BREAKING NEWS: Hornets sign trio of players to training…

According to league sources, the Hornets are signing free agents Marcus Garrett, Joel Soriano, and Caleb McConnell to training camp contracts.

Garrett, a 6-foot-5 guard who went undrafted out of Kansas in 2021, played part of his rookie season on a two-way contract with the Heat, appearing in 12 games for them. Since turning professional, the former Naismith Defensive Player of the Year has primarily competed in the G League. He spent last season with the Greensboro Swarm and will play for the Hornets’ Summer League club in Las Vegas this July.

Soriano, a 6-foot-10 center, was undrafted in June after ending his college career at St. John’s. The big guy averaged a double-double (14.5 points and 10.7).

McConnell went undrafted from Rutgers in 2023 and spent his rookie season with the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s G League club. The 6-foot-7 wing, a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in college, averaged 7.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 21.7 minutes per game during 47 Showcase Cup and regular season games for the Blue, who won the NBAGL championship in the spring. McConnell’s G League returning rights were recently moved from Oklahoma City to Greensboro.

Garrett, Soriano, and McConnell will almost definitely sign non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contracts, putting them in line for bonuses totaling up to $77.5K if the Hornets waive them and they spend at least 60 days with the Swarm. It’s important to note that Exhibit 10 contracts