Overview
- The Hornets announced on Friday, October 16, 2026, that they waived 11-year veteran Pat Connaughton after he occupied the lone non-guaranteed standard contract on their roster.
- Charlotte’s move reduces its count to 15 players on standard contracts, meeting the NBA limit ahead of the 2026-27 regular season.
- Connaughton played sparingly for the Hornets in 2025-26, appearing in 42 games and averaging 7.1 minutes, while teammates and local coverage credited him with veteran leadership in the locker room.
- The waiver places Connaughton on a 48-hour claim window during which any NBA team can assume his contract; if unclaimed he will become an unrestricted free agent.
- This roster decision reflects a common preseason practice of cutting the lone non-guaranteed salary to reach the league’s roster cap and free up certainty for the team’s rotation and injury planning.