[Saba Sports News] The Charlotte Hornets have decided to waive Kai Jones following a troubled offseason, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. This decision, while he was a former first-round pick, doesn’t come as a surprise.
Trouble began about a month ago when Jones posted a concerning social media video. He further exacerbated the situation by publicly criticizing his own teammates a week later and then demanded a trade via social media on Monday. Until that point, the Hornets had seemed willing to support him, but a breaking point was reached, leading to his release.
Jones, a former University of Texas standout, was drafted in the first round (No. 19 overall) in the 2021 NBA Draft. While his on-court performance has been modest with averages of 2.7 points and 2.0 rebounds per game over two seasons, his physical potential was evident, leading the Hornets to exercise his $3 million team option for the 2023-24 season.