Charlotte Hornets Vegas Summer League Preview: What are we watching for from Tidjane Salaun?
we move on from California we’re heading to Vegas baby we’ll give you a preview of that summer league session and then update you on some free agency signings that we haven’t done quite yet we go into detail on a Friday today lockdown Hornets you are locked on Hornets your daily Charlotte Hornets podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day in a minute cuz we live it’s locked on Hornet’s part of the locked on podcast Network it’s your team every day thanks for making us your first listen we’re free and available anywhere you get your pods and that includes YouTube there’s Doug Branson he’s on his substack every Hornets boox score.com on Twitter at Doug Branson and you can also text him when you find his sub text info on his substack and then you can send him messages berating him with Hornet thoughts asking him all sorts of stuff I’m Walker mail listen to me WFNZ every weekday from 12: to 3 p.m. sports radio 927 FM so we move on from the classic we’re going to Vegas there is a game tomorrow night I believe against the Knicks it’s the first game that they’ll play so when they play the Knicks in summer league in Vegas I should say for the first time and then we’ll see exactly when Salon is in the fold Brandon Miller is he going to play a couple of games what are we looking at here with the big story lines as we go into Las Vegas Doug Vegas baby I think the big storyline is obviously the guy that we haven’t seen yet the guy that was a sixth overall pick that there are a lot of question marks about how big of a project is tjan Salon we we are going to get some kind of answer to that question we didn’t get it in the California classic because of an injury to his knee a laceration to the knee ouch um but he will be playing we’ll get to see where does he play does he play power forward is he going to play uh play some Center minutes you know I mean it’s a little smaller there in summer league so you there’s some room to kind of maneuver there but uh yeah can he can he shoot can he rebound what’s what’s the deal with tjon Salon that’s what you know I’ll be watching for we had Nat on Weston Walker yesterday he was in for an hour and he actually pushed back on the idea on Salon spending a lot of time in Greensboro that he’ll actually get a decent amount of time in the big leagues as soon as year one despite being such a raw Prospect and you know like I I can understand that thinking I don’t think that’s going to happen as much but I can understand that thinking with the lack of power forwards on this squad the fact that you do need some depth in the front court and not even just Center anymore but look JT Thor we we’ll get to him too he’s no longer on the team but it’s like you you are very slim I know I’m sorry but you don’t have a lot like wait just wait just why do you have to hit me in the face with that with that right now with Thor’s hammer why do you have to hit me in the face early yeah we we’ll keep it positive we’ll go with salon so maybe Salon does see the floor quite a bit this year but man I if so a a nice summer league session will go a long way into earning him more minutes sooner you know until we have to wait till the second half of the season so so I think you’re right structurally that the roster would lend itself to finding him playing time right now although I will say there is a lot of time uh that the organization previous to this regime would love to act late on roster editions so I I don’t know if that’s going to be the same thing here I mean they’ve got a spot or two open they’ve got some money but like they could fill you know a forward spot and then structurally it wouldn’t make a lot of sense for him to get playing time it but I think this summer league is going to be so important to understanding where he is and for both for the team and I think for fans to take a look as well and they’ll have a camp to make that assessment too so so I think that this is a question that is almost impossible to answer right now we’ve got to see him against some Fringe NBA level competition to say like okay how ready is he because if he’s not it’s not the end of the world it’s not the end of the world if he looks out of his depth in this summer it just means that yes he’s going to have to spend some time in Greensboro before he makes the trip up and that would be best for him if that’s the case Salon is storyline number one Brandon Miller te storyline number two do you think we get him for more than two games I don’t I don’t think so uh certainly could I mean the guy loves to hoop he wants to hoop um you know it’s not necessarily about him being coached by Charles Lee because Charles Lee is not the coach um Josh longstaff is going to be the coach here taking over for Lee after the California classic um but just a chance to get to play with some other young players that chance to hoop I think it’s exciting but I don’t think he’ll spend more than a couple tuneup games and and I just want to see what he’s been working on I I I wonder I’m curious if Brandon Miller is going to approach game you know games one and two um as like opportunities to dominate and show like hey I can score you know 20 30 points in a summer league or is he going to take those opportunities to facilitate for others and and show some things off that he’s been working on particular I would love to see you know how active he is on the defensive end of the floor because I think they’ve in that camp pre California classic they’ve obviously uh made that a priority I think it’s going to be something that’s talked about over and over and over again and um he was like if you look at the defensive ratings according to dunks and 3es for last season Brandon Miller was not at the top of this team I mean he does have some work to do defensively so I’ll be watching I’ll be watching him more probably on the defensive end of the floor than I will on the offensive end of the floor no I think that a good point and so you’re right you asked the question what has he been working on you know I got to thinking about it even though it it goes both ways sometimes time feels like it moves so fast the other times it feels like it moves so slow it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long since we’ve seen Brandon Miller and so I’m looking up his game log here in fact the last time we saw him on on an NBA court it was exactly three months ago April 12th we got to see him play against the Celtics that was his last game they got destroyed 1 1 to 98 but that was the last game we saw from Brandon Miller so it was 3 months ago Doug not that long and that’s the case when you’re one of these young guys even if you are as good as Brandon you are going to dabble in the summer league and then next year Brandon’s going to be too good to come back if you are still struggling to make an NBA roster or you still need to work some things out that’s when you’re the Bryce McGaw of the world the JT Thor of the world and you go back for a third summer league session but there’s a lot of basketball and not a lot of breaks especially now that here we are going through the Olympics and Brandon is practicing against Team USA playing for the US select team so Brandon has not had a lot of off time great thing for him is that he’s young his body can probably absorb that a little better although you’re not talking about a big rest for Brandon so then he gets done here we’re talking at the end of July you’re done August September October we’re ramping it up again so not a lot of rest is is there any reason to worry I mean it feels like just young NBA players deal with that I don’t know if that means it’s the right thing for the scheduling of these guys but NBA players they deal with it they have rehab coaches training staff hopefully they’re looking out for the best interest of these dudes and everything’s going to be okay yeah if there was a serious injury last season I would totally be concerned but there was I mean there were a few minor uh you know dings that he took and he came right back so I I’m not super concerned about that at all I think particularly for young players it’s important that they play that they learn that they soak up every opportunity to get better better and the fact that Brandon is willing to do that uh because look I think you know after his rookie season I think if Brandon Miller wanted to throw his weight around as a number two overall pick and just make some sort of like hey I don’t you know I don’t know if I’ve been doing a lot I’m doing team select I don’t know if I need to play in these games I think there was probably room for him to do that but he wants to hoop yeah and that would be a bad sign if he turned down us that’s you’re right that’s what I’m this is great we’d be if he turned that down we’d be like wait a minute this isn’t a good sign but he did I and I never expect that from Brandon I think that was evident as soon as we got to see him hit the NBA court coming up next on the lockdown Hornets podcast go to sleep on the Hornets just yet uh there’s one more storyline that I think we have to we have to really keep our eyes on there there you go one more summer league preview storyline at least Vegas preview storyline plus then we’ll get to Bryce McGowan’s got some news on his future yesterday from W how about Bryce getting a wge bomb it’s how you know you made it w I hope I hope he just saves that clipping somewhere you know just it is I think it’s a badge of honor uh get to some more free agency updates here coming up next lockdown Hornets this episode is brought to you by eBay Motors passion drive and patience the formula for winning championships is also what keeps your Rider die alive eBay Motors has everything you need to maintain your vehicle and level it up to Peak Performance superchar charers roof racks exhaust kits LED headlights hus or dos Husker don’ts yeah maybe scratch the last two parts but there is plenty more 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summer league and honestly made the most of it had a 20-point game where you could make the argument that it wasn’t actually a very good contest against team China you can make the argument that it was very good then he goes for 29 Points in the California classic Championship as we’ll call it even though the warriors were awarded this faux Trophy this FY it’s a fuxi that’s what they unbelievable FY so Bryce mcgow goes for 29 hits clutch shots gets picked up by the Trailblazers according to Adrien W narowski signs a two-way deal with the Trailblazers good for him like totally worth the flyer from some team and it just kind of ran its course here with Charlotte but if I was another team like I would be totally interested in putting this guy in the system and seeing how it all works out and if it doesn’t fine but again just like I thought with JT Thor who got released as well we’re not ready for that convers I’m not ready emotionally for that convers I will be ready for it in the third segment you’ve done it in the first segment now in the second segment why take care of my feelings please I’m in mourning mourn Thor a worthwhile experiment with Bryce Macwan comes to an end so um I have a correction to issue I will get to my final story line of the summer league in just a second in just a second that’s okay I do have a correction to file uh because we were talking about two-way slots and who would fill the two-way slots and we weren’t sure if the Hornets had filled one of the two-way slots they have yeah and that was KJ Simpson that their recent second round pick was signed to a two-way deal right before the California classic so so they have two two-way slots we think maybe leaky black already has one we’re not kind of sure about that but maybe he played on it last year you could change it if you wanted to yeah right and so they have two so limited spots Bryce McGowan’s a a draft pick of a previous regime I think that’s an interesting question like if Mitch cup were still in charge would Bryce mcgowans move from that guaranteed money to one of those two-way deals I tend to think yes because like Mitch was almost to a fa loyal to some of these draft picks that he made and wanting to see them develop and so I think he would be but different different front office now they’re reevaluating everything and and Bryce goes despite a strong summer league and I think you know any anytime you’re drafted particularly second round picks I think you’re at the mercy of what all the stuff that’s happening around are there injuries that allow you an opportunity does the roster when you’re drafted represent the roster you know two three years down the line when decisions have to be made I think the environment around Bryce the ground shifted under him and I think going to Portland is going to be a much better situation where they actually have there’s going to be room for him there to do something where he would not have gotten that opportunity even under a two-way contract for Charlotte so I think it’s the best thing for him and and honestly there are some shooting bigs on this roster that I think are more of a pressing need for the Hornets to develop in mgee and Jake Stevens if they decide to use one of those two ways on either of those guys more important to what they need than whatever Bryce can do played a lot of games in two years for the Hornets Doug as a guy that gets drafted in the in so late it it was late first or early second right one of the two but Bryce played 59 games in his uh excuse me 46 games his rookie year started seven of them played in 59 games this past season started 14 of them did improve field goal percentage three-point percentage basically stayed the exact same on the exact same makes on the exact same volume it felt like it anyway uh points per game was at about five but a a lot of experience and it just didn’t go he didn’t improve I guess as much as we would want him and there are a bunch of different roles as to why he’s starting not playing getting a little bit of playing time off of the bench with all of the injuries just trying to find something until you go to the trade deadline right where then you bring in Trey man you bring in meic you bring in Seth Curry at least for a little while before he gets hurt all the opportunity it dries up no more and eventually you fall yourself out of the rotation yeah I mean this isn’t it’s a second round pick so those don’t often stay with any team but you know the the Charlotte Hornets uh other than Cody Martin Cody Martin stands alone as the second round pick that that hangs around with the organization so this is not um this is not unusual uh so are you ready for so anyway thank you Bryce for all of your contributions you you could sort of get this uh Dwayne bacon there’s there’s a Litany of I think way I thought of him too no I thought about him too because he starts his first game ever remember Nick bat hurt Dwayne bacon as a second round pick starts his first ever game I thought about him as well it’s not as if these guys don’t get their chance with Charlotte mhm you know and and so you you watch a player and you hope that they pop and if they don’t then they get to go to another organization where maybe they get a different opportunity you get some different coaches that’s what I’m saying man he might find a coach in Portland and and we might be talking about Bryce mcgallen and it doesn’t necessarily mean that the Hornets did anything wrong or that Portland did anything like particularly right It’s just sometimes guys go to different situations and it works out that’s how it works and hopefully what what I would like this front office to do that I don’t think the previous front office was really good at is be the opposite end of that go out to other teams and find players that you feel like hey maybe they didn’t fit in this situation but if they get into our Hornet DNA they’re going to pop that’s what good organizations do I I think that they’re going to be you know I mean Moe is a good example of a guy that fell out of the Raptors organization and now might have an opportunity if he’s not if he didn’t horribly injure his ankle might have an opportunity to pop for Charlotte so there’s that the other storyline that I have is Nick Smith Jr did not shoot well at all at the California classic and shot a lot and didn’t shoot very well um you know I think that it’s going even if he had a great summer league it he’s fighting an uphill battle to carve out a strong place in this rotation but if he continues to struggle in Vegas I I think some major questions will start to pop up about his future with the organization okay you’re ready to move on any other preview thoughts well I I sort of mentioned this but yeah I keep watching Jake Stevens keep watching Mo G these uh centers that they’ve brought in if if Mo is is good to go if Mo can go uh then I’m interested to see if they can continue to shoot continue to be active um Jake Stevens in particular I am the f I was the first on Jake Stevens Island you cannot claim it um I I have sole copyright over Jake Stevens Island I think he’s a physical rebounder I think he can shoot the lights out for sure I want to see him in more pick and pop opportunities hopefully they’ll get some of those going for him but I’m you know excited to see if they can find someone to fill this third spot in the the the the center rotation the guy can actually shoot and I think both of these guys present that opportunity well and and by the way as long as we’re doing the two-way combo yeah with with Bryce being on both of our list as a guy that probably deserved a 2-way contract based on how he played no longer there so you’re not sweating as much if you’re one of these other guys leaky you’re not sweating as much because you already have it even though it’s not a guarantee that you’re going to be on that contract next next year and then Moi Jake Stevens maybe just hand them out to a couple of big guys already having a guard in your second round pick taking up one of those two-way contracts so that’s another thing that Bryce mcgaw’s absence does do for the Hornets on part of just trying to fill out the two-ways and it’s actually important it’s actually important that that they get this right because we saw Nathan menah get minutes last season we saw marqueis Balin get minutes and with all due respect to those guys they were not ready for that assignment and it it hurt it look they came in at points when the Hornets were out of it so it wasn’t like it mattered to the standings but I think so much of Player Development and that that if that’s what this organization is interested in developing the young talent that they have so much of that is can you be functional as a basketball team out there not necessarily win the game but can you be functional and you couldn’t do that with those players at the center position they’ve got to find some guys that if they do you know get horribly injured that they’ve got somewhere to go all right coming up next on the lock on Hornets podcast go to sleep on the Hornets just yet we’ll get to the updates and have the conversation Doug doesn’t want to have I tried to bring it up in the first and the second segment but it’s time you got to do it just have to attack the combo and then be a better man on the other side because of it that’s still to come lock on Hornets I don’t want to this episode is brought to you by Better Health comparison is the thief of joy and it’s easy to Envy other people’s lives it might look like they have it all together on their Instagram or whatever social media profile you’re looking at but in reality they probably don’t therapy can help you focus on what you want instead of what others have so you can start living your best life if you’re thinking of starting therapy give better help a try it’s entirely online designed to be convenient flexible and suited to your schedule just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist then you can switch therapist anytime for no additional charge stop comparing start focusing with better help visit betterhelp.com lockon NBA today to get 10% off your first month that’s betterhelp HP betterhelp.com SL lockon NBA more locked on Hornets ahead it’s time Doug Hornets PR June 28th they give you this tweet the Hornets have declined the team option on forward JT Thor making him an unrestricted free agent in three seasons with Charlotte Thor averaged 3.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 12.2 minutes per game in 165 contest your thoughts on the more Thor movement coming to an end well endings are always difficult um and I think you have to remember the good time the thorner three Thor’s hammer who can forget dropping down um the few minutes in which it looked like he could defend at an NBA level that’s what you have to hold on to and that’s what I hold on to the t-shirt that I made Rod being the one person that bought it and then wearing it on the show you’re a good man Rod you’re a good man that’s what I’ll remember um listen another second round pick we just talked about Bryce McGowan’s another second round pick that you you were hopeful for I I think what makes Bryce if because I think it is fair to think like second round pick falling out of an organization that’s pretty normal I think what makes Thor and McGaw both a little bit more difficult to swallow is that those were both both uh picks that you traded up to get and you didn’t lose a lot in those trades it’s not about the assets that you lost to trade up it’s about this idea that the organization said I’m going to trade something to move up because I’m confident that this guy is going to work and they tended to be at the top of the you know of the second round so like that that’s what makes it a little bit difficult but yeah look I believed in Thor and it just and Clifford believed in Thor and it just didn’t work out he just did not improve the things like ball handling like passing um you know I’ve been using this word a lot functional he was durable um when he was hitting threes like late in the season uh he could he could you could stand to have him on the floor but but it was difficult to be functional while while he was out there well and and and Nick Smith Jr will I I not because they traded up to get him I think he’ll fall along the same lines to me the the the thing that makes it harder to see Bryce and JT go and it’s not you know crazy hard but hey there was some flashes there it’s because they would show some stuff it it felt like there was something there where there should they should be picked up by another NBA team just to figure something out JT Thor I mean I don’t know if this eases the pain but actually it kind of house money because the reason they got that JT Thor selection was because they traded for Mason plumbley to absorb his contract because the Pistons didn’t want him anymore so the Pistons just added the 37th overall selection JT was getting a lot of Buzz as a potential first rounder and lots of NBA draft pundits were like hey check out this JT Thor Kid really young I believe the youngest player in the draft if I’m not mistaken you know really does have a high ceiling could hit some threes real athletic whatever so I think value-wise in that draft with James book Knight and Kai Jones felt like JT Thor was the best value and what’s crazy Thor lasts longer on the team then James book Knight and Kai Jones your first two picks and two first round selections so he’s gone that’s what makes it hurt a little bit Bryce showed some stuff and I think Nick Smith Jr will kind of be in this category as well because this is somebody that had the besto shooting percentage among all the rookies that got some contest if it doesn’t work out for him I’ll put him in that category where Bryson JT are yeah well Nick Smith Jr they actually in a weird way they traded down to get him because you know a year process to go get him yeah yeah it could have been a 13th pick in the previous draft and said they trade with Denver all the way and for the next draft and then that ends up being the Nick Smith junior pick but Nick Smith Jr has does have one thing going for him versus Thor and McGowan which is like he has a thing that he can do which is shoot the basketball now he hasn’t done it yet in the in this summer league that’s why I think it is the thing to watch for uh more than anything and I know he’s focusing on the defensive end and I think the coaching staff wants to see him contribute more on the defensive end but look if he forgets how to shoot he’s not going to play but he does have a thing that is valuable particularly to this team I mean they need shooting um so I think he’s got that going for him but Thor didn’t have that thing consistently enough to make up for the other stuff which is like he couldn’t handle the basketball he was not a great passer so there were some things that made it difficult for him to play um a couple of other updates by the way Reggie Jackson deal uh that involved and excuse me the Reggie Jackson deal and the Josh Green deal that turns into a six team trade right it’s like a it’s like a Voltron or like the Power Rangers you know when they all came together for the Megazord like this this trade turned into the Megazord trade six teams six teams and and Doug you came across the Nugget that said that was the first time that’s ever happened in the NBA surprises me uh I mean I guess six does sound a lot you hear like three team Trade four team trade you you definitely hear often I guess six team trade I guess it’s never happened before that’s strange but the Hornets uh they get to they well here’s what I like they get to be part of an NBA first that is a positive for them in the acquisition of Reggie Jackson and round picks and Josh Green instead of often times this franchise unfortunately as part of NBA first that aren’t necessarily very positive oh that’s right also as we mentioned Bryce JT Thor no more with the Hornets also the team released poku no longer on the team Davis bton no longer on the team getting waved while he was playing for team laia going to the Olympics and then saying I don’t really care afterwards being interviewed so again people were a few people were like whatever about it’s like yeah like if you get waved by a team I can I can give you a little bit of leeway to be hurt by that that’s correct and then same thing with Kelly UB uh you know saying some hurtful things like he wanted to be here we hurt people hurt people we have to understand that that actually is a sign that they wanted to be here and were rejected now I do hope that at some point like a Bryce McGowan or somebody will filter out of this organization and say no that’s actually a really well-run organization I enjoyed my time here but I’m excited about my new opport but that has to happen because you have a functional organization that treats people correctly and I think we have one now and I’m excited about that happening in the future but I can understand Davis being hurt Reggie Jackson isn’t the only former Hornet that the Hornets traded for again and I’ll use former Hornet with re former yeah that’s right they actually traded for Devonte Graham to Doug yes hey buddy you you talk about a wild ride for 30 seconds reading the first half of this tweet I was like goodness gracious did they bring him on home but really they did not the Hornets traded for Devonte Graham and a second round pick then they would wave Devonte Graham all they wanted was the second rounder so Mitch cup is still somewhere in that building so they trade for Graham and it was the Spurs just trying to offload money so they could go out and they could get some of these other guys through free agency and uh and even I believe in the Spurs trade uh or excuse me the D rozan trade I believe that had something to do with d rozan going to Sacramento the Spurs get a the the pick swap which was valuable with Sacramento but anyways so Devonte not on the team Reggie Jackson still is he hadn’t got waved yet I was just about to ask you that because I know we’re going to get to some other questions but just really quickly is Reggie Jackson gonna play for the Hornets this season it feels like maybe a later candidate to then go seek a contender somewhere I but I don’t know I I think the possibility Rises obviously as as we go on without him look I’m going to look at Reggie’s shooting because like I mean if they need if if he shot well the previous season I mean I’m not like totally you know I think I’m I’m not as versed on Reggie because I just I guess I assumed that they were just bringing him on as part of this whole Devonte gamish thing of like we’re going to take on your bad money give us picks and then we we see you later but they’ve done that with Devonte they haven’t done that with Reggie Jack and last season for Denver he shot 36% from three uh the previous couple Seasons not so great but like if he can give you a little bit of shooting and ball handling behind lamelo ball who you might be worried about injury-wise I mean and if he plays well in like a pseudo sixth or seven man rooll then okay well you might be able to get some trade value for him to get even more assets at the trade deadline I I like it I like it and we’ll see if that happens let’s go very quick through some rapid fire we have to stay true to this it has to be rapid fire Rapid Fire free agent questions uh most surprised player you saw waved by the Hornets uh povi because there is you know he can shoot he’s a big they don’t have many of those guys I know he’s kind of a pseudo big because you know he’s he’s a string bean but that was surprising to me because because it wouldn’t have cost him that much to retain him Davis I think obviously they they tried to move that deal and and it wasn’t it wasn’t movable so that just saves them a bunch of money Bryce we’ve already talked about so poku for me yeah it’s not like it’s crazy surprising right but poku would be my answer as well and that really comes down to not having a lot of big dudes if you look at the front Court depth power forward specifically we’re looking at you know guys with the ability to play that position Grant Williams Miles Bridges and who else look at the payroll it is Bleak there so maybe that’s the reason that you would keepu least surprised player uh or least surprised you were to see a player wave what who was that Davis because uh the contract like they they were not going to pay that guy $17 million um and it wasn’t even about like well that would have put them into an apron or it was just like for the contributions he wasn’t going to contribute that much um unless there was a ser of injuries and you know it’s not like it’s not like this is Boston or Miami that’s like really racking it in at the uh the turn Styles so yeah I was least surprised to see I I was um I think disappointed that they couldn’t move that deal in some way because it felt like a contract because of the stipulations that could have helped the team move off of another bad contract but they just couldn’t do it and so but that’s least surprising for sure I’ll go JT I just I just felt like it was about to be we never ever had him in our future plans and I know that hurts maybe we can have that as the bridge to this next question is JT Thor the saddest you were to see a player leave this team yeah because I just I believed in it and and when you when you believe in something so strongly and it doesn’t work out it makes you second guess yourself and so I would like to make JT’s release about me uh that I I start to second guess myself a little bit what did I what was I not seeing what was I I was trying to watch and maybe I maybe I missed some things because I I got you know some rose-colored glasses on about JT Thor but I just so because I saw you know well I’ll tell you what I saw I mean I saw a guy that the Raptors often draft and turn into stars in the league and I just I continue to want the Hornet you thought he was gonna be Chris bue yeah no totally totally that’s the name Chris bu for sure like a guy that that is uh you know in the 67 to 69 range long wingspan and can be a three and D guy I mean I think they are still searching in the wilderness for that player uh but that was not what JT Thor uh became also I mean it hurt my t-shirt sales for sure yeah that would I mean if if JT hits then we are filthy rich um saddest for me but you know I think it’s a tie between drew pimber it was a fun week um do you reim I do I remember the the one flush that he had out of the four field goal attempts in just a little bit of time against team China I’ll always have that and then also like I’m just going to go ahead and say James Nai because I don’t even know what’s up with that guy anymore he he didn’t want to get drafted by the Hornets he’s not anywhere in their plans right now I don’t think we saw anything official as to them not having the rights to his NBA playing time I don’t even know what’s going does anybody know what’s up with Naji does anybody know if he is still technically a hornet if he were to play in the NBA cuz I he’s hanging out with Kua it’s n and Kula in this like mysterious uh mysterious zone of hornets that may not be Hornets or may be Hornets we don’t know okay well those those are the questions we’ll ask did you have one more question pertaining to the free agents or are we done I well are we done I think that’s the question are the Hornets done with free agency do you think they make any kind of additional ad give me another power forward I need somebody Doug it’s it’s it’s thin if you are relying right like you could start the two starting lineups that you could roll out with to begin is Josh Green 2 Brandon Miller 3 miles Bridges 4 or the other one is Brandon Miller 2 miles Bridges 3 Grant Williams 4 so those are the two lineups you could roll with in one scenario you have one bench guy that you can go to at the power forward spot so give me a big dude I need somebody like if you’re six seven then I need some thickness I just just need you really to be 68 or above and be able to play the four spot give Mark Williams some help give miles Bridges Grant Williams some help but that’s what I want yeah and things are thin right now I mean a lot of a lot of those power forwards have been um have already found new teams uh but yeah I think um and then we’re like turning guys into power forwards that I don’t think are really power forwards but so yeah I think the Hornets will have to maybe look within the summer league roster to see you know if you can turn I mean I think you know Jake Stevens is definitely a center like he has concrete blocks for feet like he is not you are not putting him on a power forward under any circumstances but mgee if he’s healthy I’m crossing my I haven’t heard anything I need to I’m gonna text Sam plyy right now like give me a m update is a guy playing or what because I think that is a guy uh that uh you could play at either of those positions for for moments okay that’ll do it for lockon Hornets thanks for making us your first listen make your second listen locked on fantasy basketball and then make your third listen yes I want to dictate your whole listening day I have Charles Lee on today so no no west it’ll just be me Charles Lee hanging out on wnz what are you gonna ask him I don’t know no no tease me tease me 12:30 he’s gonna be hopping on ask him about M get a m update it’ll it’ll basically be a Drew Pim Moi conversation why that’s actually the whole the ratings I can see the ratings now going through the roof welcome welcome Charles Lee to the west and Walker show so Coach Lee drew p why okay that’ll do it for Charles Lee that’s how the interview is going to go but still you should listen to it anywhere you get your podcast you can catch that also when we upload it as well we’re even if you can’t catch at 12:30 we’re still uploading it to Apple Spotify all that stuff as we are here with lockon Hornets also check out Doug substack every Hornets boox score.com and then let’s listen to me again WFNZ especially at 12:30 today um and we will be going from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. have a great rest of your day have a great weekend we’ll be back with you tomorrow Monday we’ll be back with you Monday oh
Walker and Doug get ready for Vegas by discussing the top storylines surrounding Tidjane Salaun and Brandon Miller. How much will they play? Will Nick Smith Jr. improve? The guys finish discussing some of the later free agency moves the Hornets made this offseason. Could Reggie Jackson actually suit up for Charlotte?
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14 Comments
Brandon Miller didn't look good in Summer League. So summer league means nothing.
I am still annoyed that the warriors won the goofy trophy because we were so much better than them. If we played them we would win by 52 pts
I know we waited on Bryce and he never quite took the leap we were looking for, but history tells us he will probably play really well on another team. I wish him well on his next team.
Cody is the lone second round pick to stick around…… nick in the corner like forgotten oldest sibling
1984/85- Jordan played a season of college, olympics (gold) , 82 regular season games, all star weekend including dunk contest (lost to Nique) , playoffs, , Rutgers park pick up game, charity classics game. Yes, Brandon and the rest of the under 30 pros , should play ball at every opportunity.
League still rigged for big market teams, that trophy was the Hornets
Would love to see them add Precious Achiewa or a trade swapping Micic for Zeke Nnaji. They don't need to add another older vet unless they bring Curry back on a one year team friendly contract. They have Martin, Jackson, Williams a and Bridges as vets. Geueye should get a 2 way deal.
How many time off they need, omg, part of the problem is the media thinking they need lots of time off… I hope BM is hitting the gym since His last game in April, because all the picture shared on social is him goofing around, with the exception of the last two weeks where he looked exhausted on those clips from charlotte training with coach Lee.
Thor OUT
Gueye IN
When Thor got cooked by Thanasis, I knew the writing was on the wall.
You guys need to have James Plowright on to talk about how the front office navigated the salary cap with the player waivers ending up below the cap before signing Bridges to his new deal. James Nnaji is recovering from back surgery.
Time to find out if we’re dealing with embers in the crowd or a potential wildfire down the line
Jackson played a significant role on a championship team two years ago.
Grant played a significant role in a run to the finals.
Green is coming of a finals run.
And, Charles Lee has won two as an assistant.
Keep Jackson. Trade Micic. Import that championship DNA in the building.
bryce mcgowens is about to go OFF everybody leaves us and turns into 92-93 Jordan