The Charlotte Hornets are aiming to make strides in the fourth year of their rebuild. The Hornets have completely rebuilt their roster, bringing in 10 new players. However, the Hornets may not have two key rotational players to start the season. What do the injury updates to Grant Williams and Josh Green mean as the Hornets head into training camp?
Hornets May Not Have 2 Key Rotational Players To Start Season, While All 4 Of 2025 Draft Picks To Have Chance To Earn Regular Playing Time
Charlotte is coming off a disastrous first season under head coach Charles Lee. The Hornets went 19-63, marking their worst season since the strike-shortened 2011-12 campaign and the third worst in franchise history. While the Hornets slightly improved defensively last year, ranking 24th on that end of the floor, their biggest issue remains on the offensive end. The Hornets tied Brooklyn for the fewest points (105.1) and were 29th overall in offense, marking the third straight season they have finished in the bottom third of the league.
Charlotte, which hasn’t made the playoffs in nine straight seasons, owns just a 67-174 record since being the Eastern Conference 10th seed in 2021-22. Still, the Hornets have designs on challenging for a playoff spot this year, as they have rebuilt their roster. The Hornets acquired Colin Sexton via trade and signed Mason Plumlee. They also selected sharpshooting forward Kon Knueppel with the No. 4 pick and added three others in the top 34.
Hornets Finalize Training Camp Roster and Upcoming Decisions
Charlotte will head into training camp with a whole training camp roster. The Hornets made several announcements yesterday, including the signing of guard Marcus Garrett and waiving Brandon Slater. With those moves, the Hornets will have 21 players when they open camp at The Citadel in Charleston (SC).
Garrett is the only player on a training camp deal. As the Hornets have 17 players on standard deals, all three of their two-way spots are filled. The Hornets will have to cut or trade two players on standard before the start of the season. The Hornets are $14 million under the luxury tax, so they really don’t have any financial constraints on whom they cut.
Nick Smith Jr., Moussa Diabate, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Pat Connaughton figure to be the players most likely to be cut. Don’t be surprised if Dinwiddie or Connaughton lose out on the roster spot, as the Hornets may attempt to trade the veterans. Smith Jr. and Connaughton are probably the favorites to be released.
Marcus Garrett and Hornets Other Exhibit 10 Deals
While Garrett’s deal has not been announced, it is assumed to be an Exhibit 10 contract — the type of deal the 26-year-old signed last season. Garrett spent most of last season with the Hornets’ G-League affiliate, Greensboro Storm, though he got into four games with the Hornets on a 10-day contract.
Garrett is a 6-5 combo guard who is known as a fierce on-ball defender. While not a good shooter, Garrett is a skilled facilitator and possesses good ball-handling skills. He will end up in Greensboro to start the season as the Hornets’ 18-man roster is accounted for.
Slater will now likely head to Greensboro after being released. The 26-year-old forward, who went undrafted out of Villanova in 2023, spent the 2023-24 season with the Boston Celtics’ G-League affiliate. Maine Red Claws. He then moved to the Greek Club GS Lavrio last season.
Slater, who Charlotte signed to an Exhibit 10 contract, replaced Keyonte Johnson on the roster. Johnson, who has nine games of NBA experience, will head back to Greensboro, where the Kansas State product spent last season. The 25-year-old forward had a solid season in the G-League, but saw limited time in the Las Vegas summer league with Denver.
Grant Williams and Josh Green May Not Be Ready For the Regular Season
Lee told Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer that Williams and Green will miss the start of training camp. Lee added that both players are progressing, though Williams is closer to returning among the two. However, there is no timetable for either to return.
Williams has been on the mend since tearing his ACL in December. It would be a surprise if Williams weren’t able to return by November. Meanwhile, Green had surgery in June to address instability in his left shoulder.
Williams is a valuable member of the Hornets’ second unit and has played well during his time with the team. In 45 games over the last year-and-a-half, the 6-6 power forward has produced 12.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while shooting 48.4/37.9/78.7. He has also totaled two double-doubles.
Green was also a valuable member of the Hornets last year, but the 24-year-old hasn’t grown in his five years in the league. Green started 67 of 68 games and is a good shooter and an athletic, versatile defender. But the 6-5 guard doesn’t really do anything to impact the game if he isn’t getting to the hoop. Still, he figures to be part of the Hornets’ rotation once healthy, though his standing on the team is a little more tenuous than Williams, who projects to be the team’s sixth or seventh man.
How Will The Hornets Replace Williams and Green
If Williams isn’t ready to go, Tidjane Saluan figures to be Miles Bridges’ primary backup at power forward. Salaun, the surprise No. 6 pick in 2024, struggled offensively his entire rookie season. But the 20-year-old did increase his production after the All-Star break. He also continued his improvement during the summer league, averaging 14.0 points on 10 shots a game and 5.7 rebounds.
It would be a surprise that Green is active at the start of the season, given the news. Therefore, Sexton and Tre Mann should see increased playing time. Dinwiddie, if he is still on the team, and perhaps Liam McNealey could be in line to see extended time.
Sexton projects to be the first guard off the bench. If Green is indeed sidelined, Mann projects to see increased playing time on the second unit. However, it is conceivable that he would beat out Green anyway.
Speaking of McNealey, the No. 29 overall pick, along with his fellow draft mates, will see playing time during the preseason, Lee told Boone. McNealey was a surprise first-round pick after struggling with shooting the ball in his first year at UConn, but he quelled any concern in his short stint during Vegas’ summer league. The 19-year-old forward produced one double-double and averaged 18.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. He knocked down 6 of 14 shots from deep and compiled splits of 40.7/42.9/88.9.
Hornets Rookies
It is still unknown what McNealey’s role will be at the start of the season. Unless he really impresses during training camp, McNealey is unlikely to see much time with the Hornets. It is more likely he starts the season in Greensboro.
Knueppel, who got a huge taste of NBA life in the summer league, is expected to start at small forward for the Hornets. Knueppel was named MVP as he helped the Hornets to the NBA Summer League title, averaging 15.6 points along with 4.8 boards. 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals.
Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner are the Hornets’ other rookies. James is a versatile guard who is known as a lockdown defender. However, the 22-year-old still has a big learning curve, especially on the offensive end.
Besides Knueppel, Kalkbrenner is the most likely rookie to see significant minutes. The 23-year-old big man, who earned the 2025 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award for best collegiate center, is one of three centers on the squad. He averaged 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks with splits of 56.4/28.6/70.6. He was extremely efficient offensively and demonstrated himself to be a quality rim protector.
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