Former Milwaukee Bucks champion Pat Connaughton is back with the Hornets. The veteran guard signed a rest-of-season contract days after being waived to clear roster room ahead of the trade deadline. While Connaughton is no longer the rotation mainstay he was in Milwaukee, he is still a positive presence and “vibes guy,” a valuable piece on an up-and-coming Play-in contender in Charlotte. Riding a nine-game win streak, the Hornets are 25-28 and have captured the 10-seed in the East.
Hornets bring back Connaughton for veteran vibes amid Play-in push
Connaughton has only played in 22 games this season, averaging just seven minutes per contest. He has contributed 2.9 points and 1.4 rebounds while going 11-for-27 on threes. He can still shoot it.
The Hornets clearly value him on the roster; in order to bring him back, they had to waive deadline addition Malaki Branham. That’s not an earth shattering move, but Branham is easily the more intriguing player from a talent and potential perspective. The former 20th overall pick is still just 22. Across 261 career games between the Spurs and Wizards he averaged eight points, two rebounds, and 1.6 assists. Over the past two seasons, he is shooting 39.7% from distance (48-121).
Oct 5, 2025; North Charleston, South Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Pat Connaughton (21) shoots under the basket in the fourth quarter at North Charleston Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Arthur Ellis-Imagn Images
Even at 33, in year 11, Connaughton provides intangibles as a former champion in Milwaukee. On a Hornets roster led by rookie Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball, not known for his maturity, Connaughton’s experience serves a worthwhile purpose.
Certainly the Bucks know his value to team culture from the seven seasons he spent with the franchise. Connaughton became a cap space casualty last summer in the process of signing Myles Turner. He entered 2025-26 playing on a $9.4 million player option, the final year of a three-year, $28 million deal he signed with the Bucks.
According to Spotrac estimates, his rest-of-season contract with Charlotte is worth $1.3 million while carrying a cap hit of $831,410.
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