The Hornets spent the summer trying to solve a very specific problem: finding a guard who could organize the second unit instead of just hunting his own shot. According to an NBA scout who spoke to Hornets Roundtable, Dennis Schröder checks that box in a way Tre Mann did not.
Charlotte sent Mann to the Washington Wizards and brought back Schröder and cash considerations from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a five-team deal completed Aug. 20. That move was later folded into the larger trade that sent Peyton Watson to Cleveland and Max Strus to the Clippers five days later.
"Tre Mann wasn't the type of guard that they were looking for off the bench," the scout said. "They wanted somebody who could be more of a distributor and run the offense, getting his teammates involved, as opposed to mostly go get his. Dennis Schröder is somebody that fits the mold of what they're looking for much more closely."
The fit makes sense when you look at how Charlotte wants to use that reserve role. Coby White is locked in as the starter after signing a three-year, $74 million contract in June, so the bench job was there for a guard who could steer the offense when White sits.
Mann never really settled into that role last season. In 53 games, he averaged 5.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 12.6 minutes, starting once.
He hit 36% from the field and 32.3% from 3-point range. He also didn’t appear in Charlotte’s play-in win over the Miami Heat in April and played just seven minutes in the loss to the Orlando Magic two nights later.
His season ended early because of a back disc herniation. Before that, Mann had been producing more efficiently, averaging 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 40% from deep in that stretch.
Charlotte declined his qualifying offer in June 2025, then re-signed him the next month on a three-year, $24 million deal with $16 million guaranteed. He was due $8 million in 2026-27, with a team option for 2027-28.
Schröder brings a different resume. He played 70 games last season with Sacramento and Cleveland, starting 17 times and posting 10.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 40.5% overall and 32.9% from 3-point range. After Cleveland got him from the Kings on Feb. 1, he averaged 8.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists over 30 games with the Cavaliers, though his 3-point shooting dipped to 29%.
He is also under contract for the next two seasons. Schröder’s three-year, $44.43 million deal, signed in July 2025 in a sign-and-trade from Detroit to Sacramento, still has two years left. He is owed $14,809,200 this season, and his $15,514,400 salary for 2027-28 is partially guaranteed at $4.35 million before becoming fully guaranteed if he is not waived before June 29, 2027.
The move sends Schröder to his 12th NBA team. The 17th overall pick in 2013 by Atlanta has averaged 13.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists across 912 regular-season games.
Charlotte’s front office already had familiarity with him: president of basketball operations and general manager Jeff Peterson was an Atlanta executive, and coach Charles Lee was an Atlanta assistant during Schröder’s first run with the Hawks. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported in July that Charlotte had interest in him.
Charlotte’s point-guard picture now also includes Christian Anderson Jr., the 18th overall pick in June. Anderson averaged 18.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists as a sophomore at Texas Tech, led the Big 12 in assists and set a school single-season record with 244. Mann, meanwhile, was drafted 18th overall by Oklahoma City in 2021.
The Hornets have been busy reshaping the roster around that backcourt plan. LaMelo Ball and Josh Green were sent to Minnesota in June for Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps and three second-round picks.
Miles Bridges was moved to Phoenix for Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and a 2033 first-round pick, and Charlotte also added Dorian Finney-Smith plus three future second-round picks from Houston. After the Schröder trade, the Hornets had 17 players under contract, one over the regular-season limit.
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