RUMOR: Hornets Take Ace Bailey for Future Deal | LaMelo Ball Trade Talk: Something or Nothing?

RUMOR: Hornets Take Ace Bailey for Future Deal | LaMelo Ball Trade Talk: Something or Nothing?

coming up today on the Lockdown Hornets podcast are they having trouble working out prospects and Shams is just like proposing a lamelo trade deal despite him actually not being on the market we try to make sense of that report today loh 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 [Music] it’s Locked on Hornets 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 podcast and that does include YouTube just a couple days away from the draft man it’s unreal unreal that we’re here right now this episode is brought to you by FanDuel uh right now new customers can get $150 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins i like going to FanDuel during draft time nfl draft time made a little moola on FanDuel going to the draft picks trying to guess those as well that’s right a cool 50 bucks baby that’s what Walker made on FanDuel yeah that’s right doug Branson every hornetsboxcore.com locked on NBA with Matt Moore and Hayes you can find them a bunch of different places i’m Walker Male listen to me wfnz every weekday from 12 to 3:00 p.m you know I do feel like we were talking about it before the show i’ve been battling like just Flem 2 weeks now you are starting to get there i I mean I don’t know who’s going to host the pod if both of us are just out of commission but it feels like we’re both SGA doing a Good Morning America interview the night the morning after a championship celebration you can see it in our eyes you can see it it’s we we’re crawling past the finish line no no no i’m I am Tyrese Hallebertton if I can walk I can play if I can speak at all I will be on this podcast either celebrating the Charlotte Hornets selection at the number four overall pick or excoriating it that’s that’s a big word excoriating the pick i hope we’re not excoriating it but I don’t know if the Hornets are even working these guys out that’s what Raphael Barlo suggests anyways let’s go to the guy locked on NBA big board who writes this who talked about this on his own podcast here doug Raphael Barlo said think uh think about the players within that range of four to eight that window Cooper or excuse me that one to five range cooper Dylan VJ Ace have all not worked out for the Hornets i have confirmed that Kaman Malawatch has not worked out for the Hornets i haven’t heard anything that Trey has worked out for the Hornets the only guy in that range within that range that has excuse me the only guy within that range that has worked for them is Khan Canipple and they could be smoke screening but I heard from multiple people that they have not had the easiest time getting people in for a workout.” End quote something or nothing Doug you tell me uh probably nothing i mean historically the Hornets have had a difficult time getting players to work out for them some of that I think is because uh just contextual like look players want to go within a certain range and their agents are advising them hey look if you don’t want to be viewed as a fourth pick don’t work out for the team that has the fourth pick philadelphia has the three pick and they could trade that pick so if you want to go three it doesn’t mean that hey you go you have to really impress Philly you could impress Washington or you could impress New Orleans or you could impress Brooklyn and uh just with your tape and and the whispers that we give to them we don’t have to go work out for those teams either but you don’t go work out for four because then you’re going to be viewed as a four pick so I think there’s some of that i think if we’re being honest with ourselves like Charlotte has not done a lot of winning and so if they had done a lot of winning you know maybe they would be slightly more attractive to some of these prospects uh that do want to go to a situation where they feel like they’re going to get a lot of playing time and a lot of shots i mean that’s certainly the Ace Bailey case we’re hearing that his preferred destination is Washington New Orleans or Brooklyn what do all three of those teams have in common there are going to be a lot of shots available for a for a young star and certainly Ace hopes that you know a team that one of those teams trades up and goes to three so that he can be a top three pick uh but that’s so that’s the deal so I just wouldn’t I wouldn’t take a lot from this yeah and honestly I think that probably right now you see Vegas putting Khan Canipple as like top odds for the pick and I think some of that might have to do with the fact that Khan has worked out for the Hornets so there’s where I would be wary about making that association um but they did look they th this particular crew here in the front office of the Charlotte Hornets they’ve only had one draft and they did take the guy that worked out for them in Tan Salon yeah they did i mean a few things if you’re going to bring up the first four names well why in the world would Cooper Flag and Dylan Harper work out for Charlotte there’s just no reason if you’re going to bring up Ace Bailey Ace Bailey hasn’t worked out for anyone anyone any team he hasn’t worked out for any team so okay those are easy throwins that haven’t worked out for Charlotte now the the interesting names if you just want to get rid of those three the interesting names would be VJ Edgecomb but he’s also angling to be selected at three for more money and going to a situation in Philly where he probably would get playing time even with those guards with Jared McCain and Tyrese Maxi it would be understandable as to why VJ might want to go to Philly over Charlotte so there’s the understanding there that Malawatch Coniple Trey Johnson okay those are the interesting names as well i I I guess I don’t know why those guys haven’t worked out we don’t know if Trey has honestly that’s what Raphael admits to here he just hasn’t heard anything about Trey Johnson the other thing is you mentioned Tan Salon they do move in silence real G’s move in silence like Lasagna Lil Wayne once said and I feel like they were moving like a real G last year and so with them working out Ton a couple of times without anybody knowing about it we had no clue about their interest until 400 p.m on draft day perhaps there have been some secret workouts that nobody knows about with a VJ with a Trey Johnson with a Malawatch so that’s on the table here the Hornets with us having always said that that regime is pretty quiet it it feels like they do their best to be quiet this go around even more so with this new regime and are quite successful at it at times in trying to be quiet so I I don’t I don’t really Okay if if you want to take something away from this and say “Oh man the Hornets have a real issue because these guys would rather play for a different team.” Okay that goes back to the lack of success that this franchise has had for sure but in terms of is there an issue with taking a guy that does not want to be here like really doesn’t want to be here and they’re digging their heels in no I think that would be overshooting this no just go back to the Brandon Scoot thing like they they got Brandon I think back in for multiple workouts why because everyone knew that the number one pick was going to be Wimby and then it was a fight to become the second overall selection when the Hornets are in a position where there’s leverage to get these guys in they do and when they’re not like they are now then they don’t because I think a lot of these guys assume whether you’re VJ if you haven’t worked out for them or Ace that look if Charlotte wants to take me they’re going to take me because they have tape on me they know I played I played in college they can look at the college tape and honestly I the Hornets don’t need to work these guys out in one versus zero situations that’s not to me that’s not even that’s not even helpful now we know for a fact that VJ has come in for an inter interview um and so and maybe the same uh maybe the same things uh the case for Trey and Khan as well i think that’s important i I think both I think it’s important me personally I think it’s important to get these guys in for interviews and find out what they’re all about but I also think that this organization in particular uh really values that trying to figure out if you’re going to be the kind of guy that can come into this locker room and contribute for us and and really help the culture which is why when Gavon says that Charlotte may take Ace Bailey for a trade later I’m not counting that out but I’m saying that would surprise me based on everything that how they’ve operated in the past yeah so right that the Ace Bailey thing uh Jonathan Gavon put that out let me try to read that verbatim just to see but essentially you’re right would you take Ace Bailey just to be able to trade him for the asset a little bit later down the road right like you know today you know that’s what Gavon said today we’re hearing some rumblings that one of those teams at four the Hornets or five the Jazz just could decide to take Ace Bailey with their pick regardless potentially for a trade maybe one of those teams at six seven or eight decides to make an aggressive move that’s our guy Phony Gavone at ESPN i’ll tell you this that’s a great way to get in trouble it’s a great way if you don’t really want Ace and then you just decide to take him because I I don’t God that seems reckless if you know for a fact that one of those teams Washington New Orleans or Brooklyn wants them really badly then okay but there would have to be some kind of deal agreed upon in place when you select them like we’re going to SGAA this thing which hurts yes the trade itself bad using that as an example is you already have the trade agreement in place when you take SGA to then trade to the team behind you in the Clippers who just want to secure their SGA selection and then you get Miles and then you get the uh I guess extra second round pick i forget exactly what it was but God you’re just taking ace and saying “All right guys who wants him?” You know what that reminds me of in fantasy football drafts when you’re playing in an auction draft and then you decide to just bid a dollar you bid a dollar or you bid a dollar and then you raise the price and then eventually just because you’re trying to raise it for other people and then eventually the dude you thought really wanted that guy doesn’t bid anymore and now you’re stuck spending $55 on a player you didn’t want and it just ruins everything don’t bid the extra dollar this isn’t a Yahoo auction draft man let’s just roll on just just take the guy you want trade back let trade back let Brooklyn take Ace if they want him so bad like that doesn’t that doesn’t make any sense to me right like what Gavon is saying has as that I’m sure it’s happened but not like that i can’t I can’t give you an example of a team just taking a guy and then starting to like hey you know are are you sure you don’t want him yeah it doesn’t make sense to me well first of all messing around in an auction is how I ended up with a housebo in a landlocked state second of all it doesn’t make much sense to me either i one example I think would be the Sacramento Kings taking Hallebert i think they took Hallebertton when they already had Fox or they took Fox when they already had Hallebertton and then they were like we’ll figure it out later they took they took Hallebertton they they took out they took Hallebertton when they already had De’Aran Fox right and then they said we’ll figure it out later but already people are looking at that deal when they moved Hallebertton and looking at all the assets they got back for figuring that out and it doesn’t make any sense and that’s it’s always the danger of this thing like once you take the player the a lot of them and not only that then you sort of put yourself and your coach in a weird position where it’s like we kind of have to play Ace and we sort of have to feature Ace because we want to trade this guy later on down the line now it messes up your whole thing to me that would be so antithetical to the whole idea of building Hornets’s DNA hornets DNA is like fooling around with a draft pick that you didn’t really want so you could trade like that’s like 4D chess and you know I I don’t think I don’t think that’s a good idea obviously right yeah just if if you want ace fine if you want ace fine and then the trade offer is so good that you have to trade them fine but if you’re just taking them because you’re hoping that Brooklyn Washington New Orleans either one of those teams decides to give you what you had talked about kind of but have not agreed on and then you’re hoping that the actual selection will breed some urgency there that’s a lot of hope and too rich for my blood and look I I understand this is going to sound weird coming from someone that covers the Charlotte Hornets but I don’t think there’s any bigger indicator of the lack of awareness and maybe the sort of decision-m of Ace Bailey than the fact that he wants to go to the Washington Wizards the New Orleans Pelicans or the Brooklyn Nets look Charlotte’s had bad management but they’ve had a ton of bad luck as well washington New Orleans and Brooklyn they’ve all either had superstars or really tried to win and failed miserably the Charlotte Hornets haven’t had any of that they’re sort they’re still kind of a clean slate and you’re saying “No I actually I’ll pass on the Charlotte Hornets or the Philadelphia 76ers that currently have stars on their team no I’d like to I’d prefer to go to Washington New Orleans or Brooklyn who have never shown any ability to win anything even when given the opportunity come on get out of here get out of here he wants to Hey man he wants to be the hero he He’s going to He’s going to get those franchises he just wants shots i mean let’s just be real he just wants shots and I don’t want to take the guy who just wants shots i want to take the guy who just wants wins thank you very much oh yeah that’s That’s a bar this episode is brought to you by Monarch Money ever check your bank account and wonder where did all my money go between dining out online shopping and entertainment it’s easy to lose track that’s where Monarch Money comes in your personal CFO giving you full visibility and control over your finances monarch Money isn’t just a budgeting app it’s a complete financial command center you can track all your accounts investments and spending in just one place so you stop managing your money and you can start building wealth they give you all-in-one convenience instead of juggling multiple apps you can use Monarch to check your finances track spending even plan for long-term goals plus it allows for easy collaboration managing money with your partner is smoother than ever 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seasons with Charlotte still in the initial stages of a rebuild here’s what he said listen if a team calls the Hornets and makes a massive offer makes a real push for LaMelo Ball if you’re the Hornets you have to be all ears at that point at the position they are with their franchise that’s what Shirania said on Pat McAfee i ask you if the Raphael Barlo quote was something or nothing can we just agree that this is pretty much nothing here with Shams on Pat McAfee or do you think it’s something i know it’s nothing i He has to say something he was asked the question he is an NBA insider he must give uh an insiderlike response and that’s that’s what this is it’s heavily coded with I don’t know what the hell the the Hornets are going to do and that’s how the Hornets operate i think it doesn’t hit the same and also also I look at this and I don’t say oh the Hornets are definitely not going to make a trade with LaMelo Ball it’s just if we learned anything from the Mark Williams deal that sort of came out of nowhere too because the discussions didn’t start on that until very very late into that trade whole trade deadline process and I think the if if a LaMelo ball or any kind of deal happens it’s going to be as they’re about to make this fourth pick it’s going to be right on the line they don’t sort of like have discussions on I don’t think they have discussions on players that that would then leak out you know weeks beforehand i think that how they operate is they they get things like lined up right at the line and then and then make deals there uh so yeah this doesn’t surprise me at all i don’t think they’re having a lot of discussions about moving LaMelo Ball i think if a team suddenly called them with a giant package as he’s alluding to there they would be irresponsible not to contemplate that deal considering the injury history yeah right he’s not wrong right shams isn’t saying anything wrong and it’s good context to bring up that there was a question about LaMelo and so this is fine it’s just when you’re an NBA insider of this magnitude if you’re a woouge or if you’re a Shams and you say something like this then everybody assumes that it’s because you’ve heard things behind the scenes and you know like a Bill Simmons says something a Zach Low says something and they give you this opinion where you know I’m kind of hearing this is how I’m feeling it like it it’s coming from somewhere a lot of times and so you have to take what they say with a lot of significance like what what they’re saying is significant it’s the same thing here with Shams he’s not wrong but if we just dissect what this really means what it really means is there has been absolutely nothing to legitimately report on with the LaMelo saga what that means is there haven’t been any calls to that magnitude where there was any traction right there there’s been nothing there so maybe it happens the Hornets would have to absolutely listen to any trade offer for LaMelo that involved a Smores board of picks but I don’t think they’re getting that offer right now if it happens later fine but he’s not wrong it’s just that there’s nothing new here whatsoever to report he’s answering this question just like you and I would not like an NBA insider and you bet that if there was something to report on the LaMelo situation if they had had discussions with the Clippers or some other team that you would start to hear that information be alluded to at some point during this process shawn Shirani would love nothing more than to go on the Pat McAfee show with some solid LaMelo Ball intel he doesn’t have it um and and he doesn’t really even hint to it here it’s it’s coded it’s not as bad as some of these like draft experts that sort of they they package their information as if it’s a rumor but it’s really just them musing in their own mind that’s the stuff that I hate i don’t even think Shams is like too far off base here and I also No no he didn’t do anything wrong he didn’t do anything wrong we’re just like that that’s the thing it’s it’s aggregated it’s on the Pat McAfee show people are wondering hey it’s Shams we need to take this seriously because it’s Shams what does that mean so this isn’t really any like we we’re not going to come up with a fake funny nickname for Shams like there’s nothing here for that it’s just not yet maybe the FanDuel stuff which was was much more destructive with the FanDuel Scoot Henderson maybe the Hornets go get him that’s the stuff we can make fun of him for this no he’s not wrong he’s not doing anything wrong it’s just that there’s nothing new on the LaMelo front he’s answering this as if he was hosting a Hornets podcast and trying to pontificate about what they might do in that scenario well no the the FanDuel stuff was scam Shirania most of the time that was scam Shirania for sure that’s Sham Shirangia he what he did was wrong i like that one too but we have heard I think solid intel solid reporting that the Hornets are looking to looking at options to trade back and that’s where you know I look at VJ Edgecomb i think if he fell to them they would feel confident that he could transform the defense i think they they like a lot of things from Khan Canipple i just if as much as I’ve heard the Hornets wanting to trade back I’m just not certain they feel highly confident in maybe any of these guys i think maybe you could throw VJ Edgecom in there as like a guy that they would just they would just scoop up if he’s available but u I don’t know that they’re I don’t know that they’re operating from a place of high confidence so we have had some reporting coming out of that camp that I do think is is solid and the fact that we’re not hearing that on LaMelo Ball if you’re a fan of LaMelo Ball in Charlotte should make you feel good also this video of him working on his mid-range game with the Hornets staff so look if they’re if they are planning on trading trading LaMelo Ball if there’s some master plan then this is like the movie Good Fellas and they’re taking you know they’re taking the guy into the room and treating him all nice right before they you know do the deed because they’ve got Hornet staff members in LA in his own gym saying “Hey let’s work on some mid-range moves to to increase your offensive versatility.” Which I love by the way because we talked about his struggles at the rim if they could make him a versatile player and not even address that weakness and just say “All right we’re going to turn that weakness we’re going to forget about that and let’s talk about some ways we can develop even more strengths for you to score.” I love that yeah i mean just getting to the the floater even more so and hitting the floater at a higher percentage because it was nice at the beginning of the year at the end of the year it started to slip a little bit if you start to get into the free throw line and decide you know what instead of taking all that battering and bruising down low I still want you to get to the foul line mid-range might that that the mid-ranges might take away from getting to the free throw line so do you just shoot within the confines of the back and forth game at the free throw line rather than getting there and then having everybody line up parallel on the paint that’s that’s the question for LaMelo getting inside the three-point arc well and so what we saw in that video I mean there were a number of like you’re driving to the elbow and then making a move like a little turnaround move a fake and then over your other shoulder to get open for a mid-range shot and it’s like to me we saw a lot of LaMelo Ball last season getting double teamed getting blitzed off the pick and roll and taken out of his ability to pull up pull up for like reasonable three-point shots like he was having to pull up for some unreasonable three-point shots and sometimes he hits those but his efficiency took a little bit of a dip and so it’s like what if we can develop other parts of your game that don’t require you to go all the way to the rim get bruised and battered or not pick up a foul but can make those defenses play you a little bit more honestly it’s what happens with SGA like SGA’s ability to he wants to drive to the elbow sga’s like he’s good at getting fouled but he’s not always He’ll talk about this he’s not always looking to drive to the rim he wants to drive to the elbow because he knows from that spot he can make plays for himself because of his height but he can also make plays for others from the elbow if the threat of him pulling up from the elbow and knocking a shot is there because that’s going to pull the defense up then you’ve got people cutting baseline then you got people cutting 45 and he can hit those players on that pass it to me huge developments i’m glad they’re focusing on it yeah I we’ll we’ll see how it all unfolds but LaMelo working on it working on a whole bunch of stuff with Hornet staff is a great thing to see and not that we are surprised by it but it’s nice i like seeing the videos it allows us something to talk about i don’t know who leaked that but more less Lavar Ball trying to get them to Clippers land and more what are they working on in the offseason that’s what we want for the Hornets yeah we want them to do all this awesome stuff with a Hornets jersey on coming up next on the Lockown Hornets podcast everywhere mockdrafts mock traps everywhere galore we have a couple to get to i actually helped out a little bit i’ve been asking Doug for multiple so I decided to carry my weight around here i even have one people yeah I I I have a mock draft for the people just like Doug does only a couple more days one more before the first round and then we’ll even give you a sicko like the ultimate exclamation point sicko mock draft only on the day of the second round it’s hilarious that we have a couple of those to get to we get to them coming up next [Music] this episode is brought to you by FanDuel summer sports they’re in full swing and whether you’re all about baseball under the lights golf on the green or you’re a highstakes soccer action fan FanDuel is the best way to make every game even more exciting you’re already following the action why not make it a little more thrilling with FanDuel you can get in on the game while your friends are getting sunburned at the beach don’t get sunburned at the beach why would you do that i’ve been using FanDuel to track some of my favorite matchups the app keeps it fresh with new daily promotions and there are always fun ways to bet it’s easy to use fast payout makes even regular season games feel like mustwatch events that’s all with FanDuel and if you’re new to FanDuel new customers can bet $5 and get $100 $150 in bonus bets 150 in bonus bets if your first bet wins open the FanDuel app today or visit fanuel.com to get started more Lockdown Hornets ahead [Music] finishing thoughts on some of the stuff i I did want to ask you one other question in the first segment i forgot about it during the break and at the beginning of the second segment so I didn’t ask it but I just remembered it and I want to ask you now here it is so with all of the stuff coming out about Charlotte right like we kind of poo poo the players not working out with Charlotte you know we we dismiss the rumors um about not wanting to play with LaMelo like okay it’s really not a big deal and this is me i was you know very much against the idea that it was anything a player might not want to play alongside LaMelo Ball for really whatever reason whether you didn’t like him you don’t know him so that’s weird whatever positional overlap this is what every prospect angles for wanting to go to the right situation are there enough things coming out against the Hornets to where there’s enough smoke here that you worry a little bit about a potential fire or are all of these things just so unfounded and so usual in the way that we talk about draft season 2024 2023 2022 that we still feel even with all these little tiny things coming out about the Hornets like it still feels like nothing to me but the sheer volume of it just makes me come back in survey the land okay is there something that I’m missing or does that do you have that uh reaction at all with just all these little things coming out against the Hornets seemingly no I think it’s it’s a reflection of the many options that they realistically have at the fourth pick i think to me it’s a reflection of the Hornets not locking themselves not being like super you know got the blinders on we we know exactly what we’re going to do and we’re going to do it regardless of whether you like it or not um I think they are i think Jeff Peterson is an explorer that’s how you acquire a lot of assets is you don’t sort of lock yourself into one vision you’re saying “All right we’re in a place as a franchise where we got to be open to a lot of different things.” And so you know I think that’s where Jeff Peterson is i think all of this is a reflection of that also yeah they do keep a lot of stuff close to the vest they’re trying to run a tight operation where they can make decisions without the pressure of things getting leaked all the time i think that’s what I mean that’s what I think is so upsetting about getting involved with the Lakers to try to make that move with Mark Williams is you wait till the last second and you so you don’t open yourselves up to them using your deal as leverage for another deal and then they back out of the deal and they they use you anyway i I think Jeff Peterson Young doesn’t want to to get used to be taken advantage of wants to be taken seriously and I think the way that they’ve operated so far to me gives off a level of seriousness and keeping options open i think both of those things are good for the Hornets right now yeah and all the stuff coming out against the Hornets even if there’s like a few things that might lead you to believe that this is a dysfunctional organization like I Yeah they’ve not won a lot dysfunction seems strong for what they’ve endured at least the last couple of years under Jeff Peterson under new ownership that Yeah and just just wanted to survey the land a little more let’s survey another mock draft doug we got to make it a good one we don’t have many to get to the day before the first round of the NBA draft what mock draft do you have for the people uh no ceilings has updated their mock draft now this one is what they would do so this is not an this is not a them predicting what what the GMs would do based on intel this is just what they would do cooper flag goes one Dylan Harour goes two Khan Canipple goes three no ceilings that whole crew I feel like very high on Khan Canipple’s ability to go in particularly to one of these organizations that already is pre-built to win and help immediately they love Khan Canipple uh they’ve got him going three in their what would they do draft and then that leaves VJ Edgecomb open for the Charlotte Hornets and I’ve seen a few drafts lately where the Hornets pass on Edgecomb even if he’s available because I think Oh wow by the way we we talk about Philly maybe trading back you know Ace Bailey goes three but also I think we have to leave open the possibility of Philadelphia taking Trey Johnson as well and saying “Hey we’d like a shooter we’ve got stars that are going to attract attention we’d like just a shooter um that we think could have a little bit more star upside than Keniple let’s take Trey Johnson.” I think that’s very much a possibility as well that leaves Edgecom open and no ceilings i think they do the right thing here they take VJ Edgecom with the fourth pick as Charlotte Hornets and they right here not knowing what the Hornets are trying to do this summer with their roster but adding an exciting talent like Edgecomb to plug in next to LaMelo and Brandon Miller would be an incredible choice adding a supreme athlete who is dynamic on both sides of the ball is smart for most teams but specifically in this context edgeco makes a ton of sense because he doesn’t need the ball in his hands to make an impact on the game the Hornets instantly become a league pass team to watch given what they might do in transition and if Edgecom can continue to grow as a shooter there’s a ton to like for the future i have a question for you on the Edgecomb thing Walker before you give me your mock draft does the fact Okay he’s 6’5 we talked about the height we haven’t talked much about the wingspan which I believe sits at 67 and a half not quite at 68 that’s a little bit of a tiny wingspan for a for a wing defender archetype and for a 6’5 guy are you worried about the wingspan if the Hornets are just projecting him like they hope the shooting comes along but they really just want him to transform the defense on the wing are you worried about the fact that he has a little bit of the T-Rex arm syndrome yeah I I do worry about it a little bit as you make that jump to the NBA i don’t love it i’d rather it be a a 69 wingspan that’d be great trey Johnson by the way longer wingspan if I’m not mistaken caniple has the T-Rex arms too so Trey Johnson maybe there’s something there to like just not the body that VJ has i’m a little worried about it but I I’ve been I’ve been uh digging in to a whole bunch of stuff Doug like trying to figure out who the hell I want and and VJ has always had the very slim lead but then I see some stuff that I worry about and it’s like all right do I really want to go in on VJ Edgecomb as the just over Trey Johnson over some of these other guys outright make the pick is it that simple i was looking at some defensive stats last night looking more over defensive film with him and I I actually I think today the day before the draft I feel as solid about taking VJ over anybody else like there’s just it just I’ve always been leaning that way it’s not surprising for anyone to hear he’s always been the leader in the clubhouse but it’s it’s waned right it’s been a leaky confidence type of pick in VJ i I’m I’ve called my leaky confidence the Don Cheetel Basher and Oceans 11 pick where I’m detonating the pinch and also covering myself while doing it and detonating the bomb a lot of these are my Don Cheetel picks but I was looking over some defensive stats just everything’s in the green Doug everything everything like blocks per 40 minutes steals he’s so good at making plays on the ball i understand that he’s not amazing at point of attack right now it is not because of the lack of tools and even with the lack of wingspan i think when like in pick and roll coverage he’s looking back at the screen to see where it is and then that’s when a ball handler will attack him when he looks back at the right time that’s coachable man like that that kind of stuff is simple he he’s going to be able to move his feet he he makes plays instinctively on on the the team defensive side that that guy just wants to freaking win and do whatever you want him to do he just whatever you want him to do the handle is not so poor that I’m not going to take them and I I was worried about it i value handle a lot which was you know allowing me to tread some Trey Johnson waters ahead of VJ in both of them available uh scenarios but I’m I’m just taking VJ Edgecomb because I feel like he can do a whole bunch of stuff just a bunch of it and I’m taking him so no not not enough for me not to take him to answer your question no and it doesn’t bother me either and I’ll tell you why very quickly because I know you’ve got a second round mock we got to get to it doesn’t bother me because he has the fil physicality and the want to to become a classic defender with a smaller wingspan that can still disrupt plays guess who that is alex Caruso we saw a lot of that in these playoffs in these finals guess who also has it lou Dort who I think is like 6’8 for 66 player and Alex Caruso I think is like even shorter i think he’s like 66 wingspan for his height so it doesn’t bother me because yeah he’s not going to maybe able to disrupt passing lanes but he’ll be able to get into bodies and get steals VJ Edgecom will be fine and also I think shorter wingspans project you to be more consistent shooters so if you’re a little bit worried or want him to become a more consistent shooter then you want the shorter wingspan guy in that situation if he has the physicality if he can put on the weight I think he can to become somebody that can body up he’ll do it what’s your second round mock um my second round mock it comes in from our guy who hit me up on Twitter Nick Thomas he says he listens to the show so this could be you folks if you listen to the show and you have mock draft publications maybe we just announce it yeah let’s Let’s rock out with your mockout baby that’s what Nick Thomas uh this I need to stop it’s going to go down a bad lane nick Thomas of Draft Stack you have a job you have a real job don’t do it i I know don’t get fired Walker don’t get fired shout out to Nick man really appreciate the support listening to the show all the nice things and uh yeah the mock draft you got the first round picks with the no ceilings mock let’s go all the way down to the second round and again just like no ceilings this is what Nick would do if he was a GM of each of these teams and it’s interesting he’s got Igor Deon falling all the way to number 33 for the Hornets to take like it so he’s the fall guy that That would be That would be kind of wild be the really fall guy that would be that would be the really fall guy because Demond I think is like mid first round like right outside the lottery is where most mocks would have him but you you see these guys fall like some of them eventually do is he the Cam Whitmore of this year’s you know draft even without the injury concerns maybe he’s the next fall guy so Igor Deon at 33 and then he has Chaz Laneir from Tennessee being taking taken by the Hornets at number 34 so this is the the uh really good shooter uh out of the Volunteers program older player he transferred I believe from North Florida out of the A Sun who I got to see him play live chaz just kind of gets to his spots uses his body ymca type of game but you just can’t stop him and he’s going to drill every shot he gets to when he does get to his spots so Nick Thomas of Draft Stack has the Hornets taken Igor Deon at number 33 the BYU uh really brilliant passer but you know not much of a shooter and uh he’s got Chaz Laneir going to the Hornets at 34 out of Tennessee is producer Katie a fan of Chaz Laneir does she want to see him make it to the Hornets at 34 33 uh she would be if she knew who he was at all she is a Volunteers fan uh in in such that she hopes that they win but is not really paying attention to the players she is not that kind of Volunteers fan that that would be a great segment if we just asked her every year about the two or three Tennessee prospects and then asked her for a a prospect breakdown well no this is so while we’re watching the Hornets I’ll go I’ll just kind of look over at her you know I’ll say Grant Williams and she’ll be like Mhm yeah what i don’t I like former UT player yeah oh that’s great go Grant Williams you know wasn’t Wasn’t Admiral Scoffield her guy though am I wrong on that i thought she might have liked Admiral Scoffield i could just be I liked Admiral Scoffield maybe she she just she’s very sweet and pretends to like the things that I like that’s you know that’s why we’re still that’s why she’s still producer Katie she she’s she’s a good one she’s a good one i believe Admiral Scoffield first overall pick by the Hornets in the G-League draft like five years ago shout out to Admiral Scoffield all right that’ll do it for Locked on Hornets thanks for making us your first listen we’re free and available anywhere you get your podcast that does include YouTube there’s Doug Branson every Hornetsboxcore.com locked on NBA with Matt Moore and Hayes they got a bunch to talk about today folks you go check out Locked on NBA make it your second drew Holiday trade by the way drew Holiday dream is dead for the Charlotte Hornets by the way I’ll just say this real quick i know we’re way over time i’ll probably cut this for for the shorter version that we have to put on the the TV screen but if you’re if you’re the Charlotte Hornets don’t do what the This is exactly what I was trying to warn about in the last episode don’t do what Portland just did which is give up a great asset in Simons that probably could have gotten you more just to bring on a 37y old it that’s way out of your timeline way out of your depth you’re you’re thinking you’re a little farther along than you are i want them making little moves around the edges to to buy into LaMelo and Brandon’s greatness not bringing Drew Holliday that’s nuts for for Anthony S like that’s crazy come on yeah yeah that that one is Yeah that’s that’s just a good player right that that’s that’s trading a good player for a different type of better player but good player who’s also 37 that that one’s harder to justify like I don’t I don’t Is that even How much of a risk is that more so than it’s just not something I’m I’m down for but don’t be weird Hornets don’t be weird that’s weird don’t do something weird yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah don’t Don’t do anything weird okay you’re right though listen to Matt Moore hayes and Doug Branson break down that trade unlocked on NBA listen to me on WFNZ today 12 to3 wes is back wes and Walker the full gang we’re back together again 12 to3 every weekday on Sports Radio 927 FM have a great rest of your day draft day first round what are the Hornets going to do we’ll see we’re here to break it all down tomorrow join us [Music]

The Charlotte Hornets are reportedly struggling to get top prospects in for workouts—but could that be all part of the plan? We discuss the latest draft buzz, including whether the Hornets should draft Ace Bailey just to trade him—or stick with the high-motor fit in VJ Edgecombe.

The Charlotte Hornets are at the center of a growing NBA Draft storm. Reports suggest multiple top-5 prospects—including Ace Bailey, Tre Johnson, and VJ Edgecombe—have not worked out for the team, and rumors are swirling about Charlotte selecting Ace Bailey not to keep him, but to flip him in a post-draft deal. But is that strategy savvy… or straight-up reckless?

Walker and Doug break down the logic (and risk) of using the No. 4 pick on a player the front office doesn’t intend to keep. They also lay out the growing case for VJ Edgecombe, who may not have the longest wingspan, but has the heart, motor, and defensive playmaking that could perfectly complement Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball.

Plus: Is the media overstating Charlotte’s dysfunction, or is there real concern about their ability to attract top talent? And what does Shams’ vague commentary on LaMelo Ball actually mean—if anything?

Also on tap: secret workouts, smokescreens, and what this front office’s silence might be saying loud and clear about their draft intentions. With just hours to go before the 2024 NBA Draft, this is the deep dive every Hornets fan needs.
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