What should we take away from Hornets’ NBA Las Vegas Summer League run?
Evaluating how things went during an initial taste of action in the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League, Hannes Steinbach was rather pleased.
After all, the Charlotte Hornets’ big man didn’t know quite what to expect.
“I think it did pretty good,” Steinbach said in a chat with The Charlotte Observer. “The beginning was rough, just adjusting to everything. I think it’s pretty normal. And then just kind of found my rhythm. Kind of found it in the game, then just had a pretty good performance.”
Steinbach’s play during the Hornets’ summer league run — which concluded with Friday night’s 92-90 loss to Sacramento at Cox Pavilion — was among the bright spots for Charlotte over the past nine days.
Selected four picks behind fellow first-rounder Christian Anderson, who had his moments in Las Vegas as well, Steinbach showed ruggedness and a penchant for playing through contact. That checks off a couple boxes the Hornets need to address this offseason and he’s perfectly fine with being an enforcer.
“Yeah, I just love playing physical, love to make contact,” Steinbach said. “So, I think it’s just bringing that to every game, every time I play.”
Steinbach is essentially a walking double-double and should only improve with more confidence and experience. He was even part of an interesting strategic wrinkle, sometimes being teamed alongside center Ryan Kalkbrenner.
Having Steinbach and his 6-foot-11, 248-pound frame on the floor with the 7-1 Kalkbrenner makes for a very unique pairing.
“I think just Ryan’s rim protection helps me a lot,” Steinbach said. “Just like being able to be more aggressive in pick-and-rolls or one-on-one defense as well. I have someone behind me who can make their shot very hard.”
With Charlotte’s run at the Las Vegas Summer League run in the books, meaning the Hornets won’t be repeating as champions, here are some of the key takeaways:
Development of 2025 NBA Draft class
Although much of the focus typically centers around those drafted in June, the development of second-year players is extremely important at this juncture of the offseason.
The Hornets’ 2025 NBA Draft class received plenty of playing time over the past week-plus, logging extensive minutes. Liam McNeeley, Sion James and Kalkbrenner had certain areas the coaching staff wanted them to refine in order to become significant contributors to the 2026-27 campaign.
McNeeley had the ball in his hands a lot, and that was by design.
“Obviously he’s been our primary creator and his ability to score the ball at all three levels has done a great job on that end of the floor,” Hornets summer-league coach Blaine Mueller said. “But I’d highlight, too, his defensive effort, particularly against New Orleans.
“He had some incredible one-on-one possessions in terms of understanding guys’ driving tendencies and what he needs to do from a technique standpoint.”
James was also utilized as a facilitator and had his share of struggles running the offense smoothly. Charlotte needs someone to step up in the backup point-guard role behind Coby White and is attempting to see where James fits into that puzzle.
“Really for him, it’s going to come down to him being able to initiate offense,” Mueller said. “When you actually watch the film, he’s not a guy that’s necessarily coming off pick-and-rolls and playmaking, but his ability to get the ball over half court, get the ball to the spot that we need to in order to initiate a play, I’ve been pleased with that space.
“He’s kind of been a mixed bag in terms of his shot. Shot it better and finished better against Boston than he did in the first two games. And then obviously, what he’s getting defensively in terms of him being a little bit more disruptive, like using his IQ and brain to anticipate stuff and make plays.”
Kalkbrenner was featured in a playmaking role out of the post at times and at the split position on offense. On the opposite side of the ball, he could be heard barking orders out during pick-and-roll situations, loudly letting teammates know where the ball-handler was headed.
“Another guy who’s protecting the rim, adjusting between coverages pretty, pretty frequently,” Mueller said. “Obviously, want to see him around the rim with more force. I think we’ve seen that, too. Had a couple finishes in traffic and-ones.
“Stuff where he’s a little bit more physical, a little bit more on balance, understanding what he needs to do around the rim when he’s in traffic.”
Growth for Tidjane Salaün?
Tidjane Salaun continues to stay under the microscope, given he’s headed into his third season and few picks taken No. 6 overall participate in summer league at that juncture of their career.
Salaun isn’t going to be judged fully by his production over the last week-plus numbers-wise, including his 18 points against Sacramento in the finale. Instead, it’s more about cementing in the habits the staff has in mind to help him elevate his game in a variety of areas.
“Executing his role defensively,” Mueller said. “I think he’s made great strides with his one-on-one defense. Continuing to look for him to improve in terms of his coverage execution and understanding what we’re in and whether he’s on the ball or on the screener.
“And then offensively, keep it. Keep it simple. Closeout reads, after actions, being quicker into those when he doesn’t have shot, drive, or pass against closeouts.”
More physicality
Among the buzz words in the Hornets’ vernacular this offseason: physicality.
Charlotte didn’t handle teams that push and use force to intimidate the opposition well this past season, often falling short in that department. And there’s been a real intent to shore up things physically.
So, what does that look like?
“It certainly starts in the weight room,” Mueller said. “And as a young team, you see it when we’re out there against teams with grown men. Yes, even these guys are obviously mature for their ages, there’s a pretty significant difference just in terms of frame, body weight. Because a lot of the physicality that you see is not, it’s not holding, it’s not grabbing, it’s not shoving. It’s just displacing.
“And that comes down to just pure mass and strength and leverage. So that’s a big piece of it, is the weight room, is the nutrition, is the sleep.”
In a sense, this part of the Hornets’ journey is only beginning.
“Over the course of the offseason, obviously you’re trying to do a little bit more maintenance,” Mueller said. “In season, when you’re playing so many games and traveling so much, so that’s a big piece of it. And then for us, it’s a little bit of technique in terms of when you aren’t as strong, you’re going to tend to shove.”
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Keep an eye on …
There’s usually someone who sticks out and catches the eye of the coaches, leading to staff-wide virtual high-fives. In the Hornets’ case, that appears to be Michael Ajayi.
Undrafted out of Butler, the Hornets inked the 23-year-old to a two-way contract.
Ajayi, who hovers at 6-foot-7 and weighs 228-pounds, is a massive specimen who can defend multiple positions.
“I think Mike has done a great job in terms of accepting his role offensively,” Mueller said, “and then really mastering his role defensively in terms of being so versatile.”
McNeeley also got a nod from Mueller.
“I’m excited for Liam,” Mueller said. “He’s shown a ton of growth on the offensive end in terms of his assertiveness, his shooting, his playmaking, scoring at all three levels. So, I think those two guys on each end of the floor have been really fun to watch.”
