Charlotte Hornets DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

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.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (foot) will miss training camp after suffering a strained tendon in his left foot during a workout on Thursday. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks, although he remains without a return date. The 2022 No. 15 overall pick has shown promise since entering the league, most recently averaging 12.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 2023-24. Unfortunately, he was limited to only 19 games before suffering a season-ending back injury in December. Without Williams in the mix, Nick Richards, averaging 10.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 51 starts last season, will likely hold things down in the middle. With that in mind, Williams' health is always a concern. Still, he's worth taking later in fantasy drafts for those willing to stash him until he's ready to get back on the court.

Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Josh Green will likely be a starter on his new team. According to Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer, "all indications" show that Green will line up on the backcourt alongside LaMelo Ball. Green started only 62 of his 223 games with the Dallas Mavericks across the past four seasons. He has posted 9.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in his career as a member of the first unit. Going from an NBA finalist to one of the worst teams in the league isn't a career path any player will want to take. But Green looks set to play a much larger role with his new squad, giving him extra fantasy value.

According to Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer, Hornets guard LaMelo Ball isn't anticipated to be traded anytime soon. The Hornets are under new ownership, and with Ball's frequent injuries over the last few seasons, his stock can't get much lower. But the 22-year-old is as good as it gets when healthy, averaging 20.0 points, 7.4 assists, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 184 career games. As such, he'll draw attention from managers during fantasy drafts heading into the 2024-25 campaign. However, Ball's inability to remain healthy makes him a risky fantasy option.

According to Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer, impending free agent Miles Bridges isn't expected to give the Charlotte Hornets a "hometown" discount. While Bridges has stated he wants to remain in Charlotte, Boone indicated the veteran would sign with the team "who offers the most money," with the Pistons one of the likeliest suitors because of cap space. He didn't play in 2022-23. However, the 26-year-old returned for the 2023-24 campaign and averaged career-highs in points (21.0) and rebounds (7.3). Nonetheless, wherever Bridges lands this offseason, he should remain a top fantasy producer.