The Hornets address the real reason behind trading away both LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges

In the 2026 offseason, the Charlotte Hornets made the surprising decision to trade away two of their longest-tenured players, LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. Despite finishing the 2025-26 season on a high note, the team was determined to make ambitious moves in search of a sustainable future. The trades led Ball to join the Minnesota Timberwolves and Bridges to sign with the Phoenix Suns, both teams that had already reached the Playoffs in the previous season.

These moves were strategic choices to build a new foundation around younger players Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel. Hornets officials recognized that they needed to trade Ball and Bridges in order to focus on a more stable team, as their initial efforts to build around them had not yielded the desired results. Assistant GM Dotun Akinwale Jr. emphasized that the goal was not just to make the Playoffs or the Play-In, but to create a lasting and proud team for fans.

While the decision to let Ball and Bridges go was emotionally challenging, the Hornets are now ready to embark on a new project centered on Miller and Knueppel.