An NBA scout told Hornets Roundtable that Charlotte wanted a distributor off the bench, which Tre Mann was not and Dennis Schröder is.
The Charlotte Hornets traded Tre Mann to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Dennis Schröder and cash considerations. The swap was folded days later into a five-team trade completed Aug. 20 that sent Peyton Watson to Cleveland and Max Strus to the Clippers. Cleveland moved Mann, a 2027 second-round pick from the Clippers, and cash to the Washington Wizards for Cam Whitmore in that deal.
Charlotte spent the summer looking for a distributor to run its bench offense, an NBA scout told Hornets Roundtable. The job sits behind Coby White, who signed a three-year, $74 million contract in June to start at point guard.
"Tre Mann wasn't the type of guard that they were looking for off the bench," the scout said. "They wanted somebody who could be more of a distributor and run the offense, getting his teammates involved, as opposed to mostly go get his. Dennis Schröder is somebody that fits the mold of what they're looking for much more closely."
Across 53 games last season, Mann averaged 5.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 12.6 minutes. He started once. He shot 36% from the field and 32.3% from 3-point range. Mann did not play in Charlotte's play-in win over the Miami Heat in April and logged seven minutes in the loss to the Orlando Magic two nights later.
A back disc herniation ended his 2024-25 season early. Mann averaged 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in that stretch and shot 40% from 3-point range. Charlotte declined his qualifying offer in June 2025 and re-signed him the following month to a three-year, $24 million contract with $16 million guaranteed. He was owed $8 million in 2026-27, with a team option for 2027-28.
Schröder appeared in 70 games last season between Sacramento and Cleveland, with 17 starts. He averaged 10.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, and he shot 40.5% from the field and 32.9% from 3-point range. Cleveland acquired him from the Kings on Feb. 1, and over 30 games with the Cavaliers, he averaged 8.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while shooting 29% from 3-point range.
Two years remain on the three-year, $44.43 million contract Schröder signed in July 2025, in a sign-and-trade that moved him from Detroit to Sacramento. He is owed $14.8 million this season. His $15.5 million salary for 2027-28 is partially guaranteed for under $4.4 million and becomes fully guaranteed if he is not waived before June 29, 2027.
Schröder joins his 12th NBA team. Selected 17th overall by Atlanta in 2013, he has averaged 13.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 912 regular-season games. Hornets president of basketball operations and general manager Jeff Peterson was an Atlanta executive and Hornets coach Charles Lee was an Atlanta assistant during Schröder's first stint with the Hawks. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported in July that Charlotte had shown interest in him.
The other point guard on the roster is Christian Anderson Jr., taken 18th overall in June. Anderson averaged 18.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists as a sophomore at Texas Tech, led the Big 12 in assists, and set a school single-season record with 244. Mann was drafted 18th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2021.
Charlotte reworked the rest of the roster earlier in the summer. LaMelo Ball and Josh Green went to Minnesota in June for Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps, and three second-round picks. Miles Bridges was traded to Phoenix for Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, and a 2033 first-round pick. The Hornets also acquired Dorian Finney-Smith and three future second-round picks from the Houston Rockets. The Schröder trade left Charlotte with 17 players under contract, one above the regular-season roster limit.
The Hornets went 44-38 last season and have missed the playoffs in each of the past 10 seasons, the longest active drought in the league.
Charlotte starts the regular season on Oct. 21 against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center.
