The Hornets are trending in the right direction, but does this mean anything?

The Hornets have found their footing.

An 8-28 start to the year suggested history would repeat itself. The Hornets were not good. But soon enough, they flipped the script. Behind a 3-point-shooting revelation led by Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball, the Hornets finished the year on a 34-10 run, forcing their way into the play-in.

Does this hold any weight?

Despite the success, their flaws are clear.

The Hornets' mid-season explosive shift towards stardom, while impressive, has hidden their true flaws. They lack defense and veteran leadership. Their offense, while flashy, favors high volume over efficiency.

They are in a tough spot. Good enough to compete, not complete enough to contend.

How can they improve?

The Hornets have momentum, and if they want to take advantage of it, they need an upgrade. And it's clear who needs to go.

Miles Bridges has had a complicated history. He was suspended from the league for domestic abuse charges, and has lacked the skill set needed for his position. Being a power forward, he doesn't bring the defense and interior presence his team needs. His massive 3-year, $75 million contract also makes it hard to justify keeping him.

This contract isn't all bad, though. Making $25 million this year, Bridges' contract paves the way for the Hornets to make a big move. So, how should they do this?

What they should do:

Miami Heat receive: (F) Miles Bridges, 2027 first round pick (via DAL), 2028 second round pick

Charlotte Hornets receive: (F) Andrew Wiggins

Why this works:

Wiggins changes a lot for Charlotte. His leadership and veteran savvy can bring this offense together. With his off-ball movement and spacing ability, Wiggins can flow with Charlotte's offense while maintaining a limited but important role.

Defensively, Wiggins fixes a lot. His elite perimeter defense allows him to take on a primary assignment night in and night out.

He fills the holes in Charlotte's roster well, and for cheap, too.

Assuming Wiggins accepts his 2026-27 player option, this deal is basically a contract swap. The outgoing draft capital holds little value, making this deal worthwhile for a team seeking rapid improvement.

This upgrade, along with the development of rookies Kon Knueppel, Sion James, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Liam McNeely, pushes Charlotte over the hill.

This move won't overhaul the roster; it will refine it.

It defines a path of Hornets basketball rarely seen before. A path towards contention

Hornets' potential 2026-27 starting lineup + bench:

PG: LaMelo Ball SG: Brandon Miller SF: Kon Knueppel PF: Andrew Wiggins C: Moussa Diabaté

G: Coby White, Sion James, Tre Mann F: Grant Williams, Tidjane Salaün, Liam McNeely C: Ryan Kalkbrenner