By James Plowright 

September 23, 2025

With Summer League in the rearview and the dust mostly settled on free agency, it’s a natural time to step back and take stock of the Hornets’ offseason. While a few smaller moves may still come, the bulk of the roster is set.

After a strong draft — where the Hornets selected Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeely in the first round, and Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner in the second — that culminated in their first Summer League championship in franchise history, we recap free agency, trades, and the roster decisions still hanging in the balance.

Tre Mann – 3 years, $24 million (team option in Year 3)

At one point, the Mann negotiations looked shaky. By declining his qualifying offer, Charlotte gave up team control and allowed him to enter unrestricted free agency. For a brief stretch, it seemed the Hornets might lose him altogether, but the front office eventually secured him on a three-year, $24 million deal with a team option in the final season.



In my offseason preview back in May, I projected his market at $8-12 million annually. Landing him at the lower end of that range is solid business. Some analysts disagree — Bleacher Report even labeled it one of the five biggest overpays of free agency — but with Mann accounting for just 5% of Charlotte’s cap, I think the risk is minimal.

Before a back injury cut his 2024-25 season short, Mann was generating Sixth Man of the Year buzz and showing real growth. If he stays healthy, this deal has the potential to look like a steal.

Mason Plumlee – One-Year Veteran Minimum

Charlotte’s frontcourt looked paper-thin after moving Jusuf Nurkic, so the front office pivoted quickly to bring back a familiar face. Plumlee returns for a second stint after starting 129 games for the Hornets between 2021 and 2023, averaging 9.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. 

At 35, he’s clearly on the downslope of his career, but Plumlee showed last season in Phoenix that he can still contribute. He went from backup to starter ahead of Nurkic while they were both with the Suns, yet Charlotte will pay him just 18% of Nurkic’s salary. While he won’t replicate his peak production, Plumlee still offers plus passing from the center spot and enough physicality to handle opposing bigs.

Could Charlotte have chased someone like Luke Kornet, Clint Capela, or Kevon Looney? Sure — but those options would have required multi-year commitments that eat into future flexibility. As veteran-minimum signings go, Plumlee is a smart, low-risk addition.

Spencer Dinwiddie – One-Year Minimum

This one raised eyebrows, but Dinwiddie joins as an overqualified third-string point guard behind Tre Mann, and it’s not clear why he signed so early with a non-playoff team. Maybe his relationship with President of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson — dating back to Brooklyn — played a role.

Regardless, adding a steady veteran to back up the often-injured LaMelo Ball is a prudent move. At 6 ‘6”, Dinwiddie has size, defensive chops, and playmaking ability. His shooting has always been hit or miss, but compared to the recent revolving door of Malachi Flynn, Vasilije Micic, Ish Smith, and Brad Wanamaker, he’s a massive upgrade.

Upcoming Roster Decisions

After waiving DaQuan Jeffries’ non-guaranteed deal and eventually signing DJ Rodman, Charlotte’s roster now sits at the offseason limit of 21 players. That breaks down to 17 guaranteed contracts, three two-way deals, and one Exhibit 10 signing.

There’s no urgency to trim the roster immediately, as teams can carry 21 players through training camp and preseason, but by October 20, Charlotte must cut down to 15 guaranteed contracts. That means two established players will not make the final roster.

Rodman is expected to be waived, allowing the Hornets to retain his G League rights in Greensboro — the primary purpose of the signing. Charlotte will likely repeat this process with other Exhibit 10 players (up to six), effectively stocking the Swarm roster.

The Hornets might sell the idea of a “training camp battle” for the final roster spots, but the reality is Pat Connaughton and Nick Smith Jr. are the most likely cuts. Both carry negative trade value, and unless Charlotte finds a consolidation trade, they won’t make the team. If the Hornets do open up an extra roster spot via trade, Smith would have the better chance of staying. 

The list of realistic trade candidates is short once you exclude recent draft picks and this summer’s signings. That leaves Josh Green, Miles Bridges, and Grant Williams. A Bridges trade looks unlikely given his role and contract size. Williams is still recovering from a serious knee injury and is not expected to return until 2026. That leaves Green, who is also rehabbing from shoulder surgery and is expected to miss the start of the season.

It’s hard to see much of a trade market forming for this group. Still, Charlotte’s decision to hold off on cuts suggests they’re waiting to see if opportunities arise. With Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency still unresolved, a late wave of league-wide movement could create openings for deals.

The Mark Williams Trade Tree

Ever since the Lakers backed out of a proposed deadline deal, Mark Williams’ future in Charlotte felt uncertain. That chapter closed on draft night, when the Hornets shipped him to Oklahoma City for Micic, the 29th pick, and a protected 2029 first-rounder. With the pick, Charlotte landed Liam McNeeley, a sharpshooting wing Jeff Peterson admitted was ranked much higher on their internal board. The 2029 first — projected to land in the 20s — adds to a growing stockpile of four future first-rounders. Peterson has already hinted those assets could eventually be packaged in a star trade: “There’s going to be a time that we cash in. We take all of our chips, assets, whatever, and we’re gonna go get that guy.”

Micic never suited up for Charlotte, as the team quickly rerouted him to Milwaukee for Pat Connaughton and two second-round picks. Connaughton isn’t expected to stick long-term, but converting a waived candidate into additional draft capital was a savvy move, especially given Milwaukee’s uncertain outlook. When the dust settled, the Hornets had essentially turned Williams into McNeely, a future first, and two second-rounders. It may not match the Lakers’ reported offer, but given Williams’ injuries, defensive inconsistencies, and looming payday, Charlotte appears to have landed strong value — particularly with McNeely showing early flashes in Summer League.

Jusuf Nurkic for Collin Sexton + 2030 Second-Round Pick

Nurkic only landed in Charlotte in February — a byproduct of Phoenix’s midseason salary dump. Rather than let him linger as a placeholder, the Hornets flipped him for positive value, receiving Collin Sexton and a 2030 second-round pick from Utah.

Sexton steps straight into the competition at shooting guard, a spot he held for Utah over the past two seasons. For Charlotte, he brings a dimension the roster has badly missed: a downhill attacker who can pressure the rim, finish through contact, and consistently get to the free-throw line. His relentless drives present defenses with a new challenge compared with LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel, all of whom excel at scoring from beyond the three-point line.

Around the league, there was genuine surprise that Charlotte not only landed Sexton but also added a draft asset in the deal. Many executives view Sexton as the far better player compared to Nurkic, and with both on nearly identical expiring contracts, the Hornets clearly came out ahead.

Looking ahead, Sexton is extension-eligible at any point this season. But with Charlotte prioritizing financial flexibility and asset accumulation, it seems more likely he’ll be dangled at the trade deadline — either as a rental piece for a contender or as another path to future draft capital.

Here’s a look at the current Depth Chart

PG: LaMelo Ball, Tre Mann, Spencer Dinwiddie, KJ Simpson (TW)
SG: Kon Knueppel, Collin Sexton, Sion James, Nick Smith Jr*, Antonio Reeves (TW)
SF: Brandon Miller, Josh Green, Liam McNeeley, Pat Connaughton*, Drew Peterson (TW)
PF: Miles Bridges, Grant Williams, Tidjane Salaun
C: Mason Plumlee, Moussa Diabate, Ryan Kalkbrenner

(* = unlikely to make final roster)

Charlotte has clearly addressed past shortcomings in playmaking and bolstered their guard and wing depth to better withstand a LaMelo Ball injury. But the frontcourt is, frankly, a mess. With Grant Williams sidelined until early 2026, the Hornets lack size, experience, and high-end talent inside. 

Jeff Peterson has preached patience from the start, and this season will test that message more than ever. Wins and losses won’t be the measure, but progress must be visible, and key questions need answers. Is Charles Lee the coach to unlock this roster? Is LaMelo Ball still the franchise cornerstone? How sharp will Brandon Miller look after his wrist injury? Was Kon Knueppel the right choice at four? Can Tidjane Salaun take the leap they need? And will Moussa Diabate or Ryan Kalkbrenner prove themselves as starting-caliber centers? The uncertainty is overwhelming, but soon the picture will begin to take shape.

Hornets media day will take place on Monday, September 29, and the preseason will kick off against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 5 at North Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, South Carolina.

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