Hornets Maintain Patient Approach During 2025 Offseason
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Charlotte, NC – The Charlotte Hornets continued their deliberate rebuild over the 2025 offseason, opting for draft capital and short-term commitments instead of splashy free-agent deals.
Key Signings
Tre Mann re-signed for three years and $24 million, with a team option in Year 3 and protection tied to previous back issues. Veterans Spencer Dinwiddie and Mason Plumlee accepted one-year minimum contracts. The club also handed nine Exhibit 10 deals to fringe prospects, including Terrell Brown, Marcus Garrett, and DJ Rodman.
Trade Activity
President of basketball operations Jeff Peterson executed three trades:
- Sent Jusuf Nurkic to Utah for Collin Sexton and the more favorable of the Jazz or Clippers’ 2030 second-round pick.
- Moved center Mark Williams and a 2029 second to Phoenix, bringing back guard Vasilije Micic, No. 29 pick Liam McNeeley, and the least favorable of Minnesota, Cleveland, or Utah’s 2029 first-round selections (top-five protected on the Wolves’ pick).
- Flipped Micic to Milwaukee for Pat Connaughton and the Bucks’ 2031 and 2032 second-rounders.
Draft Haul
Charlotte controlled four of the top 34 picks and signed each player:
- No. 4: Kon Knueppel, four-year rookie-scale deal worth $45.49 million.
- No. 29: Liam McNeeley, four years, $14.19 million.
- No. 33: Sion James, four years, $9.97 million (two guaranteed, third non-guaranteed, fourth-year option).
- No. 34: Ryan Kalkbrenner, identical terms to James.
The Hornets also filled two-way slots with Drew Peterson and Antonio Reeves, joining holdover KJ Simpson.
Roster Moves and Departures
Charlotte waived DaQuan Jeffries, Josh Okogie, and two-way guard Damion Baugh. Free agents Seth Curry, Taj Gibson, and Wendell Moore Jr. remain unsigned.
Cap Snapshot
The club is operating above the $154.6 million cap at roughly $171.5 million in salary, still below the $187.9 million luxury-tax threshold and hard-capped at $195.945 million.
What’s Next
With 16 guaranteed contracts plus non-guaranteed big man Moussa Diabaté angling for a spot, Charlotte must clear two roster positions before Opening Night. Pat Connaughton and 2023 first-round pick Nick Smith Jr. appear most vulnerable unless the front office finds a trade partner.
Source: Hoops Rumors
