Official waiver in Charlotte
The Charlotte Hornets have waived forward Trey Townsend with immediate effect, leaving him without an NBA team after a one-day stay on their preseason roster. The move confirms his exit from the franchise and opens the door to a G League destination.
The transaction, reported by NBA.com oficial and Hoops Rumors, fits the pattern the Hornets have repeated this week: using their final offseason roster spot to sign and waive players ahead of training camp.
Townsend's profile
Townsend joined Charlotte on September 1 on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract. The Arizona product, who went undrafted in 2025, split last season between the G League and overseas stints.
Across 24 G League games he averaged 4.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in 18.7 minutes, offering rotation energy and defensive versatility on the wing. His release is consistent with Charlotte's plan: the Exhibit 10 structure itself pointed toward a likely waiver before the regular season.
What the waiver means
Once off the Hornets' roster, Townsend must clear waivers before his next step is finalized. The most likely path leads to the Greensboro Swarm, Charlotte's G League affiliate, which acquired his returning-player rights in August.
If he lands with the Swarm and spends at least 60 days in the G League, he could earn an Exhibit 10 bonus worth up to $91,000, a common incentive for players who accept that preseason pathway.
Roster context
Townsend's waiver comes one day after his signing and mirrors the Josiah Allick sequence: Charlotte is cycling names through its final roster spot to secure G League rights and offer financial incentives to development players. With Kyle Mangas signed afterward, the Hornets are keeping that back-end roster strategy active.
For Townsend, the waiver does not shut the door on Charlotte's project; it places him on the pathway the franchise typically uses for Exhibit 10 players.
