Hornets Waive Spencer Dinwiddie, Trust Tre Mann

Facing a 16-player roster and the NBA’s 15-standard-contract limit, the Hornets will waive Spencer Dinwiddie, per Shams Charania. The move frees a necessary spot but matters because it thins Charlotte’s veteran backup point-guard depth; with LaMelo Ball’s injury history, the team is effectively voting for internal options over a proven backup. Pat Connaughton’s $9.4M expiring contract was a likely cut on paper, but the Hornets kept him for trade flexibility and shooting upside. Merlin sees this as a careful bit of roster sorcery: Charlotte traded immediate insurance for midseason maneuverability. Waiving Dinwiddie (11.0 points, 4.4 assists in 79 games last year) hands more responsibility to Tre Mann and preserves Connaughton as a tradable asset — a gamble that could either expose the Hornets if Ball misses time or pay off with bigger roster moves later.