Atlanta Hawks guard Buddy Hield (8) in action against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena.
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks have agreed to trade sharpshooter Buddy Hield, guard Ryan Nembhard, and cash considerations to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith, first reported by ESPN.
Throughout the offseason, the Hawks had been exploring avenues to move Hield, who will make $9.6 million during the 2026-27 season before owning a $10 million player option for the 2027-28 season. With extensions for Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels kicking in, as well as others having expiring deals, the Hawks wanted to clear their books for future years.
Although Finney-Smith still has two more years left on his contract past the 2026-27 season, his $13.3 million salary for the 2027-28 season is non-guaranteed. As a result, the Hawks could easily waive him next offseason to save over $13 million on their books.
Finney-Smith now joins a roster in Atlanta with plenty of wing and forward depth. It is unknown what his role will look like after playing just 37 games with the Houston Rockets during the 2025-26 season. The 33-year-old forward was traded by Houston to Charlotte this offseason along with three future second-round picks for cash.
Nembhard was recently acquired by the Hawks in a three-team trade earlier this offseason with the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder. After trading Zaccharie Risacher to the Mavs, along with some second-round picks to both Dallas and Oklahoma City, the Hawks acquired Luguentz Dort and Nembhard.
In this trade, the Hawks create a $2.1 million traded player exception, while the Hornets create a $4.5 million TPE.
Charlotte will now enter training camp with 18 players on their active roster, needing to cut three players before the start of the 2026-27 season. Atlanta goes from 16 players to 15 players on its active roster before the start of training camp.
This trade marks the fifth time in Hield's career that he has been moved, as he was most recently dealt at the trade deadline in February by the Golden State Warriors. Then, he was packaged with Jonathan Kuminga in a deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to San Francisco.
During his brief stint in Atlanta, Hield played in seven games, averaging 5.1 points and 1.1 rebounds per game while shooting 41.2 percent from 3-point range. Over the course of his 10-year NBA career, Hield has averaged 39.5 percent from 3-point range and ranks ninth among all active players in 3-pointers made (2,201).
Hield is one of 15 players all time to have made at least 2,200 3-point shots.