Hornets May Not Have 2 Key Rotational Players To Start Season While All 4 Of 2025 Draft Picks To Have Chance To Earn Regular Playing Time

Lee told Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer that Williams and Green will miss the start of training camp. Lee added that both players are progressing, though Williams is closer to returning among the two. However, there is no timetable for either to return.

Williams has been on the mend since tearing his ACL in December. It would be a surprise if Williams weren’t able to return by November. Meanwhile, Green had surgery in June to address instability in his left shoulder.

Williams is a valuable member of the Hornets’ second unit and has played well during his time with the team. In 45 games over the last year-and-a-half, the 6-6 power forward has produced 12.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while shooting 48.4/37.9/78.7. He has also totaled two double-doubles.

Green was also a valuable member of the Hornets last year, but the 24-year-old hasn’t grown in his five years in the league. Green started 67 of 68 games and is a good shooter and an athletic, versatile defender. But the 6-5 guard doesn’t really do anything to impact the game if he isn’t getting to the hoop.  Still, he figures to be part of the Hornets’ rotation once healthy, though his standing on the team is a little more tenuous than Williams, who projects to be the team’s sixth or seventh man.

How Will The Hornets Replace Williams and Green

If Williams isn’t ready to go, Tidjane Saluan figures to be Miles Bridges’ primary backup at power forward. Salaun, the surprise No. 6 pick in 2024, struggled offensively his entire rookie season. But the 20-year-old did increase his production after the All-Star break. He also continued his improvement during the summer league, averaging 14.0 points on 10 shots a game and 5.7 rebounds.

It would be a surprise that Green is active at the start of the season, given the news. Therefore, Sexton and Tre Mann should see increased playing time. Dinwiddie, if he is still on the team, and perhaps Liam McNealey could be in line to see extended time.

Sexton projects to be the first guard off the bench. If Green is indeed sidelined, Mann projects to see increased playing time on the second unit. However, it is conceivable that he would beat out Green anyway.

Speaking of McNealey, the No. 29 overall pick, along with his fellow draft mates, will see playing time during the preseason, Lee told Boone.  McNealey was a surprise first-round pick after struggling with shooting the ball in his first year at UConn, but he quelled any concern in his short stint during Vegas’ summer league. The 19-year-old forward produced one double-double and averaged 18.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. He knocked down 6 of 14 shots from deep and compiled splits of 40.7/42.9/88.9.

Hornets Rookies

It is still unknown what McNealey’s role will be at the start of the season. Unless he really impresses during training camp, McNealey is unlikely to see much time with the Hornets. It is more likely he starts the season in Greensboro.

Knueppel, who got a huge taste of NBA life in the summer league, is expected to start at small forward for the Hornets. Knueppel was named MVP as he helped the Hornets to the NBA Summer League title, averaging 15.6 points along with 4.8 boards. 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals.

Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner are the Hornets’ other rookies. James is a versatile guard who is known as a lockdown defender. However, the 22-year-old still has a big learning curve, especially on the offensive end.

Besides Knueppel, Kalkbrenner is the most likely rookie to see significant minutes. The 23-year-old big man, who earned the 2025 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award for best collegiate center, is one of three centers on the squad. He averaged 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks with splits of 56.4/28.6/70.6. He was extremely efficient offensively and demonstrated himself to be a quality rim protector.