The Hornets waived Ryan Nembhard four days after acquiring him from Atlanta as Charlotte continues clearing its crowded roster before training camp.
The Charlotte Hornets announced Saturday night that they have waived guard Ryan Nembhard. Charlotte got him from the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday.
Charlotte had been expected to release him from the start. ESPN's Shams Charania reported Sept. 22 that the Hornets planned to waive Nembhard as part of the trade that sent forward Dorian Finney-Smith to Atlanta for Nembhard, Buddy Hield, and cash. Both teams announced the deal that night.
Earlier Saturday, Charania reported that Charlotte is trading Hield and cash to the Chicago Bulls for guard Rob Dillingham. Hield is owed $9.7 million this season and holds a $10.1 million player option for 2027-28. Dillingham is owed $6.9 million, with an $8.8 million team option for the following season.
Nembhard Is First Cut From Crowded Hornets Roster
San Antonio drafted Dillingham eighth overall in 2024 and traded his rights to Minnesota. He spent a season and a half with the Timberwolves before the Ayo Dosunmu trade sent him to Chicago at the 2026 deadline. In 30 games with the Bulls, he averaged 9.6 points and 2.8 assists.
Once the Atlanta trade went through, Charlotte had 18 players on standard contracts, three more than it can carry in the regular season. Dillingham takes Hield's spot in the Chicago deal, so Nembhard is the first of the three to go.
Coby White is expected to start at point guard after Charlotte traded LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves this offseason. Dennis Schröder and rookie Christian Anderson Jr. are also on the roster at the position.
Nembhard Had Productive Rookie Season in Dallas
Nembhard's salary for 2026-27 is $2,150,917, according to Spotrac. The Dallas Mavericks exercised that team option June 29, 20 days before trading him.
Dallas signed Nembhard to a two-way contract July 3, 2025, after he went undrafted out of Gonzaga. He appeared in 60 games as a rookie, including 27 starts, and averaged 6.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 19.5 minutes. He shot 41.5% from the field and 35.6% from 3-point range.
Nembhard had 28 points and 10 assists without a turnover Dec. 1, when Dallas beat the Denver Nuggets 131-121 on the road. He went 12-of-14 from the field and 4-of-5 from 3-point range.
The Mavericks announced March 2 that they had signed him to a multi-year standard contract. In that release, the team said the Denver game made him the first undrafted rookie in NBA history to record at least 25 points and 10 assists with zero turnovers.
Nembhard Moved Through Atlanta Before Charlotte
On July 19, Dallas sent Nembhard to Atlanta in a three-team trade that brought Zaccharie Risacher, the first overall pick in 2024, to the Mavericks. Atlanta also received Luguentz Dort from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nembhard did not play a game for the Hawks.
Finney-Smith had been in Charlotte only since July 6, when the Houston Rockets sent him to the Hornets with three second-round picks. He has three seasons left on a four-year, $52.7 million contract, including a player option for 2028-29.
Nuggets Among Teams Interested in Nembhard
If Nembhard clears waivers, he is expected to have multiple suitors on a two-way contract. Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported that the Nuggets are among the teams interested.
Charlotte holds media day Monday at 11 a.m. ET. Training camp opens Tuesday at The Citadel's McAlister Field House in Charleston, S.C., and runs through Oct. 2. The Hornets open the preseason Oct. 6 against the Brooklyn Nets at Spectrum Center, with tip-off at 7 p.m. ET.
