Hawks acquire Dorian Finney-Smith from Hornets for Hield, Nembhard

Atlanta and Charlotte completed an intra-division trade days before NBA training camps open, per a person with direct knowledge of the deal.

The Atlanta Hawks have agreed to send guards Buddy Hield and Ryan Nembhard to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for forward Dorian Finney-Smith, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told USA TODAY Sports on Sept. 22. The person spoke anonymously because the trade has not been officially announced. The deal comes just days before the start of NBA training camps.

Finney-Smith, 33, is a veteran perimeter player known for his two-way role, but he struggled last season with the Houston Rockets, setting career lows in scoring (3.3 points per game), rebounds (2.5), field goal percentage (33.3%) and three-point percentage (27%) over 37 games. The Hornets had landed him in July in a cash-considerations trade.

Charlotte, which shares the Southeast Division with Atlanta, adds two shooters in return. Hield, also 33, owns a career 39.5% mark from three-point range but fell out of the Hawks rotation after arriving in a February trade that also brought Jonathan Kuminga to Atlanta and sent Kristaps Porziņģis to Golden State.

Nembhard, the younger brother of Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, went undrafted and started at point guard for Dallas last season while Kyrie Irving recovered from a torn ACL. He averaged 6.6 points and shot 35.6% from three as a rookie. Atlanta had acquired him in July in the deal that sent 2024 No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Mavericks.