Hornets Release DaQuan Jeffries from Contract
The Charlotte Hornets have made a significant move in the off-season, signing veteran guard Spencer Dinwiddie to a one-year deal. This addition comes as the team looks to shake off nine consecutive years of playoff absences, a situation first-year general manager Jeff Peterson has expressed a strong desire to change.
Dinwiddie, 32, is entering his 12th NBA season and will provide Charlotte with another reliable option in the crowded backcourt. Last season with the Dallas Mavericks, he played 79 games and 30 starts, averaging 11 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 27 minutes per contest.
Meanwhile, the Hornets will continue to rely on star point guard LaMelo Ball, who has been a constant presence in the team's backcourt. Ball's consistency, however, has been questionable in recent years, with him playing more than 60 games only once in the past five seasons.
The absence of Ball was painfully evident last season when Charlotte went 2-24 without him and finished with a dismal 19-63 record, missing the playoffs yet again. The team's returning guards include Tre Mann, Collin Sexton, and Nick Smith Jr., who will aim to fill the void left by Ball's absence.
One guard who won't be returning is DaQuan Jeffries. The Hornets waived Jeffries to save cap space and reduce their training camp roster to 20 players. Jeffries, who was traded by the New York Knicks to the Charlotte Hornets last October, appeared in a career-high 47 games, including 20 starts, with the Hornets last season. He averaged career bests of 6.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 22.8 minutes per contest.
Jeffries' departure means that his $2.74 million salary for the 2025-26 season, which would have been fully guaranteed if he remained on the roster through Jan. 10, is no longer a factor.
With the roster now set, the Hornets will open their 2025-26 season against the Brooklyn Nets on Oct. 22. The team will be hoping that the addition of Dinwiddie, along with the continued development of Ball and the rest of the backcourt, will be the catalyst for a playoff push this season.
