Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Hornets. Image via: NBA Dennis Schröder is on the move again. The Cleveland Cavaliers sent the veteran guard and cash to the Charlotte Hornets on Friday in exchange for Tre Mann, a straight guard swap that doubles as a cap-clearing move for Cleveland and a backcourt reinforcement for Charlotte. It’s Schröder’s ninth career trade, and his 12th team since Atlanta drafted him 17th overall in 2013.For the Cavaliers, the deal is about flexibility. For the Hornets, it’s about adding a steady hand behind Coby White as the franchise resets around its young core.CategoryDetailsPlayer tradedDennis SchröderFromCleveland CavaliersToCharlotte HornetsReturnGuard Tre Mann, plus cash considerationsContract statusThree-year, $44.4 million deal signed July 2025; owed $14.8 million in 2026-27Cap impactCavaliers shed roughly $6.8 millionReported byESPN’s Shams CharaniaCareer note12th NBA franchise for Schröder, tying for second-most in league history
Cavaliers traded Dennis Schröder to Hornets for Tre Mann
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the trade Friday, Aug. 14. The move clears roughly $6.8 million off Cleveland’s books, pushing the Cavaliers to about $29.7 million below the first tax apron. Mann, meanwhile, becomes a straight salary replacement in Charlotte on an $8 million contract. Because the trade was a clean one-for-one, Mann is immediately eligible to be packaged in a follow-up deal if Cleveland wants to keep shuffling its roster before opening night.
What the trade means for the Cavaliers
League sources indicated Cleveland had shopped both Schröder and Max Strus to free up salary for restricted free agent forward Peyton Watson, who has already turned down a four-year, $70 million offer from Denver. Clearing Schröder’s money gets the Cavaliers closer to building a competitive four-year offer of their own.NBA insider Brett Siegel laid out the math on X: “Cleveland is now about $42M below the second apron as well.” Siegel added that James Harden’s expected return still hinges on price, and that Watson remains the priority target.
What the trade means for the Hornets
Charlotte gets a proven ball-handler with ties to the front office. Schröder overlapped with Hornets president Jeff Peterson and head coach Charles Lee during his early years in Atlanta, giving the move a relationship angle on top of the roster fit. He slots in as the backup point guard behind Coby White, with a chance to mentor young pieces like Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel as the Hornets continue rebuilding around a young core following the LaMelo Ball trade to Minnesota.
Schröder creates history with the move
Once he suits up for Charlotte, Schröder ties Chucky Brown, Jim Jackson, Tony Massenburg, Joe Smith and Garrett Temple for the second-most franchises played for in NBA history, at 12. Only Ish Smith, who played for 13 teams, has more. Trevor Ariza still holds the record for most career trades at 11; Schröder’s move to Charlotte is his ninth.Dennis Schröder (2025-26)Tre Mann (2025-26)Games70 (Kings and Cavaliers)$53Points10.8$6Assists4.91.6Rebounds2.71.7Minutes24.2$13Schröder is signed through 2027-28 on a three-year, $44.4 million deal, with $33.2 million guaranteed and a partial $4.4 million guarantee kicking in for the final season. Charlotte opens camp with its backup point guard picture settled; Cleveland now turns to closing out a deal with Watson before the season starts.