What happened: Dorian Finney-Smith is headed to the Charlotte Hornets, with three second-round picks moving back to Charlotte in the deal: a 2027 pick via Memphis, a 2028 pick via Houston, and a 2033 pick via Houston. Finney-Smith carries three years left on his contract, but only the coming 2026-27 season is guaranteed.
Why it matters: The structure gives Charlotte a proven wing at a controllable cost, since the final two seasons hold no guaranteed money and can be shed cleanly. That flexibility matters for a Hornets front office weighing how much long-term salary to lock in around its core. For Houston, moving off the deal clears the books while attaching only second-round capital.
By the numbers: Contract terms: 2026-27 $13.33M (guaranteed); 2027-28 $13.33M ($0 guaranteed); 2028-29 $13.33M ($0 guaranteed). Finney-Smith also holds a 3.2% trade bonus on his guaranteed salary.
What to watch: Watch whether Charlotte keeps Finney-Smith as a rotation wing into 2026-27 or uses the non-guaranteed years as a future trade or cap mechanism.