The reality in any league is that some teams are a lot more talented and loaded than others. This means teams at the lower end of the talent pool are at a great disadvantage not only in actual games but also in fantasy. The likely lottery-bound Charlotte Hornets are Exhibit A as they have two young cornerstones in LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller and nothing much after them.
Having said that, this edition of the NBA Roster Insider series proved a lot trickier than our picks for the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics.
Your Main Man: LaMelo Ball
Ball’s dream start to the 2024–25 NBA Season may have tapered off somewhat, but he is still the Hornets’ undisputed leading man. This means he’ll have the ball in his hands 70–80% of the time, giving him plenty of opportunities to put up big offensive numbers.
He is doing a lot of that already, putting up 29.4 points and 6.2 assists. Add Ball’s 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals and you’re guaranteed a high level of production pretty much every game. Of note, Ball for his career is a better rebounder and passer than his 2024-25 averages indicate, as he is usually good for 6.2 boards and 7.4 dimes.
In other words, Ball can give you a lot more production at any given time.
Surefire Studs: Brandon Miller, Grant Williams
Miller hasn’t quite the leap in his second season, as his numbers this season—17.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.7 blocks—are mostly identical with his rookie norms.
Even so, stretches of superb play—like a recent three-game swing where Miller averaged 23.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists—hint at a better player capable of greater production.
Williams, on the other hand, is on this list largely because the Hornets simply lack talent. Meaning, his inclusion here is more of an indictment of the Charlotte roster than anything. In fairness to Williams, he can actually give you something—9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals.
Low Cost, High-Value Picks: Cody Martin, Moussa Diabate
Again, these picks are more a referendum on the Hornets’ lack of talent, though you’d still get some production out of these role players. Martin, in particular, is a solid low-cost pick who will give you 9.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists—plus the occasional steal here and there.
Diabate is a project and is mostly hit or miss at this point. But he is proving to be a good rebounder nonetheless in the minutes he has earned. His 6.2 rebounds in 14.2 minutes translate to nearly a rebound per minute, and it will only go up the more he plays.
