Many were probably expecting the Charlotte Hornets to spend at least the next few months with Spencer Dinwiddie on the roster. However, that did not turn out to be the case, as the team has opted to waive him less than a week before the regular season begins. And all things considered, it made the right decision.
It's easy to concur with the argument that the Hornets should have held onto Dinwiddie, even if the move to sign him earlier in the offseason was a tad confusing. Aside from his history with Jeff Peterson, he was expected to provide the franchise with a steady playmaker and a veteran leader in the locker room.
However, as time passed, the idea that the 32-year-old point guard was just not the right man for the job in Charlotte. He failed to impress in his rare appearance in the preseason, and his historically inefficient scoring and inconsistent playmaking were perhaps too difficult to ignore.
Hornets will benefit from Spencer Dinwiddie's exit
Only time will tell if Buzz City ends up regretting parting ways with Dinwiddie. For all we know, he could find a new team in need of help at the point guard position and show his value by reinventing his game. Still, Charlotte stands to gain from the loss of Dinwiddie through addition by subtraction.
Without the coaching staff being forced to look for minutes for the vet, it could shift its focus to developing KJ Simpson instead. The second-year pro turned a lot of heads during the Hornets' championship run in Summer League in Las Vegas, although his preseason performance has not been up to par. Even so, Charlotte has to provide him with the opportunity to continue progressing because of his potential to be a high-motor, two-way floor general.
Another reason the squad needed to let Dinwiddie go was to reserve its final roster spot for Pat Connaughton. While the 32-year-old swingman has arguably been the Hornets' worst performer in preseason, his value lies more in his being a beloved presence in the locker room and on the sidelines. Furthermore, Connaughton is easier to plug into the rotation when needed because of the club's surplus of guards and smaller wings.
It's also worth noting that he might hold a higher trade value than Dinwiddie later in the season because of the possible demand for a big wing with a championship pedigree. His 2025-26 salary of $9.4 million could also prove to be useful in matching salaries in trades once the market opens.