Charlotte Hornets DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Josh Green (Achilles) is considered questionable to play on Wednesday against Houston. He's been nursing an Achilles injury for a couple of weeks, landing on the injury report ahead of the season opener. Green is penciled in to start at the small forward position for the Hornets this season. His absence would open the door for Cody Martin to jump into the starting lineup. When healthy, Martin can be a productive player. He has averaged 8.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals as a starter for his career.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (foot) has resumed on-court activities. Unfortunately, he remains without a return date, with the Hornets planning to provide an update "when appropriate." The 2022 No. 15 overall pick appeared in only 19 games last season. Unfortunately, he strained a tendon in his foot nearly a month ago while working his way back and has been on the shelf since. With that in mind, Nick Richards, who averaged 10.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 51 starts during the 2023-24 campaign, is more than capable of holding things down underneath the rim until Williams can return.

Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Cody Martin (wrist) missed a fourth consecutive preseason game on Tuesday against the Knicks. He hurt his right wrist before the start of preseason, and while Martin was initially considered day-to-day, he still hasn't shaken off the injury. Entering training camp, Martin also had an ankle problem. It looks like 2024-25 could be another injury-plagued campaign for Martin, who's managed to suit up for only 35 games across the previous two seasons. Before running into injuries, Martin was on an upward trajectory. Now, there are question marks regarding his role on the team, and Martin might even struggle to average 20 minutes of action this season, which will negatively impact his fantasy value.

Charlotte Hornets forward Mark Williams (foot) is no longer in a walking boot. The 2022 No. 15 overall pick suffered a strained tendon in his left foot during a workout and missed training camp. He will continue to rehab and will be re-evaluated before the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign. Williams was nearly a double-double producer last season. However, he appeared in only 19 games before a season-ending back injury put him on the shelf. While Williams has talent, his inability to stay healthy will continue to compromise his fantasy stock moving ahead. With that in mind, Nick Richards, averaging 10.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 51 starts last season, will hold things down in the middle until Williams can get back on the floor.

Charlotte Hornets shooting guard DaQuan Jeffries (hand) has been diagnosed with a fractured right fifth metacarpal and looks set to miss an extended period. A more specific timeline for his return hasn't been announced. Jeffries suffered the injury in Tuesday's preseason game against Miami. The 27-year-old joined the Hornets as a result of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade at the start of the month. He rarely played with the Knicks last season, but Charlotte has given him a decent look in preseason. However, the hand injury has cut Jeffries' preseason short.