The Charlotte Hornets announced they have waived guard Nick Smith Jr., league sources confirmed to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Smith Jr., 21, averaged 9.9 points and 2.4 assists over 22.8 minutes per game last season while starting 27 of 60 contests.
Smith Jr. showed promise in his second NBA season, increasing his role from 14.3 minutes per game in 51 appearances during 2023-24 to over 22 minutes last season. His scoring improved from 5.9 to 9.9 points per contest, and he shot 37% from three-point range in his career, although his long-range accuracy dipped from .432 to .340 last season.
The move aligns with Charlotte’s strategy of creating optionality for trades and roster flexibility. NBA executives previously flagged Smith Jr. as a potential trade candidate, similar to other Hornets players with non-guaranteed contracts such as Josh Okogie and DaQuan Jeffries.
Charlotte is positioning itself to build around its 2025 draft class and core roster, including LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Brandon Miller. The team also acquired promising young players like Kon Knueppel and Ryan Kalkbrenner during the draft.
Smith Jr.’s departure leaves a roster spot open as the Hornets continue their preparations for training camp and the 2025-26 NBA season. For Smith Jr., this opens the possibility of signing with another NBA team or joining a G League affiliate, where he can continue to develop his game.
