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2026 Charlotte Hornets Predictions with Best Bets and Odds to Win NBA Championship

by Spencer Toth - 9/25/2026

Charlotte Hornets predictions Kon Knueppel

The Charlotte Hornets have now missed the playoffs in 10 straight seasons, and the front office decided it was time for a change on the court. Charlotte completely blew up their roster in an attempt to get competitive, but an Eastern Conference loaded with contenders means they still have their work cut out for them. Were their offseason moves enough to move the needle, or will it be another lost season in Charlotte?

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Charlotte Hornets Offseason Recap

It’s safe to say no other NBA franchise had an offseason as busy as Charlotte. The Hornets elected to completely blow up their roster, kicking things off by trading LaMelo Ball to Minnesota. Ball won Rookie of the Year with the Hornets in 2021, but was never able to develop into the superstar he looked destined to become. His energy in the backcourt got butts in seats, something crucial for a small-market team like the Hornets, but his lack of discipline on defense capped the Hornets ceiling. Ball and Josh Green were traded for Naz Reid, a first round pick, three first round pick swaps, and three second round picks. Reid is one of the best stretch centers in the league, as his hard-nosed defense combined with lethal three-point shooting makes him a perfect fit on any roster. The former Sixth Man of the Year is ready for a bigger role, and he will get lots of playtime in the Charlotte frontcourt. 

LaMelo Ball wasn’t the only star to depart, as Miles Bridges has also played his last game in a Hornets uniform. Bridges was traded to the Suns along with a first and second round draft pick for Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and a first round pick. He was a force in the paint, but didn’t make enough of an impact on offense to offset his poor defensive play. Allen and O’Neale are both capable of coming off the bench, but neither is getting any younger, and this move unquestionably made the Hornets worse both in the present and future. 

In the draft, the Hornets had two top-20 picks and took Hannes Steinbach 14th overall and Christian Anderson Jr. 18th overall. Steinbach is currently listed as the starting center for Charlotte, although he is unlikely to eat up 30+ minutes with a deep frontcourt to compete against. Steinbach is a rebound machine after leading the NCAA with 11.8 boards per game, but his lack of perimeter shooting means the Hornets will need to run very different offensive schemes when Steinbach is at the five instead of Reid. 

2026 Charlotte Hornets Season Expectations

The Hornets traded away their core in the hopes of building a strong roster around Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller. Charlotte still has a boatload of assets in the chamber, but after rebuilding for more than a decade, and having not won a playoff series since 2002, it is hard to see an end in sight for this franchise. 

Kon Knueppel was edged out by Cooper Flagg for Rookie of the Year last year, but that doesn’t have an impact on his ceiling. He is a truly elite three-point shooter, and that is all you need to succeed in the modern-day NBA. He drained 42.5% of his three-point shots on nearly eight attempts per game, and also chipped in with 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. He isn’t the playmaking point guard every team needs, but his role as the starting shooting guard is certainly safe. 

Brandon Miller’s game isn’t as flashy as Knueppel’s or Ball’s, but it is just as effective. He led the Hornets in PPG last season with 20.2, finding success both behind the arc and in the paint. He brought intensity on defense with 1.0 steals per game and 4.9 rebounds, and is already very well-rounded at 23 years old. 

The Hornets are once again expected to be near the bottom of the standings, and it is hard to say they got any better than last year. Losing Ball and Bridges and replacing them with Reid, Allen, and Dennis Schroder is not exactly a move upward, but they did keep their two youngest starters in Charlotte. The Hornets have been bounced from the play-in tournament three times during their decade-long playoff drought, and that looks like the best case scenario for a squad lacking any top-end talent. 

2026 Charlotte Hornets Schedule Breakdown

The Hornets open up the season on the road in Brooklyn before playing seven of their next ten at home. They then head out West on a four-game road trip, one of three stretches of four or more consecutive away games. Looking at the NBA Cup, the Hornets open up the tournament in Washington the day before Halloween, before taking on the Celtics and Hawks. They wrap up the tournament against the Bulls, and realistically need to beat both Chicago and Washington while taking a win off one of the playoff contenders in their group. 

2026 Charlotte Hornets Odds

The Hornets have a regular season win total of 39.5 this season, which puts them right on the edge of making the playoffs. They have +145 odds to qualify with -180 odds to miss the playoffs, so it is clear the oddsmakers think their offseason moves keep them on the fringe rather than sending them to the basement. They have equivalent +145 odds to participate in the play-in tournament, which looks sharper than their playoff odds. In terms of a deep playoff run, Charlotte has +4000 odds to win the East, the 11th shortest, and +10000 odds to win the NBA championship.

The NBA Cup could be their best chance at silverware, as a group with the Hawks, Celtics, Wizards, and Bulls doesn’t get much easier. The Hornets have +375 odds to win East Group B, and +5000 odds to win the NBA Cup. 

2026 Charlotte Hornets Season Predictions and Best Bets

The Hornets won 44 games last year after three straight seasons with 27 or fewer wins, and I predict it is right back to the basement this season. Ball had his flaws, but his electricity and ability to turn games around in a hurry is a difficult asset to replace. Charlotte has a nice blend of veterans to lead their young core, but no one is in their prime, and this looks like simply the first step towards competing rather than a finished process. They are unlikely to finish bottom three in the league and hurt their draft lottery chances, but I don’t think they will be playing meaningful basketball late in the season. 

For our first pick, we will take the Hornets to finish under 39.5 wins at -120 odds. Charlotte didn’t really get better in the offseason, and they were exceptionally fortunate with injuries last year. If one of their starters goes down, their shallow bench will be exposed and the losses will start piling up in a hurry. 

For the second bet, we will take Charlotte to miss the playoffs at -180 odds. I like this one slightly better than the standard win total, as it will likely take at least 41-44 wins to secure a top-eight seed. Charlotte doesn’t have what it takes to finish above .500, and for a slightly worse price our scope of ways to potentially win increases substantially. 

If you are a diehard Hornets fan and want to cheer for this team, I do have an angle to exploit. The Hornets have +145 odds to make the playoffs and identical +145 odds to participate in the play-in tournament. It is more likely the Hornets finish 9th or 10th and miss the playoffs, cashing one bet and not the other, than it is for Charlotte to finish as the 6th seed or better. It’s less conventional, but take the Hornets to make the play-in rather than make the playoffs if you want to tail this team.

Pick: Charlotte Hornets Under 39.5 Wins -120

Top Pick: Charlotte Hornets to Miss the Playoffs -180

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