​The Charlotte Hornets underwent a bold change this offseason that will require a significant adjustment regarding how they play in 2026-27 and beyond. On June 25, they traded LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps, and three second-round picks. Hours later, the news broke that Coby White intended to re-sign with Charlotte on a three-year, $74 million contract.Charlotte replaced its franchise cornerstone with a void in the backcourt that White can help fill. The Hornets are trusting that he has further room for growth alongside Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, and Reid to help turn the Hornets into a consistent playoff team.The Hornets’ choice followed a 2025-26 season that started 4-14 but then won nine straight in Jan-Feb, ending 44-38 — their first winning season since 2021-22. They participated in the Play-In Tournament, beat Miami for their first playoff win since 2016, and finished second in the NBA’s net rating after the All-Star break.President Jeff Peterson emphasizes the need to develop a sustainable team around Miller and Knueppel, rather than solely focusing on making the play-in. The trade involving Ball increased flexibility by adding draft picks, signing Reid, and creating a $40.7 million traded-player exception. White could become the main ball-handler.After acquiring White from Chicago before the trade deadline, the Hornets evaluated his role in their system. In 21 games, he averaged 19.3 minutes, scoring 15.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, with shooting percentages of 46.1% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range. The team achieved a record of 15-6.White had the highest usage rate on the team at 31.6%, slightly surpassing Ball’s 30.6%, and achieved a +10.9 net rating compared to Ball’s +9.1. As a pick-and-roll ball-handler, White generated 0.992 points per possession, ranking in the 82nd percentile leaguewide. That topped Ball’s 0.877 points per possession (60th percentile) and Collin Sexton’s 0.869 mark (58th percentile) before Charlotte acquired White.His versatility stood out, ranking in the 71st percentile in transition, 85th in spot-up situations, and an impressive 99th when off screens, giving Charlotte a wide range of offensive options. Moreover, he showed strong playmaking ability with a 27.5% assist rate, second only to Ball among Hornets’ regulars.White’s next challenge is to sustain efficiency despite a growing workload.White has demonstrated his capacity to perform a leading offensive role. During the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons with Chicago, he averaged 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. In 153 games, his shooting percentages were 45.0% from the field, 37.3% from three-point range, and 87.3% on free throws.Charlotte’s new roster offers plenty of firepower for White to produce at peak levels.Reid’s ability to space the floor as a stretch big opens up more space for White when attacking off the dribbl