The Charlotte Hornets could opt to cut an NBA veteran wing player after trading for Dennis Schroder.
The Charlotte Hornets have had a very busy offseason. Entering the 2026-27 NBA season, they're going to look a lot different.
Obviously, the most notable move of the offseason thus far for the Hornets was the trade that sent star point guard LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Josh Green was traded to Minnesota along with Ball, while the Hornets received Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three pick swaps, and second-round picks in 2029, 2032, and 2033.
Miles Bridges was another trade Charlotte made this offseason. He was shipped to the Phoenix Suns along with a 2029 first-round pick in exchange for Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, and an unprotected 2033 first-round pick.
Most recently, the Hornets pulled off a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers to acquire veteran point guard Dennis Schroder.
Following the trade for Schroder, Charlotte has decisions to make. The team will need to clear some roster space, as it is over the NBA roster limit. One player makes sense as a possible cut candidate.
According to NBA analyst Jake Weinbach, veteran wing Pat Connaughton could be the odd man out for the Hornets.
"The Hornets are currently above the roster limit with 17 players under contract," Weinbach wrote.
"Pat Connaughton is a likely waive candidate with a non-guaranteed contract, but additional moves are still expected to come from Charlotte ahead of next season."
Connaughton is coming off of a 2025-26 NBA season in Charlotte that saw him play in 42 games. He averaged 2.6 points and 1.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 44.7 percent from the floor and 40.4 percent from three-point range.
At the end of the day, the upcoming season likely won't see a consistent role for Connaughton. Schroder, on the other hand, is expected to become an immediate rotation player for the Hornets.
While no official reporting has been made about Connaughton being a cut candidate, the suggestion makes a lot of sense. The Hornets are hoping to push back into playoff contention in the Eastern Conference and Schroder will help them towards that goal.
Expect to hear more in the near future about Charlotte's roster plans. Another trade could be on the horizon, or the Hornets could simply opt to release a couple of players to make room for all of their new additions.
