Who Will the Charlotte Hornets Waive Before Opening Night?
The Charlotte Hornets are a few weeks away from tipping off their preseason, with their first game set for October 5th against the Oklahoma City Thunder in North Charleston, South Carolina. As exciting as that sounds, the team has a bit of a problem to solve before the regular season begins. NBA rules only allow for 15 full-time roster spots and three two-way contracts once the season tips off. At the moment, Charlotte has 21 players on their roster, which means three guys are going to lose their spots. It’s not the most fun part of the preseason, but these decisions are always a reality in the NBA.
When you start looking at the roster, it’s pretty clear who isn’t going anywhere. LaMelo Ball is the face of the franchise, Brandon Miller is coming off an impressive short sophomore season, and Miles Bridges is a big part of the team’s core. The Hornets also made firm commitments this summer, re-signing Tre Mann, trading for Collin Sexton, and bringing in reliable veterans like Mason Plumlee and Spencer Dinwiddie. On top of that, the team invested in four rookies, Kon Knueppel, Liam McNeeley, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Sion James, all on full-time deals. These guys, plus returners like Grant Williams, Josh Green, Moussa Diabate, and Tidjane Salaun, make up the majority of the roster, leaving only a few spots really up for grabs.
That brings us to the tricky part: figuring out who the odd men out might be. With most roles already locked in, it feels like the Hornets’ front office will have to choose between a few players for the last few available spots. Pat Connaughton and Josh Green are both proven veterans, but it doesn’t seem likely that Charlotte will keep them both with minutes so tight on the wing. Then you have DaQuan Jeffries, who’s bounced around the league and faces a tough battle for a spot in such a crowded guard rotation. Finally, there’s Nick Smith Jr., the 2023 first-round pick, who hasn’t had a real chance to carve out a role and may find himself left out by all the new additions.
If you’re connecting the dots, the likeliest scenario is that the Hornets move forward with Grant Williams, Salaun, and one of either Connaughton or Green, while letting go of the one who doesn’t make the cut. Jeffries seems like a clear candidate to be waived, and Smith Jr.’s situation is tricky. While his youth and upside are appealing, the reality is that Charlotte might not have the patience to let him develop. It’s the kind of decision that could spark some debate among fans, especially if Smith ends up thriving elsewhere down the line. That’s always the gamble with young players on the edge of a roster. At the same time, the Hornets are trying to build a team that can compete now, which means they’ll prioritize experience and fit.
No matter what happens, the final decisions will give us a glimpse into how this front office is viewing the season ahead. Are they leaning fully into player development, or are they trying to surround LaMelo and Miller with as many proven veterans as possible? Those answers will become a little clearer once the roster is cut down to the required 15. For now, all fans can do is watch training camp and preseason closely, since strong performances could swing the outcome for the guys on the bubble. It’s never easy to see players go, but these are the kinds of choices that shape a team’s identity heading into the grind of an NBA season. With such an intriguing mix of youth and veterans, the Hornets’ roster moves this fall will be worth keeping a close eye on.
