Charlotte Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson made several notable moves this offseason, reshaping the roster with a mix of young talent and veteran leadership. Peterson selected four rookies in the NBA Draft, including two first-rounders, and made multiple trades to add flexibility and depth to the roster.
Among the bigger moves, Peterson traded Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for future draft capital and sent Jusuf Nurkić to the Utah Jazz for guard Collin Sexton. But one lesser-discussed trade may prove just as impactful — sending Vasilije Micić to the Milwaukee Bucks for veteran swingman Pat Connaughton.
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In a surprising roster decision, Charlotte opted to keep Connaughton on the team while waiving veteran guard Spencer Dinwiddie, signaling confidence in the former Bucks role player heading into the season.
When addressing the team before opening night, Peterson shared a candid story about Connaughton’s perseverance.
“I’ll be fully transparent with you guys,” Peterson said. “When we made the trade for Pat, I talked to him and said, ‘You’re probably not making the team.’ And I give him all the credit in the world because he showed up. He didn’t have to be here. He could’ve just stayed in Texas with his family and figured out his next move, but he’s been with you guys every step of the way, competing.”
It’s unusual for a general manager to share that level of honesty publicly, but it highlights Connaughton’s professionalism and leadership. Possessing a Hornets roster filled with plenty of young talent, Peterson and the Hornets are happy to have Connaughton around as a veteran who leads by example.