CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers have traded veteran guard Dennis Schröder and cash to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for guard Tre Mann.

For Cleveland, the move appears to be as much about financial flexibility as it is about the player coming back.

Mann, 25, is coming off a down season in Charlotte, averaging 5.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 53 games while playing primarily off the bench.

He will make $8 million this season, considerably less than the $14.81 million owed to Schröder. The swap clears approximately $6.8 million from Cleveland's 2026-27 payroll while giving the Cavaliers added flexibility moving forward.

Mann's contract also includes an $8 million team option for the 2027-28 season, allowing Cleveland to decide next summer whether to keep him at that figure or move on without a long-term salary commitment.

Schröder spent only part of one season with the Cavaliers after arriving from Sacramento. He appeared in 30 games for Cleveland and averaged 8.2 points per game after averaging 10.8 points across 70 games between the Kings and Cavaliers last season.

The 32-year-old will now join the 12th franchise of his NBA career.

For the Cavaliers, however, the larger benefit of the deal comes on the financial side. Moving Schröder's contract creates additional breathing room beneath the NBA's salary aprons and gives Cleveland more options as it continues shaping its roster.

That flexibility could prove valuable either during the remainder of the offseason or later in the season as the NBA trade deadline approaches.