team Role appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/hornets-urge-lamelo-ball-to-embrace-bigger-team-role/

 

[Charlotte Hornets]

LaMelo Ball Reveals Thoughts About Feeling Pressure

(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets might be on the verge of the most important season of his career.

Many people say the stakes couldn’t be higher, but Ball doesn’t seem to mind.

Speaking about expectations and pressure, Ball said it doesn’t cross his mind.

“I don’t really have no pressure. Like I said, I just go in, play and try to get as much wins as we can and do as best as you could,” Ball said.

LaMelo Ball says he doesn’t feel any pressure

"I don't really have no pressure. Like I said, I just go in, play and try to get as much wins as we can and do as best as you could."

(Via https://t.co/aaRQ3BBdBg) pic.twitter.com/B87NUxtBuu

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 30, 2025

That is a good outlook for the young star, and it should help him score a lot in the new season.

But the Hornets need him to do more than just score, because they also want him to lead the team in new and important ways.

Ball has been at the center of the Hornets for all five years of his career, and he has shown great skills.

However, the team keeps missing the mark and hasn’t transformed into a real threat in the East.

Fans want to see something different this year, and they believe Ball will be the cause for growth within the team.

They want to see him be a leader and guide his fellow teammates.

Ball has averaged 21.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 7.4 assists during his years with the Hornets, but those numbers may not keep him safe.

If Charlotte has yet another disappointing season, there could be talk of him leaving the team.

At this point, the Hornets have to show something different, or else some drastic things may happen in the offseason.

It’s plain to see that a lot is on the line for the new season, but Ball isn’t thinking about it.

Instead, he’s just trying to be the best point guard possible for his squad, no matter what the future holds.

The post LaMelo Ball Reveals Thoughts About Feeling Pressure appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/lamelo-ball-reveals-thoughts-about-feeling-pressure/