Hornets 2026 NBA Draft grades for every pick

The Charlotte Hornets entered the 2026 NBA Draft in one of the most unusual positions in the league. Just weeks earlier, they looked like an ascending playoff team finally turning the corner under head coach Charles Lee. By the end of draft night and the days that followed, however, the franchise had completely changed direction. Gone are LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, the faces of the organization for much of the last six seasons. In their place is a younger, more flexible roster built around Brandon Miller, Naz Reid, and an abundance of future draft capital. Suddenly, Charlotte’s draft class is no longer about supplementing a playoff roster. It’s about laying the foundation for an entirely new era of Hornets basketball.

Franchise reset

The 2025-26 campaign initially felt like the beginning of something special. After stumbling to a dreadful 4-14 start, the Hornets caught fire under Lee’s guidance. Ball looked rejuvenated and healthy. Miller blossomed into one of the league’s brightest young stars. Charlotte rode a nine-game winning streak to an impressive 44-38 finish and the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Hornets even defeated the Miami Heat in an overtime thriller during the Play-In Tournament before their season ended against the Orlando Magic. For most organizations, that kind of progress would have been enough to justify running it back.

Instead, Charlotte chose a more ambitious route. Within days of the draft, the Hornets traded away both Ball and Bridges. That dramatically reshaped their roster and timeline. The moves brought back future assets and Reid. It also handed the keys of the franchise to Miller. It was a bold decision, but one that suddenly made the team’s draft strategy look far more coherent. Rather than adding complementary pieces to a playoff team, the Hornets were selecting building blocks for the future.

No. 14: Hannes Steinbach, Washington

Grade: A

There may not have been a better fit on the board for Charlotte than Hannes Steinbach. The 6-foot-10 big man is coming off a dominant collegiate season. He averaged 18.5 points and 11.8 rebounds while shooting an efficient 57.7 percent from the floor. Those numbers only begin to tell the story.

Steinbach plays with a relentless motor and embraces physicality. He possesses an advanced feel for the game as a passer and facilitator. He is not simply a traditional back-to-the-basket center. Steinbach can initiate offense from the elbows, make quick reads, and function as a connective piece in a movement-heavy system.

Before the Ball and Bridges trades, Steinbach looked like a luxury pick. Now, he looks like a foundational piece. Pairing him with Reid gives Charlotte an intriguing frontcourt tandem. More importantly, Steinbach’s rebounding and interior presence address one of the roster’s most glaring weaknesses from last season. For a rebuilding team, this was an outstanding selection.

No. 18: Christian Anderson Jr, Texas Tech

Grade: A-

The second half of Charlotte’s draft may end up being just as important. Christian Anderson Jr enters the organization at a perfect time. With Ball no longer in the picture, the Hornets suddenly need more playmaking and ball-handling than ever before.

The dynamic combo guard averaged 18.5 points and 7.4 assists while shooting better than 40 percent from beyond the arc. He is one of the best pure shooters in the class. Anderson is also an advanced pick-and-roll operator who consistently makes the right reads.

His offensive versatility is particularly appealing. Anderson can function as a lead initiator, play off another creator, or serve as an instant offense option with the second unit. The Hornets no longer have the luxury of relying on Ball to generate quality looks for everyone else. Anderson gives them another creator who can keep the offense organized and prevent too much pressure from falling onto Miller’s shoulders.

There are understandable questions, though. Pundits have doubts about his defensive upside and whether he can consistently create separation against NBA athletes. Still, the value at No. 18 is difficult to dispute.

In many ways, Anderson may prove to be one of the draft’s biggest steals.

Final verdict

Overall team grade: A

The blockbuster trades completely change the lens through which this draft should be evaluated. Steinbach is no longer simply a backup big or a complementary frontcourt piece. He projects as a long-term building block alongside Naz Reid and Brandon Miller.

Likewise, Anderson’s value skyrockets because Charlotte suddenly needs additional creators and playmakers after moving on from LaMelo Ball. Viewed through the prism of a rebuild, this draft becomes significantly more impressive.

The Hornets acquired two players who fit their new timeline and can grow together with Miller over the next several seasons. Combined with the draft capital accumulated in the Ball and Bridges deals, Charlotte has quietly positioned itself as one of the NBA’s most intriguing rebuilding teams entering the 2026-27 season. The Hornets said goodbye to an era this summer and found the cornerstones of the next one.

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