Is Hornets GM Jeff Peterson Loading Up For a Power Move?

By all accounts, Jeff Peterson is getting a bit greedy with this free agency feast the Hornets have laid out, and for once, that’s exactly what Charlotte needs. If we put it on paper, the Hornets are firing on all cylinders in assembling the pieces required to finally get this team moving forward.

The most glaring issues within the organization? Defense and a lack of veteran leadership. And frankly, you could argue that the latter is even more important.

The first night of the 2025 NBA Draft night started with a whimper. But as the draft continued, Peterson and his front office began to pivot, bringing in more mature, polished talent. It wasn’t a slam dunk, but the moves started to tilt things in a positive direction.

On the eve of free agency, Peterson dropped a surprise. The Hornets had traded for veteran two-guard Collin Sexton. It was the first domino in what would become a string of savvy, culture-forward decisions. While some fans scratched their heads over the trade that sent away Jusuf Nurkic, the Hornets front office quickly countered with a sneaky-good rebound, re-signing former Hornet Mason Plumlee.

These first two moves did more than just plug holes. They strategically layered veteran leadership with personal chemistry. Sexton, a former Alabama standout, now shares a backcourt with fellow Crimson Tide product Brandon Miller, the Hornets’ young star-in-the-making. And Plumlee, a Duke alum, can provide mentorship and cohesion for former Blue Devils like Kon Knueppel and Sion James.

Is it a bit of a stretch to credit the front office with orchestrating these college-to-pro pipelines intentionally? Maybe. But intentional or not, there’s undeniable value in familiarity. These moves create an internal ecosystem where younger players can learn from vets who speak their same basketball language. That kind of locker room synergy matters.

Still, Peterson wasn’t done.

As fans were catching their breath from Day One, the Hornets added another piece in Pat Connaughton. A seasoned, gritty guard with playoff reps under his belt, Connaughton brings the kind of floor-spacing, perimeter defense, and locker-room toughness that playoff hopefuls need. And just when you thought the Hornets might be finished, they doubled down on internal continuity by re-signing Tre Mann, who is another young, skilled guard with real upside.

Peterson’s final move, at least for now, was signing Spencer Dinwiddie, a proven veteran who can complement LaMelo Ball and offer backup point guard duties without a drop in playmaking. More importantly, Dinwiddie provides something LaMelo has lacked since entering the league, which is a mentor. Someone who’s been there. Someone who's achieved consistent success in this league, someone who can guide a still-developing superstar.

Something tells me Peterson isn’t done yet. But if the Hornets decided to stop right here, he’s already given the roster a shot of life that few would’ve seen coming, especially given the franchise’s recent history of mediocrity and missteps.

Charlotte’s not just buzzing, but they’re believing. And this offseason, finally, feels like one worth getting excited about. We'll see if the Hornets lay low going out of the Summer.