CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Hornets waived former first-round pick Kai Jones after he requested a trade following a series of social media posts that led to him being ruled out indefinitely for the upcoming season.
Charlotte announced the move on Wednesday, two days after Jones requested a trade on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The Hornets chose to rule Jones out indefinitely in September after he made bizarre posts on social media, including an incoherent Instagram Live video where he references drug use and doubts that he will be traded. The team cited “personal reasons” for the move at the time.
Jones was selected with the 19th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Texas. He averaged just 2.7 points per game and two rebounds per game in his 67 appearances with the Hornets.
The Hornets opened their preseason schedule on Tuesday with a 113-109 loss to the Miami Heat.
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