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Hornets Nightly Desk · transactions · Friday, October 16

Pat Connaughton Leaves Hornets Roster After Being Waived

Charlotte Hornets→Off the roster
Pat Connaughton
Pat Connaughton
G · 33 · 11 seasons · 2.6 ppg 2025-26
The move
Leaves the Hornets
official roster · Oct 16, 2026
2026-27 cap hit
$3.82M
1 season on the books through 2026-27
Hornets payroll
$170.6M
over the cap · cap $165.0M · tax $200.4M
Roster
18 players
standard limit 15 + 3 two-way
By the Hornets Nightly Desk · 5 d ago

Pat Connaughton is off the Hornets' roster as of Friday, Oct. 16. The move follows a report from Shams Charania that Charlotte waived the 33-year-old guard, carrying 71% confidence.

The move

Connaughton, a 33-year-old guard in his 11th season, is no longer on the Hornets' roster as of Friday, Oct. 16. The change followed a report from Shams Charania on the same day saying Charlotte waived him, a report carrying 71% confidence. No new destination has been announced for him. With his departure, Charlotte's roster stands at 20 players, including two-way deals.

The money

Connaughton was on the books for 2026-27 at $3.8 million, the only contract year on file. The Hornets carry a payroll of $170.6 million across 18 contracts for 2026-27, over the $165.0 million salary cap but under the $200.4 million luxury tax line. Charlotte has room before the $209.0 million first apron and the $221.7 million second apron. No updated contract figures are on file following the roster move.

The fit

Connaughton averaged 7.1 minutes, 2.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.4 assists over 42 games last season. Charlotte's backcourt and wing rotation already runs through Kon Knueppel (31.5 minutes, 18.5 points), Miles Bridges (31.0, 17.1), Brandon Miller (30.3, 20.2), LaMelo Ball (28.0, 20.1) and Collin Sexton (22.3, 14.2), with Sion James also at 22.5 minutes. The Hornets now carry 20 players, against a standard limit of 15 plus three two-way spots.

Is Pat Connaughton still on the Hornets' roster?

No. He is not on Charlotte's roster as of Friday, Oct. 16.

Why did Connaughton leave the roster?

A report from Shams Charania on Oct. 16 said the Hornets waived him, carrying 71% confidence.

What is Connaughton's contract situation?

His only contract year on file is 2026-27 at $3.8 million. No updated figures are available after the move.

Where does Connaughton play next?

Not announced.

By the Hornets Nightly Desk, from the data on this page, rewritten when the data changes. How the desks work.
The report that came first · Fri, Oct 16
Shams Charania · confidence 71% · confirmed by the roster
2026-27$3.82M

Hornets rotation

tracker →
Kon Knueppel31.5 min · 18.5 pts
Brandon Miller30.3 min · 20.2 pts
Grayson Allen28.8 min · 16.5 pts
Royce O'Neale28.4 min · 9.8 pts
Naz Reid26.1 min · 13.6 pts
Moussa Diabate26.0 min · 7.9 pts

Moves are detected from the official rosters, so the mechanism (trade, signing, waiver claim, two-way conversion) comes from the linked report when there is one. Salary figures are cap hits from public salary data.