Coby White Open to Returning as Hornets Map Out Busy Offseason
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Guard Coby White, 26, said he is eager to negotiate a new contract with the Charlotte Hornets, echoing recent comments from head of basketball operations Jeff Peterson about bringing him back.
“I think just the basketball, how they play, how they compete, what they’re building is something I can look forward to being a part of,” White told The Charlotte Observer. The North Carolina native added that the team’s style of play “benefits” him and called his late-season stretch one of his most efficient.
The Hornets finished the regular season on a 33-15 run but still missed the playoffs for a 10th consecutive year, the NBA’s longest active drought. White said he believes Charlotte’s culture is moving in the right direction and feels his arrival was “part of God’s plan.”
Diabate Earns Hustle Award
Center Moussa Diabate, a key piece in the club’s late surge, received the NBA Hustle Award on Thursday. The French big man said the honor rewards players “who are very impactful without showing as much on the stat sheet.” Diabate called the recognition “great” but said it represents only the start of his potential.
Draft Capital and Cap Outlook
Charlotte enters the offseason holding two first-round selections in the 2026 draft, currently projected at Nos. 14 and 18 before the May 10 lottery. According to The Third Apron, re-signing White would push the Hornets over the salary cap this summer. Analyst Yossi Gozlan also expects forward Brandon Miller to ink a lucrative rookie-scale extension that would begin in the 2027-28 season.
The club owns a 0.5% chance of moving up from No. 14 to the No. 1 overall pick when lottery results are revealed.
Source: Hoops Rumors
