Injury Updates & Close Losses: What LaMelo Ball’s injury means for the Charlotte Hornets season
In this jam-packed episode of Locked On Hornets, we recap the whirlwind of developments since our last recording. Injuries continue to pile up, with LaMelo Ball, Tre Mann, and Mark Williams sidelined, leaving the team struggling to find rhythm amidst frequent lineup changes. Walker Mehl and Doug Branson assess how these setbacks impact the Hornets’ trade deadline strategy and the long-term direction of the franchise. Should they prioritize development, make bold moves, or let the chips fall?
Brandon Miller’s recent performances take center stage. Despite injuries, Miller is emerging as a leader, highlighted by a stellar 32-point outing against the Hawks. We analyze his growth, areas for improvement, and the implications of his high-pressure role. Plus, what does his rise mean for the Hornets’ roster construction?
We also evaluate the Hornets’ recent competitive stretch. Despite five consecutive losses, they’ve kept games tight against top-tier teams like the Heat and Knicks. Charles Lee’s coaching comes under the microscope—has he done enough to maximize effort and defensive intensity, or do late-game struggles fall squarely on his shoulders?
Finally, we break down Isaiah Wong’s addition to the roster. Can the former Miami Hurricane bring much-needed scoring and spark off the bench? And what does this signing say about the Hornets’ approach to navigating this injury-plagued season?
Tune in for all this and more, including reflections on Hornets’ long-term needs, standout moments from recent games, and Doug’s hot takes on rebuilding strategies.
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#Hornets #LaMelo #LaMeloBall #CharlotteHornets
32 Comments
First!
Second !
9:35 love Doug, Chicago Illinois rocks with locked on hornets. LaMelo ball is injury prone, the entire Ball family is injury prone, physically and mentally, its time to move away from each Ball brother
You need to change there's bees everywhere to there's bugs everywhere
16:00 statistically, you may consider those teams "good" but those teams are historically bad, all those teams stink, hornets lost to loser teams
Unreal. When will this bum Lamelo actually be available at all times? The Hornets season is done for this year. They won't even make it to the play-in tourney lol so sad… It's time for the Hornets to move on from this bum.
You guys didn't even mention Grant, out for the season. We were more or less holding it together until he went down, followed by Tre.
This injury crisis is a team building problem with the front office.
KJ Simpson played very well over the weekend. And showing more confidence than Salujan
These Players are soft and can’t play through pain like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant , Larry Bird or Tim Duncan’s of the world 🌎
TRADE MARK WILLIAMS, HE’S NOT WORTH KEEPING
LOOK AT THE WARNING SIGNS
not to pick on lamelo but lamelo couldn't handle real center Bam Adebayo. still a long way to go from real 3 level scorer All nba.
Taj Gibson coming out with a 40 pt burger. Vasa Micic with the 20pt trip dub. that's all it takes. not a big ask
The eyes being so tiny makes me want to cry all night 😭
Does no one see it… none of these guys are seriously injured except for Grant. The hornets want to keep their 2025 first round pick in a loaded draft while getting their young guys who couldn’t get on the court some experience. As well as Coach Lee.
I know we want to see them win but they don’t want to rush the process. The goal is to be competitive every game, which they are. This is what ownership meant when they said we’re in the second inning of a nine inning game. Let’s go Hornets!!
Correction on the Melo injury. It happened when he was trying to get open when Hornets were down 4. It was the Salaun missed shot play at the buzzer
Lonzo to Charlotte?
Tank job is in full effect
A real problem with the Hornets (and I wish the NBA would fine them) is the incorrect injury reporting and time frames. Literally a week to week injury could be season ending.
Worst part is how they hid LaMelo injuries right before the game all the people that bought tickets got screwed
The silver lining is that the east is so bad there is still possibility that we can get healthy and be in a play in! Also Charles Lee definitely has this locker room as they continue to compete in each and every game regardless of who is on the floor!
One guy comes back, another goes down…how long will this go on…😅
We’re in a never-ending hell 😂😭
What are the Hornets doing wrong? Seems like not luck anymore if everyone's always injured
What I will say is that they're competing in almost every game. A lot of their losses are 1-5 points
These are BS injuries. Hornets have no respect for the fans or for the game. Tanking is killing the league and should not be rewarded. It never got any team a title. Sixers did it for years and got Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons out of it, and another player out of college who's no longer there. Play to win with what you have. I already canceled my Fandual app. If the team doesnt' care why should anybody else. And just get rid of Mark Williams. LeMelo's always going to "play hurt" he's done it since he's been here off of suspect injuries, I don't see that changing.
I was wondering how long before LeMelo "suffered" another ghost injury. How long this time. Where's Miles and Tray and I don't even count Mark Williams anymore. What are they proving with this stuff. Play. It's your job.
Question! : When did Charles Lee actually realized in the last two games that Lamelo was actually masking deficiencies on the team and the roster is terrible?
Also the roster is bad. They need talent.
They are milking it .. make millions lol
Teams toying with them. 4th comes they step it up enough to win
Josh green a keeper. He wants to play.
Lamelo not injured they just showed a vid of him running around during practice and whatnot they jus resting him