The Charlotte Hornets enter the offseason with momentum and optimism, but also some very real questions. One scenario no one in the organization wants to imagine, but must at least acknowledge, is the possibility of Coby White signing elsewhere in free agency.
In the ideal version of this summer, White is locked into purple and teal for years to come. But the NBA rarely follows the script. White has played himself into a position where multiple teams will make him a priority, and Charlotte can’t assume anything.
Coby White and the Hornets want to run it back
Both White and Jeff Peterson have made it clear they want this partnership to continue. When White sat down with Rod Boone last week, he spoke glowingly about his experience in Charlotte:
“If I would've never came, I wouldn't know how great the people were here. I never would've knew how the organization is ran. I never would've knew how the players are prioritized.”
White has been refreshingly open about how much he’s enjoyed his time in the Queen City. He’s become a fan favorite, embraced his role, and established himself as a legitimate impact player. If he stays healthy and productive, he’ll be a real contender for Sixth Man of the Year in 2027.
Still, dynamic scoring guards with real playmaking juice don’t hit the market often. Plenty of teams will line up for him. Charlotte can’t afford to lose him.
The Hornets may have no choice but to draft a guard before free agency
Should negotiations fall apart, the Hornets need to have a backup plan. Free agents start negotiations after the draft, so Charlotte needs a contingency plan. The 2026 class is loaded with guard talent, and Peterson has already shown interest in that group.
In Sam Vecenie’s recent mock draft for The Athletic, Charlotte selects Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson Jr. Vecenie writes:
“If you made me choose the best shooter in this class, it would be Anderson. He hit 41.5 percent of his eight 3-point attempts per game and is an absurd shot maker at the point guard position. He can make them going to his right or to his left, hits them off the catch after movement or off pull-ups by creating space. He’s also a terrific passer out of ball screens, averaging 7.4 assists per game.”
That projection assumes White returns. If he doesn’t, the Hornets will be even thinner in the backcourt.
Anderson’s elite shooting and passing would fit seamlessly into Charles Lee’s uptempo system. He profiles as the type of secondary creator Charlotte would desperately need on the floor when LaMelo Ball sits—especially if White isn’t there to stabilize the second unit.
Charlotte has leverage, but there's also pressure
The Hornets enter the summer with more flexibility than most teams. They hold White’s full Bird rights, allowing them to exceed the cap to re‑sign him. The priority is obvious: keep White, maintain continuity, and build on a successful season.
But Peterson also has to prepare for the worst‑case scenario. If White ends up not re-signing, Charlotte needs a Plan B. The Hornets would suddenly be staring at a roster imbalance, and the free agency pursuit for another quality guard would start.
Charlotte has the juice this offseason. They just need to make sure they don’t have to use it reacting to a crisis. For the sake of Hornets fans everywhere, Coby simply has to stay in Charlotte.