The Hornets announced today in a press release that they’ve exercised their rookie scale team options for the 2025/26 season on three players. Those three players – and their newly guaranteed ’25/26 salaries – are as follows:
Brandon Miller (third year, $11,968,800)- Mark Williams (fourth year, $6,276,531)
- Nick Smith Jr. (third year, $2,710,680)
Miller, who is currently sidelined due to a glute strain, had a terrific rookie season that was overshadowed to some extent by the Rookie of the Year battle between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, as well as the Hornets’ poor record.
The former Alabama swingman and the No. 2 pick in last year’s draft finished third in Rookie of the Year voting after averaging 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 32.2 minutes per game across 74 outings (68 starts). His shooting line was .440/.373/.827.
Williams, the 15th overall pick in 2022, had a promising rookie season and opened his second year as Charlotte’s starting center, but hasn’t played in a regular season game since last December due to health issues. A back injury kept him out of action for most of last season and he’s currently dealing with a foot ailment. In his 62 healthy contests at the NBA level, the big man has averaged 10.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, and 1.0 BPG.
Smith is the only one of the trio who has yet to establish himself as a productive rotation player. However, there was little doubt the 6’2″ guard’s option would be picked up, given its modest cap hit and the fact that he’s just starting his second season at age 20. The former No. 27 overall pick out of Arkansas also shot the three-ball well in his limited role as a rookie, making 43.2% of 2.9 attempts per game in 51 appearances off the bench.
Williams will now be eligible for a rookie scale extension during the 2025 offseason, while Charlotte will have to decide on its fourth-year options for 2026/27 on Miller and Smith next fall.
The rookie scale option decisions for ’25/26 are due by the end of the day on Thursday. We’re tracking all those moves right here.