The Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks have discussed a potential trade centered around Dorian Finney-Smith and Buddy Hield, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
“Atlanta and Charlotte, league sources say, have engaged in on-and-off trade discussions at various points this month on trade frameworks that would feature the Hornets’ Dorian Finney-Smith and the Hawks’ Buddy Hield,” Fischer reported.
The discussions come after significant offseason changes for both teams, with the potential swap involving two experienced veterans who could fill different needs on their respective rosters.
Hield, 33, joined Atlanta after spending the 2024-25 season with the Golden State Warriors. He is in the third season of a four-year, $37.8 million contract that includes a player option for the final year.
The veteran guard has been one of the NBA’s most prolific three-point shooters throughout his career, averaging 14.5 points and 2.9 three-pointers per game while shooting 39.5% from beyond the arc over 765 career games.
However, Hield played only 51 games last season and averaged 7.6 points in 16.1 minutes per game. He shot 34.9% from three-point range, with 44 appearances coming for Golden State before finishing the season with seven games in Atlanta.
Hield’s role became limited in Atlanta as the Hawks reshaped their roster around Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The additions of Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins also gave Atlanta additional wing depth and further reduced the need for Hield’s minutes.
Finney-Smith, meanwhile, arrived in Charlotte during the offseason after the Hornets acquired him from the Houston Rockets. The veteran forward has built his reputation around perimeter defense, positional versatility and three-point shooting.
Charlotte went 44-38 last season but missed the playoffs after losing in the Play-In Tournament. The organization subsequently made major changes, trading LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns while building around Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel.
The Hornets also re-signed Coby White to a three-year, $74 million contract and added veterans including Dennis Schroder, while Finney-Smith was brought in as part of the team’s revamped frontcourt.
