LaMelo Ankle Issues RETURN, Should They Deal Him for Ja Morant? | Why Kalkbrenner is TOO BIG TO FAIL
We’re facing the injury reality as LaMelo Ball’s ankle impingement is back and Brandon Miller is out with a shoulder subluxation. We also discuss why a LaMelo for Ja Morant trade makes no sense and praise the incredible start for rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner
We’re back to talk about the injury bug, and it’s hitting the Hornets hard. We start with the frustrating news about LaMelo Ball. That “ankle impingement” that ended his season last year has returned , and it’s clear this isn’t just “load management”. This recurring issue is a major concern, especially now that the team’s identity is built around his specific talents and the team has finally put complementary pieces around him.
As if that wasn’t enough, we also have the official update on Brandon Miller. He’s confirmed to have a left shoulder subluxation and will be reevaluated in two weeks. We explain why that “two-week” timeframe feels like the “kiss of death” for Hornets fans , remembering what happened with Tre Mann last season.
With LaMelo injured, the trade rumors are swirling again, specifically the “LaMelo for Ja Morant” swap. We explain why this makes no sense for Charlotte , especially given Morant’s history of off-court drama.
To end on a high note, we have to talk about Ryan Kalkbrenner. Is the rookie center “too big to fail”? He’s been fantastic, posting huge block numbers and fitting perfectly into Charles Lee’s defensive scheme. We look at how he’s excelling and why he’s already exceeded our expectations.
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#Hornets #LaMelo #LaMeloBall #CharlotteHornets
40 Comments
Ja is from SC so the Hornets are technically his team
No. Trade LaMelo to Sacramento for the Pick’s, then trade Bridges, Salaun, Green somewhere. And Build around B Mill, Kon, Sion, Kalbrenner, etc and we need to go back to the old Hornets Logo early 90”s.
My take is LaMelo was held out for load management on the first game, but the team did so well they figured they could sneak another win against the New Orleans in the second without LaMelo
Lamelo for ja is the ONLY trade. I’m not necessarily ready to see melo go but I get it
Mark Williams does everything better than kalbrenner
Kalk This Way!!
I've said this for a year now. Trade Melo! He is injury prone, doesn't always play hard all the time, isn't a leader and doesn't play good defense! Trade him!!!!
Hell nahh!!!!!!!!
Trading one injury prone guard for another😂 Are you guys slow?
I agree Doug, way too early for Charles Lee firing. Not saying he's great, we just gotta give it time.
Kon is ranked 4 and kalkbrenner is ranked 9 now on the rookie ladder! What a draft.
On the lamelo ja thing. Lamelo is younger has better stats and has played more the previous 3 years then ja… Why on earth would we trade him for ja?
I saw the thumbnail, have only listened to 2 seconds of the pod so far, so I don’t have any context but the answer is yes….get Melo off my team. Bro is a non factor and I’m so sick of all the upsides, optimism, exercises, apologists, etc. I just want to watch basketball without hearing people say “if Lamelo was healthy” blah blah blah. Get him off my team. There’s no upsides or optimism to be had when the inevitable is that a your best player will only play a handful of games year in and year out. Get him out!!!
Unlikely but a Ja / Melo backcourt would be so fun to watch but they’ll probably play 50% of games together and the defense would be atrocious
How about some conversation about the franchise's different strategy for the Swarm. The prior ownership never tried to find and develop talent. They would just put together a cheap low caliber roster just so the draft picks would have someone to get them the ball when they were assigned to Greensboro. There was no emphasis on winning at that level. Last year they were competitive witha better winning percentage than the parent club. This season they actually have some talent with their 2 way players surrounding them with nice pieces such as Eric Dixon and Ibou Badji. This group should be fun to watch especially if they put in a running offense. Would love to see Badji develop into a potential third center option for the Hornets. He is raw but has some crazy skills and athleticism. Blocks more shots than Caulkbrenner. Sort of a younger, taller Bismack Biyombo with better hands and more offensive skills.
Here we go again with the trade talk. Offering our star PG that plays in 57% of games for a star PG that plays in 62% of games. Make it make sense
Kalk has been much better than I expected.
Question is giddey better than melo or does he have a better team and coach with competent gm cuz he’s the best thing since sliced bread of late oh yea don’t mention his superb defense gtfoh the league chooses who they want to elevate and unfortunately melo don’t fit their narrative regardless of his popularity smh go figure
Non biased opinion. Lamelo for Ja is a downgrade. Ball can work on his ankles and health. Ja's personality and team mentality is a longer hill to climb. How about letting the young guys get their heads banged in some more and the coach get his system flowing before panicking for a name. Charlotte is on the upswing even with the tough losses. I hope they give lee and his brass more time to gel with everyone on the floor before just pulling the plug and end up being the team that imploded before you could see the full board together for more than 20 games.
As they say, the most important ability is availability
The Money Pit….Walter “How long will that take?”. Shirk brothers “Two weeks”.
It sounds like from his previous years he plays with pain. He will have good days when he plays and will need to sit down and rest it on his bad days . It will be up to the Hornets power to be as next step.
I’m satisfied seeing the rookies get better as the season goes. Watching Kalkbrenner figure it out in realtime has been fun.
doug is beaming
In regards to Ja, I'm good in the East.
I bet Lamelo plays against Miami.
Ja sucks as a person and can’t shoot. Pass. Worse than Zion.
Great podcast Walker and Doug 🙌🏻, great reaction from Doug about the injuries and the situation, Kenny from South Park 🤣🤣. Were all sickos and have had to get used to all these injuries to our best players over the last 3/4 years. Surely the tide has got to turn at some point 🏀
Melo’s last game, the Timberwolves. Feels like no one noticed, sure they have, but he did a step through move in the first 2 minutes and was kinda limping and v slow for the whole game but played. EC didn’t mention it, am I the only one who picked up on it? I know it doesn’t change anything but it was clear as day
¿En serio quieren mandar a uno que se lesiona y cobra mucho por no jugar, por otro que también se lesiona y cobra mucho por no jugar, que encima tiene problemas de justicia y actitudes?
All I know id Lamelo has to go. Im so sick of him warming the bench all season every season. Move on
Imagine if Kalk developed his three. Personally think he shoots a good ball. It would make the other teams big have to respect it
I'd trade Melo for Ja or any other star in this league asap. I'd also trade Miller bc I don't believe he'll even be healthy again. Hell I'd trade Bridges too. Bring in some players who actually care about winning, before the rookies get tainted by the other guys stink
you don't need Ja, you just need Dylan Harper
If we can get Ja a 3-ball, then he could work in Charlotte 🤷🏿♂️
Why not i think he's better for the team
Trqde him for Ja throw in Connaughton and some 2nds Try to get Santi Aldami or another Core bench piece. JA WOULD BE CLOSE TO HOME MAYBE 40 MIN..FAMILY TENDS TO STRAIGHTEN THINGS OUT AND LAST OF ALL HES MORE PHYSICAL PLAYS D' GETS ASST TOO.PLUS HE MOSTLY AVAILABLE NOT ANTY INJURY THAT HOLDS HIM TO 30 GMS A YEAR AKA MELO NEED TO TRADE HIM ASAP TRY TO GET ANOTHER ASSET A BIG THATS DECENT.THROW IN A SECOND AND CONNAUGHTON OR SALAUN.PREFERABLY CONNAGTON . NO VALUE BUT A CONTRACT.STATS ARE GOOD BETTER DRIVER MORE INENSE AND COULD UNLOCK LEADERSHIP WOITH BEING CLOSE TO HOME AND NEW SCENERY.AGAIN MELO 2 WEEKS IN A ? MARK . JA HAS AVAILABILITY AND MELO WILL NEVER PLAY MORE THAN 40 GAMES NOT WORH BRINGING OFF BENCH OR GETTING LESS THAN HALF A SEASON.WE GOT ' COLIN RESIGN HIM' AND MILES WE GOT A2 GREAT ROOKIES AND A GOOD ONE AND LIAM NEEDS WORK.KJ CAN GO.. TRE MANN IS GETTING BETTER .LISTEN ITS LONG TERM JA IS A MENTAL THING MELO IS A ISSUE WILL NEVER BE RESOLVED SHOULD HAVE TRADED BEFORE SEASON.ITS A MUST DO INSTANT CHANGE HES YOUNG BUT KEEP SEXTON AND MILES FOR VET PRESENCE NO PLAYER OVER 32 AND WE WILL WIN A PLAY IN GAME THIS TMYEAR IF IT GETS DONE SOON NEXT YEAR WE HAVE OUR PICK PLUS ANOTHER.SAME STORY MELO HES NOT SERIOUS.TIME FOR GOODBYE HELLO TO THE JA SHOE ALKEY OOPS DUNKS AND NICE PASSES PLUS A WAY BETTER DEFENDER. EASY DECISION MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Get Ja asap' goodbye MELO SEE YA.LET HIM BE SOMEONE ELSES BAD ANKLES 2 WEEKS INTO SEASON REPETIVE GETS TIRED. HELL ALWAYS BE INJURED WORTH A SHOT. DEFINATELY
We were prepared but kept poor PAT C INSTEAD OF SPENCER D. LET A STARTER NOW OKOGIE WALK GREAT 2'WAY PLAYER FOR ZIP
One more thing games now 3 after Miami LEES SUCKS BAD COHESION TECHNIQUES 'NO WAY WE GO PAST 8 DEEP RN UBLESS LAMELO GOES OR YOU PUT KJ OR LIAM IN FOR 5 TO 10
Trade Coach Lee 'hes a Great assistant not the Head Guy .JP giving him guys he cant figure out to use more Sexton Miles and KK all starters play 36 min unless we teqde Melo for Ja ASAP . PLEASE LOOK AT HIS D AND AGGRESIVENESS AND ASSISTS AND AVAILABILITU.BYE LAMELO .PLEASE BADKETBALL GODS GET JP TO GET JA HE LIVES 40 MIN FROM CHARLOTTE MONES ARE GREAT SOMETIME AND MAMA WILL HOLD HIM ACCOUTABLE.
Can we poach Pippen Jr ? I really really like his game. Pass, rebound, defense, 3pt everything. If we go Ja for melo im taking pippen jr with Ja and some couple of drafts.