Hornets trade acquisition listed among league's best breakout candidates
Entering his first season with the Charlotte Hornets, Naz Reid could be a breakout candidate in a new role as a full-time starter.
Ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, The Ringer has named one member of the Charlotte Hornets as a breakout candidate. Naz Reid, who was recently acquired in a trade, is the standout player on the list. In return for LaMelo Ball, the Hornets received Reid, a former Sixth Man of the Year Award winner. With this move, Reid will have the opportunity to start a full season for the first time in his career.
Over the past seven seasons, Reid has only played 77 starts, only three of which were last year. Now, he will be a key part of the Hornets' frontcourt, where his defensive abilities and 3-point shooting could be crucial. "Reid could potentially unlock five-out lineups in which every player on the floor can dribble, pass, and shoot at a high level—every team's dream for the past decade," remarked Anthony Chau.
Though centers Hannes Steinbach and Ryan Kalkbrenner will also see minutes, using Reid as the Hornets' primary big man will allow them to spread the floor with their outstanding shooting. Listeners can find more NBA content on the BasketBaltes podcast and Instagram account.
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