The Charlotte Hornets appear to be putting together the right pieces around LaMelo Ball to make a playoff push in 2025-26. On Tuesday, they retained the services of a veteran guard to put around Ball in Tre Mann.
The former Florida Gators star signed a three-year, $24 million deal with the Hornets, according to ESPN NBA Iinsider Shams Charania.
Free agent guard Tre Mann has agreed to a three-year, $24 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets, sources tell ESPN. Hornets officials and Mann's agent Aaron Turner of Verus Sports negotiated terms of the new contract in free agency. pic.twitter.com/mcputliCTQ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025
The 24-year-old Mann was drafted in the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2021 after becoming a five-star recruit in high school. He was a first team all-SEC selection with the Gators, where he spent two seasons.
Following two-plus years with Oklahoma City, Mann was dealt to Charlotte in 2024 alongside Davis Bertans, Vasilije Micic and two second round picks for Gordon Hayward. He saw his scoring jump from 3.8 points per game to 11.9 with the Hornets, and the momentum carried over into this year.
Mann posted a career-high 14.1 points per game, shooting 91 percent from the free throw line and 40 percent from the 3-point line in 13 games after suffering a back injury in November. The injury, a herniated disc, put him on the sidelines for the duration of the season.
Charlotte will likely insert Mann into a backup role behind Ball at the point guard position, pairing him with Josh Green, Grant Williams and Jusuf Nurkic on the second-line. The Hornets drafted Kon Knueppel in the first round of the NBA Draft and also have Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges.