Jeff Peterson’s latest move gave the Charlotte Hornets a clearer look in the backcourt, but the roster still isn’t finished.
On Friday, Peterson dealt Tre Mann to the Cleveland Cavaliers for veteran point guard Dennis Schröder, a swap that finally gives Charlotte a backup behind Coby White. The trade is not the kind of move that will light up the fan base, but it does serve a purpose: add experience, steady the guard rotation and keep rookie Anderson from being rushed into major minutes too soon.
Peterson still has more trimming to do before the season opens, with two more players needing to be moved. For now, though, Schröder’s arrival helps settle one of the biggest questions on the depth chart.
There are still a few names that feel like they could be on the move. Connaughton stands out as the surprise holdover, especially since he is the only non-Duke product still on the roster. It seemed likely he would be gone before the end of June, and he could still be one of the two players Peterson eventually ships out.
On the wing, Charlotte suddenly has more options than it can probably keep. The group is led by Knueppel and Allen, who look like a strong pairing, while Sion James should benefit from a smaller role, especially on offense.
Beyond that, Dorian Finney-Smith looks like the most logical trade candidate, since O'Neale fits best as the backup for Brandon Miller and McNeeley still feels too early to move on from. It may not be a case of all three having to go, but this is one area where the Hornets can cut down the numbers and still feel good about what remains.
The point guard spot is the clearest part of the roster picture right now. The bigger question is what happens with Salaün. He needs to take a step forward and show he can be a dependable bench option, but it is far from certain that the minutes will be there for him.
Another spot worth watching is the frontcourt. Diabaté looks like the most obvious choice to start, though Steinbach is still in the conversation and could win that job in camp. That would be a tough outcome for Diabaté to beat out, but it is still possible.
There is still work left for Peterson, but after the Schröder trade, the Hornets’ depth chart is starting to come into focus.
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Charles Lee Sends Clear Message On Hornets' Risky Reset
Charles Lee has spent the early part of Charlottes offseason making it clear the Hornets are not interested in a half-step reset. The head coach has watched the front office reshape the roster through trades and the draft, adding prospects like Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson Jr. while moving on from LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. What remains is a younger nucleus built around Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller, with the organization signaling that development and a cleaner long-term direction are the priority.
Lees message fits a summer that has already brought a lot of change and should bring more scrutiny, because Charlotte still needs stability to match the ambition behind the rebuild. The Hornets also added veteran guard Dennis Schroder to give the backcourt a steadier presence behind the lead options, a move that adds experience without altering the bigger picture. How all of those pieces fit together will be one of the more important questions around the team once the roster starts taking shape on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Veteran Logjam Could Force A Tough Offseason Cut
Charlottes offseason shuffle has left the Hornets with a crowded back end of the roster after the trades that brought in Naz Reid and draft capital from Minnesota and added Dennis Schrder from Cleveland in the deal for Tre Mann. The front office has clearly been busy reshaping the group around a new direction, but the transaction pace has also created a numbers problem that still needs to be cleaned up before the roster can settle.
With the Hornets carrying 17 players under contract, another move is coming, and the choice of who goes will be one of the more delicate parts of the summer. Pat Connaughton has emerged as the likeliest name to be squeezed out as Charlotte works to get its roster in order, a reminder that even after the headline-grabbing moves, the final touches of an offseason can be just as revealing. [Read more 🡒]