‘Tricky’ Tre Mann is ‘settling in’ with Charlotte Hornets — and as a new father

Sent to Charlotte in the Gordon Hayward trade with Oklahoma City at last February’s trade deadline, fourth-year guard Tre Mann’s development is creating a buzz in the Queen City.

Although the rookie-scale contract extension deadline passed Monday evening with no deal in place, Mann and his family are settling into their new home — and his new role under coach Charles Lee.

“It’s been pretty smooth, actually,” Mann told The Observer. “When I got here last year it was tougher — being in the middle of the season and just having a kid. Over the summer I got a crib closer to the arena, so it’s been super smooth for me. I’m settling in, me, my wife, and my son.”

Jolted into the starting lineup in LaMelo Ball’s absence last season, Mann started all 28 games following the trade and showed promise as a rotational piece when Ball returned to action. Now with the Hornets’ lead guard in good health, Mann has found his spot in Lee’s rotation as a spark off the bench, averaging an efficient 16 points per game on 60% shooting from the field in four preseason games

Whether as the primary ball handler or operating off the ball, Mann’s shotmaking and playmaking ability is turning heads in the Hornets’ facility. Although his odds are far down the list for the Sixth Man of the Year, Mann would relish the award — but it’s not his priority.

“I think that’s what we’re going with moving forward,” Mann said of coming off the bench. “I’m just going to go out there and help the team any way I can. If sixth man of the year happens, I’ll be happy. That’s not really the goal, it’s really just going out there and impacting the game.”

‘Tricky’ Tre Mann

Mann’s style on the court, combines sidesteps, stepbacks and snatchbacks to break down defenders and get his shots off as an undersized guard — all while donning a baggy jersey and shorts, reminiscent of the early 2000s.

And while veteran Taj Gibson is known as “Unc,” Mann — the father of an eight-month-old — is settling into “Pops status.”

“Mine is called ‘Pops status.’ I just feel comfortable out there with the bigger (clothes), and I think it looks pretty good,” Mann said of the baggy uniform. “I’m (going to) stick with it for the whole year.”

Said Ball: “That’s Tre. Tricky, man, that’s how he rocks. Old school.”

Big brother is watching: ‘Tre Mann is nice’

Long before Mann’s game caught league-wide attention, shooting guard Damian Lillard, now with Milwaukee, saw the potential of the former Florida Gator.

Mann participated in one of Lillard’s pro camps following his sophomore season in the NBA, where the 23-year-old guard’s ball handling and ability to create shots reminded Lillard of former Portland Trail Blazers teammate Anfrenee Simons, who signed a four-year, $100 million deal in 2022.

“Tre Mann, Oklahoma City, he got a bag. I don’t know if it’s going to be in Oklahoma City but wherever it’s at, Tre Mann is nice. When he gets an opportunity somewhere because they (OKC) are deep over there, I think he’s going to have to move,” Lillard said. “But when he gets an opportunity somewhere, I’m telling you. He reminds me of how he does stuff and what he’s capable of, it reminds me of how Ant (Anfernee Simons) is. Like, the same thing I saw in Ant, is how I saw him.”

When Milwaukee came to town last February, just weeks after Mann was traded to Charlotte, Mann gave Lillard a signed jersey calling him his “league big brother.”

“He’ll hit me every now and then checking in. He’s really like a big brother in the league. It’s been that way since my rookie year,” Mann said of Lillard. “He was the first one to come me and be like, ‘Yo, Tre, I mess with your game.’ And that was before I even started playing. Just for him to say that and start that relationship was big.”

As a young player, gaining the respect of one of the league’s best is quite an achievement. But proving it on the court is step two.

A ‘great opportunity’ in Charlotte

In the 28 games following the trade, playing a career-high 31 minutes per night, Mann poured in 11.9 points, 5.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds, all while shooting 45.3% from the field and 36.4% from 3-point land. Mann made his fair share of mistakes, too, turning the ball over twice per game — the most of his young career.

But the defensive stats kept former head coach Steve Clifford satisfied, more than doubling his career-best steal total at 1.7 per game, which bodes well with Lee’s defensive-first mold.

Teammate Vasilije Micic, who was part of the return package with Mann in the Hayward trade, knows the opportunity that Mann holds entering the final year of his rookie deal, making $4.9 million this season.

“Great talent, special ability to score, secret athleticism that nobody kind of realized because he’s not so big. I think this team is a great opportunity for him,” Micic said of Mann. “I’m very happy that he got that trade even though he probably felt a bit sad in the beginning. I think he realized now how big of a chance this team is for him and he’s establishing himself as a very good scorer in the NBA, even though he’s still very young. He’s so mature and a great fit for this team.”

With the season tipping off Wednesday night in Houston, Mann’s ready to return to action after a long off-season.

“Super excited. I didn’t play in the last preseason game, so it feels like I haven’t played in a minute,” Mann said. “I’m just ready to go out there and compete with the guys.”