One of the Charlotte Hornets' toughest decisions this summer is looming, as they have to let go of some players to meet the league's maximum standard roster requirement of 15. Unless a major trade happens between now and the opening of the regular season, Pat Connaughton looks likely to be among those who will be cut.
Upon looking at the roster, we can deduce that the most plausible goners are going to be Connaughton, Nick Smith Jr., and DaQuan Jeffries.
The Hornets will enter the regular season with LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Kon Knueppel, Collin Sexton, Grant Williams, Moussa Diabate, and Tre Mann presumably part of the regular rotation. Josh Green, Spencer Dinwiddie, Tidjane Salaun, and Mason Plumlee should also compete for a prominent spot in the depth chart. Liam McNeeley, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Sion James could battle for minutes, and Charlotte will surely hold onto the rookies by the time the organization needs to resolve its roster crunch.
So, the 15-man roster already appears to be set, leaving the trio mentioned earlier as the odd men out.
It's a bit regretful that Smith Jr. probably won't get the chance to prove himself anymore, although Charlotte's late first-round pick in 2023 did have two years to showcase his talent. With his efficiency failing to improve and the Hornets owning two similarly built players in Sexton and Mann, he may have worn out his welcome in CLT. As for Jeffries, his contract for the 2025-26 campaign isn't guaranteed, so letting him go is kind of a no-brainer.
Hornets could have had a big use for Connaughton
While bidding Smith Jr. and Jeffries farewell might not be that hard, the same cannot be said about Connaughton. Some might argue that the veteran has not even played a single minute for the Hornets, so releasing him should be a cinch. That may be true, but he could have been a helpful asset for the team.
Connaughton's value to Charlotte likely wouldn't have been what he could do on the floor, as he hasn't exactly been a productive player in the past seasons. It's worth noting that he hasn't shot above 34.5 percent from 3-point area since 2022. Also, injuries limited him to 41 appearances last season, although he did put up a career-high 43 points in April, proving that he can still contribute in the scoring department when needed.
The 32-year-old swingman's leadership could also be beneficial for a rebuilding club, especially since he also carries a championship pedigree. Interestingly, he and Charles Lee were both members of the Milwaukee Bucks' title-winning squad in 2021, with Connaughton playing a key role off the bench during the championship run and Lee serving as an assistant coach under Mike Budenholzer.
In addition, he could be an intriguing trade chip later in the 2025-26 season, as some contenders will likely seek depth reinforcement in anticipation of a deep playoff run. The Hornets have already secured two second-round draft selections alongside Connaughton in their trade with the Bucks this summer and could likely use him to acquire more draft capital in the months to come. However, their lack of roster space could sadly throw that option out the window.