After Lee’s first campaign in the Queen City continued some very unpleasant themes — lots of injuries, another ugly record (19-63; third-worst in the league again), significant roster turnover — there was a healthier, more entertaining version of the Hornets last season.

Charlotte’s regular-season record jumped to 44-38, with that 25-win improvement ranking second in the NBA (behind only Western Conference champion San Antonio), although their play-in loss to Orlando again left them on the outside of the 16-team playoff bracket. The Washington Wizards (five) are the only other NBA franchise that has missed the playoffs more than four years in a row.

Despite that clear upward arc, Charlotte blew up its core in the offseason, trading away long-time starting point guard LaMelo Ball (Minnesota) and long-time starting forward Miles Bridges (Phoenix).

Ball, the franchise’s first-round pick (third overall) in 2020, battled various injuries but had started for the Hornets 280 times over six seasons. Bridges, the franchise’s first-round pick (12th overall) in 2018, missed the entire 2022-23 season because of domestic violence charges but had started for the team 396 times over eight seasons.

This season, during the team’s 1-1 start, Charlotte’s opening-tip lineup in both games featured Dennis Schroder (acquired in August trade of Tre Mann) at point guard, Sion James (2025 second-round pick from Duke) and Brandon Miller (2023 first-round pick from Alabama) on the wing, Moussa Diabate (2024 free-agent signee) at power forward and newcomer Naz Reid (acquired in July trade of Ball) at center.

The top players off the bench were former Duke star Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale (both acquired in July trade of Bridges) at guard and forward, respectively, plus Ryan Kalkbrenner (2025 second-round pick from Creighton) at center.

Importantly, though, the Hornets were missing two projected starters (point guard Coby White and wing guard Kon Knueppel) for that opening stretch, plus backup forward Grant Williams.

A former UNC star and 2019 first-round draft pick of Chicago, White started 251 regular-season games over six and a half seasons with the Bulls before being traded to Charlotte last February.

A former Duke star and the Hornets’ first-round pick (fourth overall) in 2025, Knueppel had a sensational professional debut (32 mpg, 19 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg, 48% FG, 86% FT, 43% threes) last season, ultimately finishing second to college teammate Cooper Flagg in the NBA’s rookie of the year voting.

White (left calf strain), Knueppel (left hamstring strain) and Williams (right hamstring strain) all are expected back soon.