The Charlotte Hornets have officially wrapped up their up-and-down preseason, with Hornets opening night coming against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, October 21. With four preseason games of film and data, it's already clear: the Hornets have a Ryan Kalkbrenner problem that can't be ignored — and the solution is Hannes Steinbach .
Kalkbrenner, the former second-round pick out of Creighton, exceeded expectations right out of the gate, as he started initially last season and earned rotational minutes. Even so, Kalkbrenner showed throughout the preseason he's made no noticeable improvement in any part of his game. An argument can be made that he's actually regressed. The Creighton product's stock is cratering.
Oct 16, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Liam McNeeley (33), forward Hannes Steinbach (22) and Memphis Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer (24) battle for a rebound during the fourth quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The No. 14 overall pick finally got some real action against the Memphis Grizzlies.
One of the biggest Hornets storylines heading into the final preseason matchup was Steinbach's playtime. He was having a hard time getting and staying on the floor. That changed last Friday with Moussa Diabate sidelined with an elbow injury.
Steinbach went bonkers with a double-double, posting 19 points (7-for-9 from the field, 5-for-5 on free throws), 10 rebounds, and three steals in 28 minutes. He led Charlotte in points and rebounds.
He looked great in this game, and Head Coach Charles Lee praised him:
"The thing that I love about him is just there's a consistency with his effort, his care factor, and the work that he puts in every day. Whenever you have habits like that, you're bound to have some success." — Charles Lee
Steinbach showed strong chemistry with Christian Anderson Jr. He also was very efficient, had great hands, and showed his basketball IQ off in plenty of situations.
These flashes of greatness on offense really gave Hornets fans a dose of his ceiling. He's already one of the most versatile bigs on the roster, and it's exactly why Lee will have to find time for him.
Last season, Kalkbrenner's incredible efficiency (75.3 percent from the field) and shot-blocking ability kept him on the floor. But there's a reason why Kalkbrenner was a second-round pick. He was a five-year college player with low mobility. Nowadays in the NBA, you need all five guys on the floor to be able to switch out and guard anyone to an extent.
He quickly became an afterthought in the matchup with the Grizzlies. Two turnovers and two fouls in two minutes gave the runway for Steinbach to be unleashed.
It's also nerve-racking to see a seven-foot center not be able to come down with rebounds. He doesn't have strong hands, and it has shown in the preseason as he's only averaged about three rebounds per game.
The fact of the matter is Kalkbrenner's upside has a limit. Traditional, non-shooting centers are far less valuable these days. This is especially true with the Hornets, as they want to be one of the strongest three-point shooting teams in the league.
Steinbach at least has a shot behind the arc that he can knock down. Kalkbrenner went 0-for-5 from downtown last year.
The Hornets already know exactly what Kalkbrenner is: a fringe rotational big who can adequately protect the rim. Steinbach is clearly more skilled on the offensive end and has room to grow on the defensive end.
It would've been great to see LaMelo Ball and Steinbach together in transition and maximize his ability to attack the rim. Still, Kalkbrenner hasn't progressed and can't be relied on in the second unit.
Depending on how competitive the Hornets are once the season starts, it may be more beneficial in the long run to give Steinbach all of the hands-on experience that Lee can provide. There's still a chance that Steinbach becomes a starter by the end of the season when everything is said and done.
Featured Image: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
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