Dennis Schröder's journey through the NBA will have a new scale. The 32-year-old German point guard will leave the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Charlotte Hornets, in a move that will allow him to reach his twelfth team in the league and brings him closer to a record that for years has belonged to players specialized in changing jerseys.
The trade, reported by Shams Charania, sees Cleveland receive Tre Mann in exchange for the veteran player. For the Cavaliers, the operation also represents an opportunity to reduce costs and subsequently look for a cheaper alternative to fill the backup point guard position.
Schröder arrives in Charlotte with two seasons remaining on his contract. His salary will be $14.8 million in the 2026-27 campaign and $15.5 million in the following season, before being eligible again to become a free agent.
The movement once again brings to the fore a characteristic that has accompanied a good part of his career: the frequency with which he has changed teams. The Atlanta Hawks are the only franchise he stayed with for more than two seasons, and in four of the last five years, he ended up being traded during the course of a season.
Schröder enters a list with historical names
The new Hornets player still does not reach the mark of Ish Smith, who played games with 13 different franchises between 2011 and 2024. Smith arrived in Charlotte after passing through Houston, Memphis, Golden State, Orlando, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Detroit, Washington and Denver, with second stages in Philadelphia, Washington and Charlotte.
His record became a reference for the most itinerant players in the NBA. In 14 seasons, Smith averaged 7.2 points, 3.8 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game.
Schröder is now one step away from matching that figure. Behind Smith appear several players who also wore the jersey of 12 teams during their respective careers.
Chucky Brown went through Cleveland, the Los Angeles Lakers, New Jersey, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Charlotte, San Antonio, Golden State and Sacramento. Jim Jackson also played for 12 franchises, including Dallas, Philadelphia, Golden State, Portland, Atlanta, Cleveland, Miami, Sacramento, Houston, Phoenix and the Lakers.
Tony Massenburg reached the same amount after playing for teams such as San Antonio, Charlotte, Boston, Golden State, Toronto, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Houston, Utah and Sacramento.
Joe Smith also completed a career in 12 organizations. The number one in the 1995 Draft went through Golden State, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Detroit, Milwaukee, Denver, Chicago, Cleveland, Oklahoma City, Atlanta, New Jersey and the Lakers, with two stages in Minnesota, Philadelphia and Cleveland.
Garrett Temple, for his part, remains the active player closest to the record. He has played for 12 teams in his 14-year career and can still match Smith's 13 franchises.
A new destination after a complicated season
Schröder's arrival in Charlotte also responds to the team's needs. The point guard will add depth and experience to the Hornets' rotation, although his recent history leaves open the possibility that he will change uniforms again before the end of the season.
In Cleveland, his time was brief. During his 30 regular season games with the Cavaliers, he recorded 8.2 points and 4.3 assists per game, with 40.1% shooting from the field. His offensive performance declined during the playoffs, where he shot 38.1% and averaged 5.5 points.
The transfer comes after Brian Windhorst indicated in June that Cleveland could consider his departure as a way to reduce expenses. The Cavaliers, eliminated by the Knicks in the conference finals, will now look for a new backup point guard that involves a lower cost.
Charlotte, on the other hand, adds a player who can offer experience to its baseline. For Schröder, the change means beginning another stage in a career that has already taken him to 11 different teams and that now places him one franchise behind Ish Smith's record.
