The Charlotte Mercury covers the Hornets with a focus on the front office, the business decisions, and what it all means for Charlotte. Not just the box score — the story behind the story.
League
NBA
Arena
Spectrum Center
Ownership
Schnall / Plotkin Group
Status
44-38 · Eliminated · Pick 14
What We Cover
Trade deadline analysis and front-office strategy. The ownership transition under Schnall and Plotkin and what it means for the franchise's direction. Draft positioning and prospect evaluation — Charlotte holds Pick 14 in the May 12 lottery. The LaMelo Ball question. Arena deals, salary cap mechanics, and the business of running Charlotte's NBA team. Game coverage when it matters — the Hornets beat Miami 127-126 in overtime in the play-in opener (LaMelo Ball 30 and 10), then ran into a 35-point first-half hole at Orlando in the elimination game. Kon Knueppel set the franchise three-point record at 261, passing Kemba Walker. The 10-year playoff drought extends.
Why It Matters
Charlotte has had an NBA team since 1988, lost it, got it back, and spent the better part of a decade in the lottery. The 2025-26 season was different — a 44-38 finish after starting 4-14, a nine-game winning streak (the franchise's longest since 1997-98), and a play-in win over Miami at Spectrum Center on April 14, 127-126 in overtime, LaMelo Ball with 30 and 10 and the go-ahead layup in the closing seconds. Three days later in Orlando, the Magic ran out to a 35-point first-half lead and ended Charlotte's season 121-90. The 10-year playoff drought extends. Charlotte holds the No. 14 lottery pick — 0.5% odds at No. 1, 2.4% at top-four — with the lottery on May 12. The Mercury has been here for the whole arc.
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