The Charlotte Hornets have waived former NBA champion and 11-year veteran Pat Connaughton, according to the team. Connaughton spent the 2025-26 season with the Hornets after being acquired in an offseason trade with the Milwaukee Bucks. The trade marked a reunion for the former Notre Dame forward, as he was reunited with his former assistant coach in Milwaukee, Charles Lee. While Connaughton played sparingly (42 appearances, averaging 7.1 minutes per game), his veteran presence in Charlotte's locker room helped them make a 25-win leap from the 2024-25 season.

The move comes after the Hornets had been dealing with a roster crunch all offseason. Connaughton's contract proved the easiest to move, as he was the only player rostered that wasn't on a guaranteed deal. Now, Charlotte has 15 players on standard contracts ahead of the 2026-27 season.