Overview
- The Atlanta Hawks confirmed they acquired Dorian Finney‑Smith from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard and cash, a deal first reported on Sept. 22 and announced by the Hawks late that night.
- Charlotte is expected to waive Ryan Nembhard after the trade, which would free a roster spot and leave the 23‑year‑old guard available to sign elsewhere on a two‑way or minimum contract.
- The transaction produced small trade exceptions for both teams, roughly $4.5 million for Charlotte and $2.1 million for Atlanta, a common tool teams use to add flexibility before training camp.
- Finney‑Smith is owed about $14.2 million for 2026‑27 and his contract’s later seasons are non‑guaranteed, while Buddy Hield carries a roughly $9.6–9.7 million cap hit for 2026‑27 and a player option near $10.1 million for 2027‑28.
- Atlanta’s stated motivation was immediate frontcourt cover after rookie Henri Veesaar suffered a torn ACL and other bigs have injury questions, and the swap also helps the Hawks consolidate roster spots and preserve short‑term financial flexibility ahead of the season.