Yardbarker
x
Hornets Waive Josh Okogie, More Roster Moves Likely
Nell Redmond-Imagn Images

The Charlotte Hornets have waived wing Josh Okogie, clearing his non-guaranteed salary off the books ahead of a key offseason roster squeeze, according to Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer.

Okogie’s $7.7 million salary for 2025-26 would have become guaranteed had he remained on the roster past Tuesday. Charlotte had been exploring trade options for the 27-year-old but ultimately found no takers.

The two sides previously agreed to push back the guarantee deadline past June 30 in hopes of giving the front office more time to complete a deal, but that effort came up short.

The former Phoenix Suns guard appeared in 40 games this past season, averaging 7.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 15.6 minutes per contest. He was acquired by Charlotte in January, along with three second-round picks, as part of the trade that sent Nick Richards to Phoenix. In 16 games with the Hornets, including six starts, Okogie averaged 8.9 points on 46.5 percent shooting.

The Hornets are not done making decisions. Even after waiving Okogie, they still have 18 players on standard contracts and all three two-way slots filled. That means more roster moves are likely in the coming days.

Among those on the bubble: DaQuan Jeffries, who is also on a non-guaranteed deal, and Nick Smith Jr., the 2023 first-round pick who struggled to carve out consistent minutes as a rookie.

This article first appeared on Hoops Wire and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!