Ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, The Ringer released a shortlist of breakout candidates. This list included one member of the Charlotte Hornets, recent trade acquisition Naz Reid. Along with draft capital, Reid was the main piece that came to Charlotte in return for former All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball. Reid, a former Sixth Man of the Year Award winner, will now be able to test himself as a full-time starter for the first time in his career.
In 483 games over seven seasons, Reid has made only 77 starts, and just three last year. Now in a much bigger role, Reid's mix of defense and 3-point shooting could be precisely what the Hornets needed in their frontcourt. “Reid could potentially unlock five-out lineups in which every player on the floor can dribble, pass, and shoot at a high level—every team’s dream for the past decade,” wrote Anthony Chau.
Although centers like Hannes Steinbach and Ryan Kalkbrenner are certain to have minutes in Charlotte's rotation, using lineups with Reid as the Hornets' only big man will allow Charlotte to do what they do best: spread the floor with lights-out shooting.
For more NBA content, tune in to the BasketBaltes podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/@BasketBaltes/videos
https://www.instagram.com/basketbaltes/
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Hornets trade acquisition listed among league's best breakout candidates
Leave a Comment