Charlotte Hornets 2025-2026 guide: Roster, Depth Chart & Key Players
Could the Hornets have struck gold in the draft? And will it be enough to lift a franchise that’s slipped to the fringes of the NBA?
Long known as “the team where you find cheap starters”, the Hornets have made many fantasy coaches happy over the years. But this season, for the first time in a while, they might actually be heading in the right direction.
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Key Players
While it would be easy to focus on the youngest Ball brother – LaMelo Ball, (G, 15.0 cr) – or Miles Bridges (F, 12.0 cr), don’t overlook the potential rise of the team’s “third option” – who might even surpass Bridges in importance.
Brandon Miller (F, 9.5 cr) is heading into his third NBA season. Despite dealing with injuries, he’s shown clear improvement, boosting both his production and role within the team. Statistically better across the board, one more step forward could make him a must-have in all fantasy squads.
Possible Surprises
Ryan Kalkbrenner (C, 7.0 cr) was snatched from the Lakers during the draft – a move that some see as payback for the Mark Williams situation – and there’s a real chance he’ll replace him outright. Kalkbrenner is a solid center, capable of producing double-doubles, hitting the occasional three, and contributing solid block numbers. We expect him to comfortably beat out Plumlee for the starting spot, making him a valuable low-cost center for fantasy rosters.
Players to Avoid
Spencer Dinwiddie (G, 7.0 cr) played just 16 FTP last season despite averaging 27 minutes. This year, he’s likely to see even less time, and early signs suggest Terance Mann may be preferred as the backup point guard. In short, all the signs point toward avoiding him – a low-upside pick that could quickly become dead weight.
Likely Starting Lineup
PG: LaMelo Ball (Guard, 15.0 credits)
SG: Kon Knueppel (Guard, 9.0 credits)
SF: Miles Bridges (Forward, 12.0 credits)
PF: Brandon Miller (Forward, 9.5 credits)
C: Mason Plumlee (Center, 5.0 credits)
Power Ranking
Let’s not sugarcoat it: this team lives and dies by LaMelo Ball. He’s only played more than 52 games in a season once (his sophomore year). But with a promising young core around him, a play-in spot is within reach.
If, however, he once again struggles to stay healthy, the Hornets might find themselves more relevant in our fantasy rankings than in the actual Eastern Conference standings.
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Dunkest Fantasy Basketball Player List NBA 2025/26
To make life easier for all draft mode enthusiasts, we’ve made the Dunkest NBA 2025/26 player list available for download in Excel format, so you can start planning your auction in the coming days.