The Charlotte Hornets have plenty to sort out after the LaMelo Ball trade, and one of the first orders of business is obvious: the roster is crowded, especially on the wing. With 21 players currently on the books, Charlotte has to make room before opening night, and Dorian Finney-Smith has emerged as one of the clearest names to watch.
NBA insider Sam Amico laid out the situation this way: “Charlotte still has some roster work to do, however. The Hornets currently have more players than they can carry into the regular season, meaning at least two moves are expected before opening night,” wrote NBA insider Sam Amico.
“One area to watch is the wing, where Charlotte currently has Brandon Miller, Royce O’Neale, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Liam McNeeley. NBA on SI identified Finney-Smith as one possible trade candidate given the logjam.”
Charlotte has already made a flurry of moves this summer. The Hornets sent LaMelo Ball to the Timberwolves, then brought in Dennis Schroder for Tre Mann and cash. They also moved Miles Bridges in a deal with the Suns that returned Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and draft considerations.
That leaves the Hornets in a spot where veteran pieces can be moved if the price is right, and Finney-Smith fits that description. The 33-year-old forward played 37 games for the Rockets last season, putting up 3.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game while shooting 33.3% from the field. The numbers aren’t flashy, but his value is in the steadiness he brings: a veteran wing who can stretch the floor and give a team some offense off the bench.
At the moment, there’s no firm read on which team might step in. But if Charlotte does shop him, the asking price probably won’t be steep.
The Lakers look like one possible landing spot, especially if old free-agency friction is no longer part of the equation. They’ve spent the summer chasing wing help, including free agents Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson, and haven’t landed a deal yet.
Finney-Smith could be the easier get.
There’s also a familiar connection in Los Angeles. The 6’7″ forward played for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024-25, so he already knows the team.
He could fit into the starting lineup if needed and give them more shooting and perimeter scoring. If the Lakers are willing to part with one of their second-round picks, he looks like a cheaper path if their bigger targets go elsewhere.
Cleveland is another team to keep in the mix. The Cavaliers have been searching for ways to add to the roster after striking out on LeBron James, and Finney-Smith would give them another wing option while taking some scoring pressure off the star backcourt. They’ve also been involved in the chase for Kuminga and Watson, so if those pursuits fall short, Finney-Smith becomes a practical fallback.
For now, the destination is still unknown. What is clear is that Finney-Smith checks the box teams always want in the modern NBA: a dependable role player who can slide into a rotation and matter right away. Whether Charlotte keeps him or moves him elsewhere, he’s the type of piece that can quietly change a team’s look next season.
In Other News...
Hornets Veterans Suddenly Caught In Charlottes Offseason Roster Squeeze
The Hornets offseason is already starting to feel crowded, and not just on the depth chart. Charlotte has 17 players under contract, which means the front office will need to trim the group before the 2026-27 season, even as the roster has been reshaped by recent additions like Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce ONeale. Those moves helped address the forward rotation, but they also tightened the squeeze for veterans trying to carve out a meaningful role.
Dennis Schrder and Pat Connaughton have naturally found themselves in the middle of that discussion because the minutes are getting harder to find and the fit is less obvious than it once was. For a team trying to balance experience, versatility and long-term flexibility, the decisions ahead may come down less to reputation than to simple roster math, and Charlotte appears headed toward a few uncomfortable choices before the next season arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Charles Lee Just Raised Expectations For Charlottes New-Look Roster
Charles Lee spent the summer talking up a Hornets roster that looks different, deeper and a little harder to define, but his belief in the group was clear. Even with LaMelo Ball gone, Charlotte added Coby White and bolstered the bench with Dennis Schrder, Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, Grant Williams and Hannes Steinbach, giving the coach reasons to think the team can be more competitive than it has been in a crowded Eastern Conference.
The bigger question is how far that confidence can carry a team still trying to prove it belongs in the playoff conversation, let alone the top six. Lees public stance has raised the temperature around a roster that now has more pieces and more balance, but the Hornets still have to turn offseason optimism into actual wins before anyone will buy the idea that they are ready to surprise the league. [Read more 🡒]