The Hornets refused Pat Connaughtonaccording to ESPN’s Shams Charania (Link to Twitter). The team confirmed the news (via Twitter).
For a while, Connaughton looked like the odd man out in Charlotte, as the veteran wing was the only player on a standard contract whose salary was non-guaranteed. Cutting Connaughton and several training camp invitees will put the team at the 15-man limit for the regular season.
The 41st overall pick in the 2015 draft, Connaughton spent three years in Portland to begin his NBA career before signing with Milwaukee in the 2018 offseason. The 6-foot-5 guard/forward became a regular in the rotation during his time with the Bucks, including playing a key role off the bench as Milwaukee won its first championship in 50 years in 2021.
Injuries have plagued Connaughton in recent years, and the Bucks traded multiple second-round picks to shed his salary in the 2025 offseason.
While Connaughton played sparingly in his first season in Charlotte, averaging 7.1 minutes per game in 42 appearances, he performed as a locker room leader for a young team that exceeded expectations, especially in the final two-thirds of 2025/26.
The Hornets showed their appreciation for Connaughton in February. After initially waiving him ahead of the trade deadline to accommodate other additions to the roster, Charlotte re-signed the 33-year-old to a two-year veteran’s minimum contract.
Over 11 seasons in the league, Connaughton averaged 5.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists on .438/.357/.767 shooting in 637 regular season games, including 72 starts (18.4 minutes per game).
Connaughton appeared in two preseason games for the Hornets this fall, averaging 1.0 PPG, 1.5 RPG and 2.0 APG in 10.7 MPG.