After being acquired midseason, Tre Mann’s time with the Hornets was disrupted by a back injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the year. But head coach Charles Lee is hopeful the former Thunder guard will return – and remain in Charlotte long-term.
Mann is set to hit restricted free agency this summer, but his value to the Hornets appears to go beyond just his on-court skill.
“Tre, he’s a phenomenal player, even better teammate and person,” Lee said. “When you don’t have a guy who can fill it up on the board, can guard, who’s competitive, can make life easier for Melo, and Miles, and Brandon, and Mark or whoever is out there on the court – he’s just such a great talent.”
Despite limited time on the floor, Mann impressed coaches with his basketball IQ and leadership off the court.
“To just have him around on the court, vocally or at practice or teaching guys – because he does have such a high basketball IQ… he brings so much value,” Lee added. “It’ll be nice to have him back in the mix hopefully next year.”
Charlotte will have the option to match any offer Mann receives in free agency. Given Lee’s endorsement, the Hornets may prioritize keeping him in the fold.
Hornets' Charles Lee 'Excited' About Offseason https://t.co/AXAfytrYmk pic.twitter.com/psvugppSVI
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) May 20, 2025
