Source:
#Hornets
are active in engaging Washington on trade talks for Bradley Beal. Marvin Williams or Nic Batum have been discussed as salary filler + Charlotte management is willing to include w/ draft pick. Serious sense of urgency to improve roster now around Kemba.
#BuzzCity
Source: X-ray was negative, so LaMelo Ball and the
#Hornets
avoid fracture to the right ankle that was surgically repaired in February. MRI scheduled for today.
Lowe and Givony:
Givony: "Clifford was on table in the war room saying we need to draft Donovan Mitchell & he was overruled on that".
Lowe: "Clifford was 100% trying to get them to take DM & that's only the 7th worst story from the CLT draft room process from the past 5 years"
Malik Monk making WINNING PLAYS on the DEFENSIVE end! I’m growing more excited about Monk every night I watch him — what a step this guy has taken this season.
#Hornets
have a 104.2 defensive rating since the trade deadline — 2nd in the NBA during that 3 game stretch. 2 of those 3 games were v. top 10 ranked offenses for the season (Indiana & Atlanta).
#Hornets
are 5-1 in the past two weeks, have the NUMBER ONE defensive rating (103.3) in the league over that stretch and have posted a +7.2 point differential (7th). Have a 110.5 offensive rating (21st) during same time span. Defense wins.
We’ll see how far Terry Rozier can get as a leader of this team. But pulling the whole roster together in Miami for workouts while the rest of the league vacations … love to freaking see it.
Moving up in lottery was step 1 — LaMelo has immediately changed
#Hornets
trajectory as a franchise. Hayward is one of the best wing scorers in the east. Devonte’ finding his shot. Importance of healthy Zeller can’t be understated. Monk! Something spicy is cooking in Charlotte.
Source: Malik Monk’s right thumb is not broken. Original diagnosis was given in Las Vegas at UNLV. Upon a second opinion, determination is thumb isn’t broken. Updated recovery timetable unknown currently.
#BuzzCity
Friends, my wife and I have been in the hospital since Friday w/ our 4 month old who is COVID positive. It’s been an up and down rollercoaster since we got here w/ complications that we obviously never anticipated. Our little boy is going to be okay and recover from this. Cont...
Charlotte gets Tre Mann, who they will bring in on his rookie contract + will have his full bird rights - Mann immediately becomes a rotational guard for the
#Hornets
. Bertans partially guaranteed for next season. Fine piece of business to ensure you don't lose Hayward for zero.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are finalizing a trade to send G Tre Mann and F Davis Bertans to the Charlotte Hornets for Gordon Hayward, sources tell ESPN.
FWIW, spoke to source close to team that believes
@hornets
could increase their offer from reported 5-year, $160M (might have already), but not optimistic it’d be enough to convince Kemba to pivot back in Charlotte’s direction. This thing is sounding like a done deal currently.
Charlotte just acquired a shitty future 1R pick to save money to resign Miles Bridges. Fine. ONCE AGAIN, this is by the same owner who PAID TO SEND HIS HEAD COACH AWAY 6 MONTHS AFTER EXTENDING HIM! What is happening?
If you thought UVA’s style was annoying prior, just wait until you see this year’s product in the NCAA Tournament, average basketball fans everywhere. Good thing that the most important aspect of the sport of basketball is WINNING.
Most won’t recognize this Virginia team. In 5 mins so far I’ve seen 5-out motion, ISO for Hauser + Huff, some UCLA-FLEX action. ‘Hoos playing so much faster. Tons in the playbook for Bennett w/ versatility of this group, led by the addition of Sam Hauser.
Rozier extension + Plumlee/Oubre NG ‘22-23 deals + possibility of two ‘22 1R draft picks in top 20 =
#Hornets
primed for a trade next off-season. Kupchak has set the table to take advantage of an opportunity should it present itself.
Good for Gabe and Rick to let Mitch step down and also remain w/ organization. I’m very excited about this next step for the
#Hornets
— it just feels like things are trending in the right direction.
ESPN Sources: Charlotte Hornets President of Basketball Operations Mitch Kupchak is stepping down to become an organizational advisor, clearing way for franchise to begin an immediate search for a new head of basketball operations.
ESPN Sources: Charlotte Hornets restricted free agent F Miles Bridges is preparing to sign a $7.9 million qualifying offer for the 2023-2024 season, clearing the way for him to become unrestricted next summer. Hornets and Bridges are far apart in extension talks. Story soon.
Friends, my wife and I have been in the hospital since Friday w/ our 4 month old who is COVID positive. It’s been an up and down rollercoaster since we got here w/ complications that we obviously never anticipated. Our little boy is going to be okay and recover from this. Cont...
Got to give Mitch Kupchak credit. He smoke-screened the idea of Charlotte loving all week, fooled the Clips and picked up two future 2nd's while still getting player he wanted. Has acquired four 2nd-round picks in the past 48 hrs.
#BuzzCity
We’re going to be fine. Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller are likely going to be one of the best in franchise history when it’s all said and done. Sucks to miss out on Wemby, but the
#Hornets
are undoubtedly in a MUCH better spot than they were 24 hours ago. Onward!
Quick free agency thoughts/predictions:
— Charlotte resigns PJW, but not if an offer sheet goes $80M+
— DSJ comes back, think 2-years $10-12M(ish)
— Don’t expect Oubre back
— Seth Curry, Alec Burks, DiVincenzo names to watch
— I have no clue what’s going to happen w/ Miles
Unreal win for Charlotte, outscoring Denver 38-18 in the 4Q. What a way to finish the 6 game WC road trip, which was mostly a slog. Schedule begins to lighten up for the Bugs now. I see you, Ish Smith!
Yo, this Devonte thing is becoming more-and-more real. Rocks Harrell to sleep and then the professional side-step. Scorers mentality + confidence for the kid.
CTB has done some crazy stuff during his Virginia tenure. Most of it has worked, some hasn’t. Not giving Elijah Gertrude a chance — after burning his redshirt — might be the most inexplicable decision ever. Trust him or not, he gives you a pop offensively that exist nowhere else.
Bucks assistant Darvin Ham will also interview for a second time in-person for the Hornets' head coaching job, and he has emerged as a serious candidate, sources said.
I’m not really sure if this is a popular or unpopular take, but the fire James Borrego crowd needs to be removed from the
#Hornets
community. I’ve bitten my tongue long enough. Ridiculous.
Fine. But at face value, trading a lottery pick for what turned out to be the 27th pick + some 2nd rounders is not a good trade under any circumstances.
The Hornets traded Jalen Duren for what turned out to be:
- Nick Smith Jr
- James Nnaji
- Amari Bailey
- 2024 2nd round pick
Really good upside picks that make me feel better about the trade.
What else is the man supposed to say? Kemba wants to be in Charlotte. As I've said all along, and because of Kemba's consistent narrative regarding free agency, if
@hornets
don't get this deal done then there is no way to spin it to the fan base. It will get ugly.
#BuzzCity
I asked Kemba Walker if he would take less than the Super Max to help
#Hornets
team build around him: “Yeah I would take less. Sure why not. I would take less.”
These kids are so much fun. Don’t care if CHA is winning games they “shouldn’t” right now. Devonte Graham, PJW, Cody Martin are getting valuable mins in games that do indeed matter. This season was about development, and that’s happening; just a little faster than we expected.
I’m asking you all of 3 things:
1) pray my son
2) take this virus seriously. Still. Vaccines have arrived, but this isn’t over. You don’t think it will harm someone you love until it does.
3) hug your loved ones. Pick up the phone & tell the ones you cannot hug that you love them
The Charlotte Hornets and coach James Borrego are finalizing a multi-year contract extension, sources tell ESPN. Borrego has overseen significant development of a young roster and reached 2021 Play-In despite several major injuries. Borrego had one year left on deal.
Kemba Walker is averaging 35 points per thru 3 games this season and YOU SHOULD CONSIDER HIM AN MVP CANDIDATE!!! (I’ll regret this tweet in 2 months, but I don’t care)
Sources: Restricted free agent Devonte' Graham is signing with the Pelicans via sign-and-trade, with New Orleans sending first-round pick to Charlotte.
Wow. Just do something with Kemba at this point. Trade or build— don’t care, but something (!) — hope the decision is parallel w/ the long term goal of the franchise. Whatever that is. Make a damn move! This is dumb. The fans (and Kemba) deserve so much more.
Remember, Charlotte can create well over $40m in space next season depending on a few factors, so they’re treating this signing as part of their FA strategy for next summer too.
24 points for Bacon.
#BuzzCity
, this is about as unexpected and important of a late season development as could be expected for Charlotte. There’s something here.
Source: LaMelo Ball had a CT scan last night to check the hardware that was placed into his right ankle during surgery in February. MRI followed today, which confirmed the sprain diagnosis — medial ankle sprain, specifically. He’s likely to miss at least 4 weeks.
I’ll never lose sleep over the ASG, the selection process, or the results of any of it. But Dragic over Kemba should be an NBA crime in ‘17-18. Kemba has 5.8 NETRTG when on court. Dragic is -3.7. That’s a difference of 9.5. Wow.
#BuzzCity
Having Ish Smith to be able to come out of the pen one of every ten games when you need him, and be consistently good, is a very underrated win from
#Hornets
FA last summer.