Hornets sign Jaylen Sims

Sep 26, 2025 11:29 PM

The Charlotte Hornets have added a familiar face to their preseason roster, announcing the signing of free agent guard Jaylen Sims.

The move comes shortly after the team waived Nick Smith Jr. on Thursday, leaving an open slot on its 21-man training camp roster.

Although the terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed, the deal is almost certainly an Exhibit 10 contract.

Sims has developed a pattern with Charlotte in this regard, having signed similar one-year, non-guaranteed deals with the Hornets in each of the past three offseasons: September 2022, 2023, and 2024.

A Charlotte native and product of UNC Wilmington, Sims went undrafted in 2022 but has steadily worked to carve out a professional career.

The 6’6″ guard has spent the bulk of his first three seasons with the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets’ G League affiliate, while continuing to earn opportunities with the parent club.

Last April, Sims finally broke through for his first taste of NBA action. Signed to a 10-day contract, he appeared in six games for Charlotte, averaging 7.0 points and 2.0 assists in 18.7 minutes per contest.

Prior to that call-up, he put together his most productive G League season to date, averaging 19.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 32.9 minutes across 49 games.

He also shot the ball efficiently, finishing with percentages of .441 from the field, .375 from three-point range, and .837 from the free-throw line.

Sims’ upward trajectory continued this past summer when he played a pivotal role in Charlotte’s Summer League championship run in Las Vegas.

Over six games, he contributed 14.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while posting an impressive .551/.438/.800 shooting line.

While technically eligible to have his Exhibit 10 contract converted into a two-way deal before the regular season, Sims’ more likely path will mirror past years.

If waived by the Hornets, he would return to the Swarm for another season, where he’d be eligible for an Exhibit 10 bonus worth up to $85,300 in addition to his standard G League salary, provided he spends at least 60 days with Greensboro.