Charlotte

Hornets

McNeeley was a star in his two summer league performances last year, but he didn’t contribute much during his rookie season. However, he showcased that same shooting touch that he had in Las Vegas last summer once again. He was just 2-of-10 inside the three-point line, which is concerning, but his strength is his deep-range shot. If he’s going to crack the Hornets’ rotation this year, it’s going to be because of his shot.

Kalkbrenner was solid for the Hornets as a rookie, especially early on. He showcased more playmaking in this game than he did as a rookie, but he also did a lot of the things that he did as a rookie. Shot blocking, rebounding and interior shooting were all strengths for Kalkbrenner last season, and he should once again be in the center rotation for Charlotte this season alongside Moussa Diabate, Naz Reid and Hannes Steinbach.

Salaün entered the league as a raw prospect and didn’t contribute much through his first two seasons, which is why he is playing in summer league in year three. He didn’t dominate during his 22 minutes, but he was solid. Still, if Salaün continues to play this summer, the hope is that he shows he’s significantly better than everyone else since he has two NBA seasons under his belt. However, it’s easy to forget that Salaün is younger than quite a few players that were drafted in the first round. There is still time for him to figure things out.

It wasn’t a flawless debut for Steinbach, but he showcased why he is such a good prospect for fantasy basketball. He’s a double-double machine, and even if he isn’t the best defender, he has a knack for racking up defensive stats. He’ll compete for minutes down low during his rookie season, and there is a path for him to get the starting job and become a fantasy monster in year one.

Anderson was one of the best shooting prospects in the draft, and he’ll be fine, but it was a disappointing first summer league game for him. He missed all five of his shots from deep and didn’t do much as a facilitator. It was only one exhibition, but Anderson isn’t going to be the LaMelo Ball replacement in his first season. He’ll likely play a role off the bench as a rookie and should be better moving forward this summer.

For Houston, this move was all about creating financial flexibility. Charlotte adds a veteran forward that can still play a solid role off the bench if needed, but they also added three more second-round picks, pushing their total to 20 over the next seven years. That gives them plenty of ammo to make moves in the future, while DFS will make an impact in the locker room immediately.

A consistent presence in the Suns’ starting lineup, O’Neale averaged career-highs in points (9.8) and three-pointers (2.7) last season. The veteran wing was also responsible for 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 42.1 percent from the field and 71.1 percent from the foul line. While not a prolific scorer, O’Neale gives the Hornets a veteran 3-and-D wing the team needs, especially with Josh Green (who was not much of a three-point shooter) being included in the LaMelo Ball trade. As was the case in Phoenix, O’Neale stands to be most valuable to fantasy managers needing three-pointers and steals.

After three seasons in Phoenix, Allen is headed back to the Eastern Conference. While injuries limited him to 51 games, the veteran guard averaged a career-high 16.5 points, 3.8 assists and 3.1 three-pointers for the Suns last season. When available, Allen is one of the best three-point shooters in the league, and a solid defender as well. His addition gives the Hornets welcome perimeter depth, which is needed in the aftermath of LaMelo Ball being traded to the Timberwolves. However, availability concerns will affect where Allen is selected in most fantasy drafts.

With his draft rights acquired on the night of the 2018 NBA Draft, Bridges has spent his entire NBA career in Charlotte. He appeared in 77 games last season, averaging 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.9 three-pointers while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 82.2 percent from the foul line. His trade is the second for the Hornets in less than a week as the franchise charts a new path, with LaMelo Ball having been dealt to the Timberwolves on Wednesday. Bridges missed the entire 2022-23 season due to a (since-resolved) domestic abuse case, but has been a productive player when he’s suited up.. Bridges can provide solid fantasy value when available, but his ceiling will be capped in a lineup that features Devin Booker, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks.

Injuries limited White to 50 games last season. After a midseason trade to the Hornets, his minutes went from 29.1 per game in Chicago to 19.3 per game in Charlotte. White still averaged 15.6 points with the Hornets playing behind LaMelo Ball. With Ball now in Minnesota, White projects as a starter for the Hornets this upcoming season. He’s one of the big winners of the early offseason in terms of fantasy value.