Charlotte Hornets president Jeff Peterson announced Monday that the team has waived Malaki Branham.

Branham, who arrived in Charlotte as part of a three-team trade with the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks, becomes a free agent for the first time in his career. The former Ohio State standout has averaged eight points, two rebounds and 1.6 assists in 17.8 minutes per game across 216 career appearances with the San Antonio Spurs and Wizards.

An Akron native, Branham was selected No. 20 overall in the 2022 NBA draft after averaging 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and two assists per game as a freshman at Ohio State in 2021-22. That season, he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and earned third-team All-Big Ten honors.