Should Dennis Schröder play for the Hornets, it will be the 12th franchise he has suited up for in his NBA career. Sarah Stier / Getty ImagesAug. 14, 2026 Updated 4:04 pm EDTDennis Schröder has found a new team — again.The Cleveland Cavaliers are trading the veteran point guard to the Charlotte Hornets for Tre Mann and cash, league sources told The Athletic on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized. It will be the 12th team Schröder has played for in his soon-to-be 14-year NBA career.With the Cavs in pursuit of Denver Nuggets restricted free agent Peyton Watson, the Schröder deal opens up salary space that could bring them closer to a sign-and-trade deal. A league source close to Watson said this trade improves the odds of him landing with the Cavs. The Milwaukee Bucks and the LA Clippers are also known to be pursuing the 23-year-old wing.
Cleveland will likely make at least one other offseason move: re-signing free agent point guard James Harden, who they acquired last season in a trade with the Clippers for Darius Garland. Harden declined his $42.3 million player option in June and is expected return to Cleveland on a new contract, but Harden is waiting to sign to give the Cavs financial flexibility, according to a league source who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations.The Cavs acquired Schröder as part of a three-team trade before February’s deadline, sending a second-round pick to the Chicago Bulls and forward De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings for Schröder, Keon Ellis and Emanuel Miller, who they waived a few weeks later. The veteran guard played in 30 games for the Cavs and started three, averaging 8.2 points and 4.3 assists in 21.4 minutes per game. He played in each of Cleveland’s three playoff series, but averaged only 3.3 points in three games in the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks.Schröder led Germany to a EuroBasket title last summer, winning tournament MVP. He’s heading into the second year of a three-year, $45 million contract (with a partial guarantee in the final season).
