NBA training camps are just days from opening up, but that didn’t stop a minor deal from being completed — and one between division rivals.
The Charlotte Hornets are shipping forward Dorian Finney-Smith to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for guards Buddy Hield and Ryan Nembhard, a person with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed Tuesday, Sept. 22 to USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because the trade had not been publicly announced.
Finney-Smith, 33, had been known as a 3-and-D perimeter option, but he posted career lows in points (3.3 per game), rebounds (2.5), field goal percentage (33.3%) and 3-point percentage (27%) across 37 games last season for the Houston Rockets.
The Hornets had only acquired Finney-Smith in July, in a trade for cash considerations.
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2026: New York Knicks (beat San Antonio Spurs in five games)
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2021: Milwaukee Bucks (beat Phoenix Suns in six games)
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2018: Golden State Warriors (beat Cleveland Cavaliers in four games)
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2016: Cleveland Cavaliers (beat Golden State Warriors in seven games)
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2013: Miami Heat (beat San Antonio Spurs in seven games)
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2012: Miami Heat (beat Oklahoma City Thunder in five games)
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2008: Boston Celtics (beat Los Angeles Lakers in six games)
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2005: San Antonio Spurs (beat Detroit Pistons in seven games)
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2004: Detroit Pistons (beat Los Angeles Lakers in five games)
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2003: San Antonio Spurs (beat New Jersey Nets in six games)
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2002: Los Angeles Lakers (beat New Jersey Nets in four games)
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1999: San Antonio Spurs (beat New York Knicks five games)
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1991: Chicago Bulls beat Los Angeles Lakers in five games.
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1990: Detroit Pistons (beat Portland Trail Blazers in five games)
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1989: Detroit Pistons (beat Los Angeles Lakers in four games)
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1988: Los Angeles Lakers (beat Detroit Pistons in seven games)
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1987: Los Angeles Lakers (beat Boston Celtics in six games)
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In exchange, Charlotte, which also plays in the Southeast Division, is getting another two players to boost its recent emphasis on shooting.
Hield, 33, is a career 39.5% 3-point shooter, but could not crack the rotation in Atlanta after the Hawks acquired him in the February deal that also brought Jonathan Kuminga to Atlanta and sent center Kristaps Porziņģis to the Golden State Warriors.
Nembhard, the younger brother of Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, was forced into a starting job at point guard for the Dallas Mavericks while star Kyrie Irving was recovering from his torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Nembhard was an undrafted rookie last season but shot 35.6% from beyond the arc. He averaged 6.6 points per game. He had similarly just been acquired in a July trade that sent 2024 No. 1 overall selection Zaccharie Risacher to the Mavericks.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA division rivals make a deal. Who the Hawks, Hornets traded
