Free agent forward Drew Peterson has agreed to a deal with the Hornets, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link), who hears from agents Mike Silverman and Troy Payne that their client will sign a two-way contract with Charlotte.
Peterson, who went undrafted out of USC in 2023, initially signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Miami, but has spent most of his two professional seasons on two-way deals with Boston. The 25-year-old first signed with the Celtics in December 2023 and has since appeared in 28 NBA games, averaging 2.3 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per night.
While Peterson’s NBA appearances have mostly been limited to garbage time, he has played a far more significant role at the G League level for the Maine Celtics. In 2024/25, across 25 total Tip-Off Tournament and regular season outings, the 6’9″ forward averaged 18.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.5 steals in 33.8 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .438/.374/.891.
The Celtics opted not to tender Peterson a qualifying offer last month, so he became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, free to sign with any team. He’ll become the third Hornet on a two-way contract, joining KJ Simpson and Damion Baugh, as our tracker shows.
It will be a reunion for Peterson and Hornets head coach Charles Lee, who was an assistant in Boston during the forward’s first year with the Celtics.
Peterson coul play a rotation role with just about any team down the road if his D is up to snuff. Good shooter, good passer, can handle the ball as a secondary playmaker.
Good luck Drew!
Hornets currently have 21 guys under official contract (not sure how that’s legal, but whatever) and when Peterson deal becomes official, that makes 22.
Here’s what we’ve got so far:
Miles Bridges
Josh Green
Mason Plumlee
LaMelo Ball
Brandon Miller
Tidjane Salaün
Kon Knueppel
Moussa Diabate
Spencer Dinwiddie
Collin Sexton
Grant Williams
Tre Mann
Pat Connaughton
Nick Smith
DaQuan Jeffries
Josh Okogie
Liam McNeeley
Sion James
Ryan Kalkbrenner
KJ Simpson (2 way)
Drew Peterson (2 way, reported)
Damion Baugh (2 way)
Getting down to the standard 15 and 3 two way deals, I think the four guys who will not survive will be: Jeffries, Okogie, Connaughton and one of Nick Smith/Grant Williams.
Remember when this guy was accused of murdering 2 of his wives? Glad things are finally turning around for him…
This might be a joke but no not that guy lmao