Hawks trade Hield, Nembhard to Hornets for Finney-Smith

The Atlanta Hawks are trading Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard and cash considerations to the Charlotte Hornets for Dorian Finney-Smith, the team announced on Tuesday. 

The Hornets are expected to waive Nembhard as part of the trade, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. The Hawks create a $2.1 million trade exception and the Hornets likely create a $4.5 million trade exception with the deal, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.

Hield landed in Atlanta in the trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Golden State Warriors but appeared in just seven games for the Hawks last season; the sharpshooting guard is due around $9.5 million this season and has a player option for just over $10 million for 2027-28.

Finney-Smith was acquired by Charlotte in a trade with the Houston Rockets earlier in the offseason. The veteran wing missed the first two months of the season for Houston and has three years left on his $53 million contract, including a player option for 2028-29.

Nembhard, an undrafted rookie last season for Dallas, was acquired by the Hawks in a three-team trade that sent Zaccharie Risacher to the Mavericks and Luguentz Dort back to Atlanta from Oklahoma City.

Nembhard, 23, averaged 6.6 points and 5.3 assists in 19.5 minutes per game last season.