The Hornets traded Finney-Smith for Buddy Hield and Nemhardt.

The Charlotte Hornets officially announced today that they have completed a player trade, acquiring guard Buddy Hield, point guard Ryan Nembhardt, and some cash from the Atlanta Hawks, while sending forward Dorian Finley-Smith to the Hawks.

Hield, who has played 10 seasons in the NBA, is one of the league's top outside shooters. Throughout his career, he has played for the New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, and Atlanta Hawks, appearing in 765 regular season games. He averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, maintaining a 39.5% three-point shooting percentage.

In addition, Hield has played all 82 games in four seasons and made more than 250 three-pointers in five seasons. His arrival will significantly improve the Hornets' outside shooting space.

Young guard Nemuhardt went undrafted in the 2025 NBA draft. Last season, he played for the Dallas Mavericks, where his excellent playmaking earned him a multi-year standard contract instead of a two-way contract. In his rookie season, he averaged 6.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 19.5 minutes per game, showcasing his potential as a playmaker.

Finney-Smith, who was traded, is a veteran forward acquired by the Hornets from the Houston Rockets in early July. He has played 628 games in the league, averaging 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

With this trade completed, the Hornets' preseason roster now stands at 21. The team is scheduled to begin training camp in Charleston, South Carolina on September 29.

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