Signed contractsAn over-the-cap team can't spend cap space, but the CBA still gives it tools: exceptions. The Hornets' current tools are Non-Taxpayer MLE ($15.1M), Bi-Annual Exception ($5.4M), plus Bird rights to re-sign their own free agents. How do teams build over the cap? → |
| LaMelo Ball | G | $40.8M | $43.6M | $46.4M | – | – |
| Miles Bridges | F | $22.8M | – | – | – | – |
| Brandon Miller | F | TO$15.1M | – | – | – | – |
Brandon Miller holds a team option for $15.1M this season; the Hornets decide whether it's exercised. What is a team option? → |
| Josh Green | G | $14.7M | – | – | – | – |
| Grant Williams | F | $14.3M | – | – | – | – |
| Kon Knueppel | G | $10.5M | TO$11.0M | TO$13.9M | – | – |
| Tidjane Salaun | F | TO$8.2M | TO$10.4M | – | – | – |
Tidjane Salaun holds a team option for $8.2M this season; the Hornets decide whether it's exercised. What is a team option? → |
| Tre Mann | G | $8.0M | TO$8.0M | – | – | – |
| Pat Connaughton | G | TO$3.8M | – | – | – | – |
Pat Connaughton holds a team option for $3.8M this season; the Hornets decide whether it's exercised. What is a team option? → |
| Liam McNeeley | F | $2.9M | TO$3.0M | TO$5.5M | – | – |
| Moussa Diabate | F | $2.5M | – | – | – | – |
| Sion James | G | $2.4M | $2.5M | TO$2.7M | – | – |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | C | $2.4M | $2.5M | TO$2.7M | – | – |
| Signed contracts subtotal | | $148.4M | $81.1M | $71.3M | $0.0M | $0.0M |
Cap holdsplaceholders, not paidA cap hold is a placeholder charge for a team's own free agent, sized by his Bird bracket. The Hornets carry $49.2M in free-agent holds plus $9.5M in draft-pick holds; these count against the cap only, never the tax or aprons. What is the cap hold? → |
| Free agents · Bird % of prior salary, renounce to clear |
| Coby White190% | F | $24.5M | – | – | – | – |
Coby White carries a 190% cap hold: 190% of his $12.9M prior salary = $24.5M against the Hornets' cap until he re-signs, is renounced, or signs elsewhere. What are Bird rights? → |
| Malaki Branham300% | F | $14.9M | – | – | – | – |
Malaki Branham carries a 300% cap hold: 300% of his $5.0M prior salary = $14.9M against the Hornets' cap until he re-signs, is renounced, or signs elsewhere. What are Bird rights? → |
| Xavier Tillman130% | F | $3.3M | – | – | – | – |
Xavier Tillman carries a 130% cap hold: 130% of his $2.5M prior salary = $3.3M against the Hornets' cap until he re-signs, is renounced, or signs elsewhere. What are Early Bird rights? → |
| Tosan EvbuomwanMIN | F | $2.2M | – | – | – | – |
Players on the roster without a standard contract (two-way, Exhibit-10) carry a flat minimum hold of $2.2M (projected) each against the Hornets' cap. What is the minimum cap hold? → |
| Antonio ReevesMIN | F | $2.2M | – | – | – | – |
Players on the roster without a standard contract (two-way, Exhibit-10) carry a flat minimum hold of $2.2M (projected) each against the Hornets' cap. What is the minimum cap hold? → |
| PJ HallMIN | F | $2.2M | – | – | – | – |
Players on the roster without a standard contract (two-way, Exhibit-10) carry a flat minimum hold of $2.2M (projected) each against the Hornets' cap. What is the minimum cap hold? → |
| LaMelo Ball150% | F | – | – | – | $69.6M | – |
Bird rights let the Hornets re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Brandon Miller250% | F | – | $37.8M | – | – | – |
Bird rights let the Hornets re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Kon Knueppel250% | F | – | – | – | $34.8M | – |
Bird rights let the Hornets re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Miles Bridges150% | F | – | $34.2M | – | – | – |
Bird rights let the Hornets re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Tidjane Salaun300% | F | – | – | $31.3M | – | – |
Bird rights let the Hornets re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Josh Green190% | F | – | $27.9M | – | – | – |
Bird rights let the Hornets re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Grant Williams190% | F | – | $27.1M | – | – | – |
Bird rights let the Hornets re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Liam McNeeley300% | F | – | – | – | $16.5M | – |
Bird rights let the Hornets re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Tre Mann190% | F | – | – | $15.2M | – | – |
Bird rights let the Hornets re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Sion James300% | F | – | – | – | $8.2M | – |
Bird rights let the Hornets re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner300% | F | – | – | – | $8.2M | – |
Bird rights let the Hornets re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Pat Connaughton120% | F | – | $4.6M | – | – | – |
Non-Bird rights (after one season) only allow a raise to 120% of prior salary; the cap hold is likewise 120% of prior salary. What are non-Bird rights? → |
| Moussa Diabate120% | F | – | $3.0M | – | – | – |
Non-Bird rights (after one season) only allow a raise to 120% of prior salary; the cap hold is likewise 120% of prior salary. What are non-Bird rights? → |
Unsigned first-rounders · 120% of rookie scaleUnsigned first-round picks count 120% of their rookie-scale slot against the cap. The Hornets carry $9.5M in pick holds. What is the draft pick hold? → |
| 2026 first round (No. 14) | – | $5.2M | – | – | – | – |
| 2026 first round (No. 18) | – | $4.3M | – | – | – | – |
| Cap holds subtotal | | $58.7M | $134.5M | $46.5M | $137.3M | $0.0M |
| Counts against the cap | | $207.1M | $215.7M | $125.4M | $148.7M | $20.9M |
Capmath