With a crowded backcourt, the Charlotte Hornets eventually had to make a move that would clear some space.
Michael Scotto reported that third year guard Nick Smith Jr., was waived Thursday afternoon by the Hornets after an offseason attempting to figure out who was the odd man out.
Prior to the waiving, Charlotte rostered 12 guards (some who can play on the wing), and only three big men. After the Hornets re-signed Tre Mann it essentially priced out Smith, who was looking to build on a career season.
With training camp set to begin on September 29th for most teams, it gives Smith ample amount of time to find a new home.
For Charlotte, its backcourt is still pretty crowded even without Smith.
Players like Mann, LaMelo Ball, Pat Connaughton, Kon Knueppel, Liam McNeeley, Josh Green, Collin Sexton, and Miles Bridges are all pretty much locked in, but there are other options on the roster that their status is still uncertain.
Spencer Dinwiddie, fresh off an 11.0 point per game season with the Dallas Mavericks signed a one-year contract with the Hornets.
But it’s a confusing fit for the 11-year veteran, who’s likely going to want minutes on a roster loaded with guards.
McNeeley may be an odd man out, due to being a late first-rounder, as well as second rounder Sion James, but for the rest, it’s hard to see where he fits on this team.
Perhaps he’s just banking on history repeating itself? Ball hasn’t played 50 or more games since his second season, and has a proven history of getting injured. Not only that, either Ball or Bridges can be propped as intriguing trade pieces leading up to the trade deadline.
Dinwiddie can also be a really interesting trade piece, especially with a team like the Houston Rockets.
Houston just lost Fred VanVleet to a torn ACL just after signing a two-year extension this offseason and will likely need a veteran guard to fill in.
VanVleet was coming off his lowest scoring season since 2018-19, ironically the same season he became a playoff hero for the Toronto Raptors.
Either way, the Rockets will likely need a double digit scorer who can make the occasional 3, and play a reliable game.
The Hornets already shed Smith’s contract but that move should only be the beginning for Charlotte before it kicks off training camp on the 29th.