The Hornets have signed free agent guard Jaylen Sims, the team announced today (via Twitter). Charlotte had an open spot on its 21-man preseason roster after waiving Nick Smith Jr. on Thursday.
While the team didn’t reveal any details about the deal, it’s almost certainly an Exhibit 10 contract. Sims has made a habit of signing Exhibit 10 deals with the Hornets over the years, having also done so in September of 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Sims, a Charlotte native who went undrafted out of UNC Wilmington, has spent most of his first three professional seasons playing for the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets’ G League affiliate. However, the 6’6″ shooting guard made his first NBA appearances this past April while on a 10-day deal with Charlotte, averaging 7.0 points and 2.0 assists in 18.7 minutes per game across six outings.
Prior to his NBA call-up, Sims enjoyed his most productive G League season. In 49 games for the Swarm, he averaged 19.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 32.9 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .441/.375/.837. The 26-year-old also played a key role in July for the Hornets’ Summer League team that won the Las Vegas championship, averaging 14.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 1.8 APG on .551/.438/.800 shooting in six appearances.
While Sims would be eligible to have his Exhibit 10 contract converted into a two-way deal prior to the regular season, he’s more likely to be waived and report back to the Swarm for another season. In that scenario, he’d be eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300 (on top of his standard G League salary) if he spends at least 60 days with Greensboro.