LaMelo Ball was the driving force behind a Charlotte offense that ranked fifth in the NBA last season, so how do the Hornets intend to replace him after trading him to Minnesota over the summer? Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports considers that question, writing that the effort will be a collective one, with the club not asking one specific player to replicate what Ball did.

Coby White projects to be Charlotte’s starting point guard, and while he’s not the play-maker that Ball is, he’s a talented shot-maker who puts more pressure on the rim than LaMelo, O’Connor notes.

The Hornets will also be counting on wings Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel to take a step forward in 2026/27. As O’Connor details, Miller has battled health issues during his first three NBA seasons and has has struggled to create his own shot, ranking 61st out of 66 players (minimum 100 possessions) in isolation scoring efficiency last season. Improving in that area will be crucial for Miller with Ball no longer around to get him open looks.

O’Connor also observes that the acquisition of floor-stretching big man Naz Reid in the Ball trade will change the “geometry” of the Hornets’ lineups, allowing the team to run out five-man units made up entirely of shooters.

We have more from around the Southeast:

• Charlotte acquired Ryan Nembhard from Atlanta in a trade earlier this week, but reporting in the wake of that deal suggested the second-year guard might be waived. While the Heat could use another ball-handler in their backcourt, Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel (subscription required) is somewhat skeptical that the 5’11” Nembhard would appeal to a Miami front office that generally tries to avoid undersized players.
• The Heat could benefit from the fact that the NBA recently bumped its salary cap projection for 2027/28 from $174MM to $176MM, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, who details how that extra cap flexibility might help the club re-sign guard Davion Mitchell next summer while also using most or all of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to add another rotation player.
• New Osceola Magic head coach Ronnie Burrell, who was named the NBA G League’s Coach of the Year in 2023 with the Long Island Nets, said on Wednesday that he sought a return to the NBAGL this season after spending the last three years as an NBA assistant coach, per Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. Burrell told reporters that he’s coming back to the G League as a “better version” of himself and is excited to “put to use” some of what he has learned in the past three seasons. “I love it. It fits me,” Burrell said of coaching in the G League. “It’s the most fulfilling thing I’ve done as a coach. So, I’m happy to be back and (I’m) very grateful.”