3:34pm: Pokusevski and McGowens have officially been waived, according to a release from the Hornets.
2:40pm: The Hornets will create some additional salary cap flexibility by waiving two more players on non-guaranteed contracts. The team is cutting forward Aleksej Pokusevski, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link), as well as wing Bryce McGowens, per Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer (Twitter link).
The 17th pick in the 2020 draft, Pokusevski spent three-and-a-half seasons in Oklahoma City before being waived by the Thunder in February. He caught on with the Hornets a few days later and played a regular role off the bench in Charlotte down the stretch, averaging 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 19.2 minutes per game across 18 appearances.
McGowens, meanwhile, has played in Charlotte for the past two seasons after being drafted 40th overall in 2022. The 21-year-old appeared in 59 NBA games last season, averaging 5.1 PPG, 1.7 RPG, and 0.9 APG with a .439/.333/.776 shooting line in 14.9 MPG.
Both Pokusevski ($2.27MM) and McGowens ($2.02MM) were on non-guaranteed minimum salary contracts. Cutting them is necessary to accommodate a series of moves the Hornets are completing using cap room, including trading for Devonte’ Graham, Josh Green, and Reggie Jackson. The club is also waiving Davis Bertans, whose salary is only partially guaranteed.
If Pokusevski and McGowens don’t catch on with another team right away and there’s mutual interest in a return to the Hornets, there would be no rule stopping Charlotte from re-signing them on new minimum deals. But it’s unclear whether or not that’s the plan for either player.
I actually like McGowens hopefully he can go somewhere where he will have the chance to develop
He had the worst draft scouting video I ever saw in my life, where I was left constantly asking, “who would ever want to play with this dude.” Super talented, potentially, but doesn’t know how to really play, or be a teammate
Poku can go to Spurs!!!
Please Thibs ………. you can help him. He will help us. I believe in Poku.
DeRozan’s S/T could be a mega trade,looks like Hornets is a fourth team involved in this
Poku too skinny after all these years he can’t gain weight. He does not do anything particularly good. He should play in gleague a bit.
“Genius” Sam Presti really traded the picks that became Jaden McDaniels, Immanuel Quickley, and Ricky Rubio for Poku. Every GM makes mistakes, but this was a bad one.