What waiving Pat Connaughton means for the Hornets goes beyond one roster spot. The Hornets waived Connaughton yesterday, before their final preseason game.
Days before the cut, Jake Fischer reported that Charlotte preferred to keep the veteran , a move that would have put Tidjane Salaun 's roster spot at risk. The Hornets ultimately chose a different path, waiving Connaughton and keeping their younger options.
Charlotte had to trim its roster from 16 players on standard contracts to the league's 15-man limit. Rather than move on from one of its younger players, the front office decided to part ways with Connaughton.
That decision keeps Salaun, the No. 6 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, despite his modest production so far. It also gives Liam McNeeley , another player Fischer identified as potentially vulnerable, a chance to prove himself.
Both players still have things left to prove. The Hornets nevertheless chose to continue developing those two youngsters over a veteran whose contributions were likely to remain limited.
Charlotte Hornets guard Pat Connaughton (21) talks with a coach during pregame warm-ups against the Brooklyn Nets at Spectrum Center. Photo Credit: Jim Dedmon, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
However, Connaughton offered more than his on-court production. He averaged 2.6 points in roughly seven minutes per game last season, while Fischer highlighted his locker-room presence and relationship with Kon Knueppel.
Those qualities gave Charlotte a reason to keep him, but the front office finally decided to move forward without him. Retaining Salaun and McNeeley gives the team more time to assess two young players whose roles could grow if they develop as hoped.
The decision makes sense for a team still working out what it has in its young talent. Connaughton could offer experience and stability, but Charlotte has chosen to see whether Salaun and McNeeley can become more useful contributors over time.
Keeping Salaun and McNeeley does not guarantee a long-term role for either. Both still need to show they can contribute consistently at the NBA level.
Salaun averages 5.9 points and 4.4 rebounds on 38.5 percent shooting across 97 regular-season games. His preseason performances have offered a mixed picture.
Against Brooklyn, Salaun managed six points on 2-of-7 shooting and committed three turnovers in 28 minutes. Then versus Boston, he responded with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including four three-pointers, in 22 minutes. His performance against the Celtics showed what he can offer when his shot is falling. Overall this preseason, he contributed 9.0 points and 3.5 rebounds with shooting splits of 40/33.3/71.4 in 23 minutes per game over four appearances, though he also turned the ball over 2.2 times a game.
McNeeley faces a similar challenge. Staying on the roster gives him another opportunity to establish himself, but he must turn that opportunity into meaningful contributions.
McNeeley shot the ball well from deep during the preseason, averaging 9.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.2 steals over four games. Eight of his 11 field goals were three-pointers (2.0 a game), and he compiled shooting splits of 36.7/40/70.
Waiving Connaughton was a choice between keeping a veteran valued for his experience and giving two younger players more time to develop. Charlotte chose the latter.
That decision could pay off if Salaun and McNeeley become dependable rotation players. If their progress stalls, the Hornets may eventually have to reconsider how much patience they can afford.
For now, both players have a chance to make their case on the court. What they do with it will determine whether Charlotte made the right call.
Did the Hornets make the right decision by keeping Salaun and McNeeley over Connaughton? Drop your take in the comments.
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Photo Credit: Scott Kinser, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
