The Charlotte Hornets have been looking to add a little bit of experienced depth behind LaMelo Ball at the point guard position before the 2023-24 season. With newly signed Frank Ntilikina dealing with a leg injury, the Hornets have decided to bring in a 13-year veteran guard.

On Tuesday, the Hornets agreed to a contract with 35-year-old point guard Ish Smith, first reported by The Athletic's Shams Charania. As a result of adding Smith, Charlotte has also decided to waive 2017 second-round pick Edmond Sumner.

Always known for being a reliable, sustainable backup in this league, Smith now enters his 14th NBA season after winning a championship with the Denver Nuggets during the 2022-23 season. In 43 games with the Nuggets last season, Smith averaged 2.5 points and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 39.7 percent from the floor.

Playing for 13 different franchises over the course of his career, Smith re-joins the Hornets after spending part of the 2021-22 season with them. In a total of 762 career games, 167 of which he started in, Smith has averaged 7.3 points and 3.8 assists per game.

Sumner had signed a deal with the Hornets this past offseason after playing in 53 games last year for the Brooklyn Nets. Battling for a roster spot, the former second-round pick now finds himself searching for another opportunity around the league.

The Hornets are entering the 2023-24 season searching for answers. They've had just one winning season over the course of the last seven years and Charlotte owns the league's longest playoff drought at seven seasons.

With a young core of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, P.J. Washington and others, the Hornets are hopeful that they will be able to turn around their recent misfortunes.