Charlotte Hornets prepare for pivotal 2025 NBA offseason

The Charlotte Hornets enter another critical offseason focused on rebuilding their roster and nurturing team culture. Coach Charles Lee remains optimistic about the team's progress, citing a clearer vision for the future and plans for the 'Core Four' of LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller, and Mark Williams to lead offseason development.

The Hornets retained the fourth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, missing out on Cooper Flagg but setting their sights on prospects like Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper. Key decisions loom regarding the futures of Tre Mann and Jusuf Nurkic, as well as how to handle Mark Williams after trade talks and injury setbacks. Player health and cohesion, highlighted by LaMelo Ball's recovery timetable and Tidjane Salaün's continued growth, underscore the Hornets' hopes for ending their long playoff drought.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball looks for a call during action against the Dallas Mavericks at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC on Monday, January 20, 2025. By JEFF SINER

NO. 1: AFTER SUCCESSFUL SURGERIES, WHAT DOES RECOVERY TIMELINE LOOK LIKE FOR HORNETS’ LAMELO BALL?

Charlotte’s star point guard has appeared in just 231 games throughout his four-plus seasons in the NBA. | Published April 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Roderick Boone

Apr 4, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA;Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams (2) and head coach Charles Lee watch the offense during the second half against the Sacramento Kings at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

NO. 2: ARE GOOD TIMES ON THE HORIZON FOR THE CHARLOTTE HORNETS? ‘I THINK THE CITY FEELS IT’

The franchise is in the midst of NBA’s longest current playoff drought, which has swelled to nine years. | Published April 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Roderick Boone

Apr 11, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee looks on during the first half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

NO. 3: DESPITE LOSSES, HAS CHARLES LEE WON HORNETS OVER IN FIRST SEASON AS CHARLOTTE’S COACH?

The 40-year-old’s season at the end of bench has been an educational experience, with three-fifths of the Hornets’ starting lineup missing significant action in 2024-25. | Published April 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Roderick Boone

Apr 13, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Jusuf Nurkic (11) shoots during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

NO. 4: THE OFFSEASON IS HERE FOR THE HORNETS. SEVERAL ‘BIG’ DECISIONS AWAIT CHARLOTTE’S BRASS

Jusuf Nurkic’s future is among them and the Bosnian told The Observer what his hope is for 2025-26 and beyond. | Published April 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Roderick Boone

Injured Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller, left, sits behind center Mark Williams, right, during the team’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC on Monday, January 27, 2025. The Lakers defeated the Hornets 112-107. By JEFF SINER

NO. 5: IS CHARLOTTE HORNETS’ ‘CORE FOUR’ GOOD ENOUGH TO END NBA PLAYOFF DROUGHT?

Future of LaMelo Ball, Mark Williams, Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller playing together headlines offseason plan for Hornets president Jeff Peterson. | Published April 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Roderick Boone

Nov 6, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (23) during pregame warm ups against the Detroit Pistons at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

NO. 6: HORNETS MAILBAG: WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH TRE MANN’S FUTURE IN CHARLOTTE?

In this latest mailbag, we answer reader queries about status of the Hornets reserve guard, Mark Williams’ situation Cooper Flagg, Charles Lee and more. | Published April 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Roderick Boone

Mar 3, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Tidjane Salaun (31) during pregame warm ups against the Golden State Warriors at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

NO. 7: ‘GOOD MOMENTS’ AND ‘NOT-SO-GOOD MOMENTS’: IS IT TOO EARLY TO JUDGE HORNETS’ TIDJANE SALAüN?

The Frenchman’s rookie season mirrored the dips, twists and turns of Carowinds’ Fury 365. | Published April 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Roderick Boone

May 12, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, US; A draft prospect during the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery at McCormick Place. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

NO. 8: CHARLOTTE HORNETS SECURE FOURTH PICK IN 2025 NBA DRAFT AFTER DALLAS WINS LOTTERY

The Hornets made the top four of the NBA Draft Lottery but fell short of the No. 1 spot. | Published May 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Roderick Boone

May 12, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, US; A person watches the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery at McCormick Place. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

NO. 9: ‘IT LOOKED LIKE WE HAD IT’: HOW HORNETS’ STREAK OF BAD NBA DRAFT LOTTERY LUCK CONTINUES

Despite coming off one of the franchise’s worst seasons since entering the league in 1988, Charlotte couldn’t secure chance to draft Duke’s Cooper Flagg. | Published May 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Roderick Boone

Duke’s Kon Knueppel (7) celebrates with Cooper Flagg (2) after Flagg scored at the end of the first half of Duke’s game against Arizona in the Sweet 16 round of the 2025 Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Thursday, March 27, 2025. By Ethan Hyman

NO. 10: NOT FLAGG? 5 POTENTIAL NON-COOPER NBA DRAFT LOTTERY PICKS FOR THE CHARLOTTE HORNETS

Cooper Flagg officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft on Monday, and a host of top prospects are expected to land behind him as Charlotte projects to make its first-round pick in the lottery. | Published April 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Shane Connuck

Apr 13, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee reacts during the first half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

NO. 11: WHY CHARLES LEE BELIEVES HORNETS ARE ‘IN A MUCH BETTER SPOT’ FOR 2025-26 SEASON

Charlotte Hornets coach Charles Lee gave updates on the health of star guard LaMelo Ball and soon-to-be restricted free agent Tre Mann while looking toward the offseason. | Published May 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Roderick Boone

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.