2026-27 Hornets Fantasy Preview
The Hornets enter the post-LaMelo era this season, with Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Coby White, and Naz Reid all positioned to absorb a significant share of the vacated production.
Brandon Miller, SF/PF
📊 Trend: ⬆️
🗝️ Key Stats: PTS, 3PM, FT%
⚠️ Risk: 🟢 Low
🔓 Value Unlock: Improved FG% and steals
💡 Quick Hits: In 2025-26, Miller co-led the Hornets in scoring with LaMelo Ball, but now, the onus is on him to spearhead their offense. While we expect to see an increase in contributions from Kon Knueppel, Miller will have to be the first scoring option and lead the way.
❓ Big Question(s): Will the added offensive pressure affect Miller’s already questionable shooting efficiency from the field and his turnovers per game?
🎯 Draft Range: 35-45
⭐ Fantasy Take: Miller is at the cusp of becoming a strong two-way force in fantasy. He just wasn’t there yet last season. As mentioned, there will be a lot of added pressure on his shoulders this season, so it’s a sink-or-swim situation for him. Miller has the tools and talent to further improve as a player. In category leagues, increased volume without improved efficiency often becomes a wash, or even a net negative. Account for some improvement, but not necessarily a huge leap from Miller.
Kon Knueppel, SG/SF
📊 Trend: ⬆️
🗝️ Key Stats: PTS, AST, 3PM, FG%, FT%
⚠️ Risk: 🟠 Medium
🔓 Value Unlock: Improve playmaking (more AST), be more aggressive offensively
💡 Quick Hits: Knueppel was runner-up for ROY last season and for good reason. His high-volume 3-point shooting, coupled with his solid FG%, profiles him as a very fantasy-friendly player in category leagues. He suffered hamstring injury before training camp and will be re-evaluated in the first week of the season.
❓ Big Question(s): Will efficiency be enough to carry his fantasy value? He's already established himself as one of the NBA's elite three-point shooters, but can he become a fantasy star?
🎯 Draft Range: 55-65
⭐ Fantasy Take: What Knueppel lacks defensively, I feel he makes up for with solid rebounding and underrated passing. The injury is a bit of a concern, and it merits a bit of a fade for Knueppel. That said, the breakout potential is still there.
Coby White, PG/SG
📊 Trend: ⬇️
🗝️ Key Stats: PTS, AST, 3PM, FT%
⚠️ Risk: 🟢 Low
🔓 Value Unlock: Match improved FG% with his expected rise in scoring and usage
💡 Quick Hits: White is expected to slide into the starting lineup this season, replacing LaMelo Ball. This immediately translates to higher expected usage. White proved during his time in Chicago that he can score, but he’s had a limited focus on the offensive side of the ball.
❓ Big Question(s): Is White in danger of being overdrafted due to hype?
🎯 Draft Range: 55-65
⭐ Fantasy Take: White has always had a narrow range of fantasy contributions, and most of them are tied to volume. While he’s expected to see more usage as the starting PG for Charlotte, the deficiencies in FG% and defensive stats should cap his upside. The volume will be there, but category diversity will not magically appear out of nowhere.
Naz Reid, PF/C
📊 Trend: ⬆️
🗝️ Key Stats: PTS, REB, BLK, 3PM, FG%, TO
⚠️ Risk: 🟢 Low
🔓 Value Unlock: Blocks
💡 Quick Hits: Now with the Hornets and projected to be their starting PF, Reid has some draft momentum heading into the 2026-27 season. He should see the playing time and usage bumps, and his impressive per-36 production has understandably generated excitement entering drafts.
❓ Big Question(s): Will Reid be able to keep an efficient FG% while taking on more with the Hornets?
🎯 Draft Range: 55-65
⭐ Fantasy Take: Reid’s improved value this coming season isn’t all about an expected increase in usage. He will also have to avoid a pullback in FG%, while improving on his 1.0 BPG. Reid can provide a similar blend of scoring, threes, and respectable efficiency from the frontcourt, but unless his block rate takes a significant leap, he belongs a tier or two below players like Jaren Jackson Jr.
Moussa Diabaté, C
📊 Trend: ⬆️⬆️
🗝️ Key Stats: REB, BLK, FG%, TO
⚠️ Risk: 🟢 Low
🔓 Value Unlock: More rebounds and blocks
💡 Quick Hits: Diabaté successfully fought off Ryan Kalkbrenner and ultimately locked down the starting center job, which allowed him to make a leap by becoming a reliable contributor of boards and blocks for most of the season. The learning curve was steep for Diabaté, but he was up for the challenge in 2025-26.
❓ Big Question(s): How much more improvement does Diabaté have in him, and how much of that will translate to the fantasy game?
🎯 Draft Range: 125-135
⭐ Fantasy Take: Despite his growth last season, Diabaté is still raw and limited offensively, capping his fantasy appeal. He was a serviceable end-of-bench play in fantasy for his boards and blocks, which can now serve as his floor. He’ll be there to do the dirty work for his hive-mates, but those things don’t always land on the stat sheet, unfortunately.
Grayson Allen, PG/SG/SF
📊 Trend: ⬆️
🗝️ Key Stats: PTS, STL, 3PM, FT%, TO
⚠️ Risk: 🟠 Medium
🔓 Value Unlock: Get sixth-man role and minutes at Charlotte
💡 Quick Hits: Despite being plagued by injuries last season, Allen posted career-highs in his 55-game run with the Suns. He should make a good sixth man for the Hornets, providing a scoring punch with some D off the bench.
❓ Big Question(s): Can Allen stay healthy enough to capitalize on his new role with the Hornets?
🎯 Draft Range: 130-140
⭐ Fantasy Take: A bit of regression could be in the cards for Allen, who posted some of his best work in fantasy last season. That said, his 3-point shooting and grit on the defensive end of the floor should translate well with his new team. In the end, his availability will play a big role in determining his end-of-season fantasy impact.
👀 Players to Watch: Hannes Steinbach, Christian Anderson, Ryan Kalkbrenner
