Pat Connaughton's one season in Charlotte is over before it began in earnest. The Notre Dame alum was officially waived by the Hornets as the team finalized its 15-man roster ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, leaving the former champion without a home heading into opening week.
Connaughton's exit was largely a numbers game. His $3.8 million salary for the upcoming season was non-guaranteed, making him the clearest cap casualty when Charlotte needed to shed one final roster spot. The Hornets, who open the season October 21 against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center, opted to build around youth — with center Naz Reid emerging as a leadership voice on a team that decided it couldn't carry one of its most recognizable veterans into the new year.
The move had been telegraphed for weeks. A prior roster squeeze involving young forward Tidjane Salaün had put Connaughton's spot in jeopardy, with analysts noting that keeping both players required a narrow set of financial maneuvers that Charlotte ultimately chose not to pursue. When the Hornets had to make their final call, Connaughton was the odd man out.
For Irish fans, it's a disappointing end to what was a hopeful chapter. Connaughton brought championship pedigree — earned during his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks — to a Hornets squad that has been rebuilding for years. At 33, he now enters free agency with his NBA future uncertain, though his shooting and veteran presence figure to generate interest around the league.
Elsewhere in the NBA
Blake Wesley's name surfaced in Clippers preseason coverage, though not for his own play. Wesley was on the court during a Denver Nuggets-Los Angeles Clippers preseason matchup when Nuggets guard Julian Strawther suffered a lower-body injury attempting to dribble past Isaiah Jackson and Wesley in the third quarter. Wesley remains part of the Clippers' guard rotation as L.A. prepares for the regular season.
Cormac Ryan, the third active Notre Dame alum in the NBA, is rostered with the Milwaukee Bucks heading into 2026-27. No notable activity was reported for Ryan during the period.
The week was defined by Connaughton's roster cut — a reminder that even championship résumés offer no guaranteed passage into a new season. Notre Dame's NBA contingent remains active, but its most decorated member is currently looking for work.
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