Locked On Hornets - Daily Podcast On The Charlotte Hornets

Welcome to a "silly season style episode" where the Sicko Satchel is overflowing with questions from the fans. We start by considering what would be the best possible omen for the Hornets this preseason, a question that leads to an evaluation of Tidjane Salaun's development, or lack thereof, and how Kon Knueppel is making the landing a bit softer. We also touch on the veteran presence making this...

On today's show, we're recapping the Hornets' first preseason victory, a 120-116 win over the Dallas Mavericks. The story of the night was a brand new starting lineup that featured breakout performances from some unexpected players. Rookie center Ryan Kalkbrenner had a perfect night, scoring 14 points on 7-of-7 shooting and grabbing 10 rebounds, making a massive statement in the ongoing battle for...

It's a "No Rules Friday" as we empty the Sicko Satchel and dedicate the entire episode to answering your best questions. First, we address a popular topic: will the Hornets finally play with the fast-paced transition offense that fans have been hoping for? We look at how a healthy LaMelo Ball, athletic bigs like Moussa Diabaté, and versatile guards like Tre Mann and Collin Sexton give them the per...

The Hornets dropped their second preseason game to the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-116, but this was a much more competitive contest against OKC's starters, and there were plenty of positives to take away. On today's recap, we look at the stellar performances from the backcourt. Tre Mann got the start and led the team with an efficient 18 points on 4-of-6 shooting from three. Collin Sexton provided...

On today's show, we borrow a premise from The Athletic's John Hollinger to identify the Charlotte Hornets' most important "hinge player." This is the non-star player with a wide range of outcomes whose performance could be the difference between a 20-win and a 30-win season. We make the case for several candidates, with Tre Mann leading the list as a potential Sixth Man of the Year contender. We a...

On today's show, we are setting the expectations for Brandon Miller as he enters his pivotal third season. After a rusty performance in the preseason opener, we discuss the level of patience he'll need as he works his way back from a long layoff following wrist surgery. The team needs a lot from him, and we look at what Coach Charles Lee is emphasizing for his development—specifically, a greater a...

The first preseason game is in the books, and while the Hornets fell to the Thunder's B-team 135-114, the final score is the least important part of the story. The main headline was the outstanding debut of fourth overall pick Kon Knueppel, who earned a surprise start and led the team with 18 points. We explore why his smart, fundamental game makes him a perfect "pillar filler" and an ideal comple...

With the first preseason game against the Oklahoma City Thunder right around the corner, we are taking a look at the roster and predicting who will perform better and who might perform worse this upcoming season. After a 19-win campaign where nearly every key player was offensively inefficient, there is massive room for improvement across the board. We explore how players like LaMelo Ball and Coll...

On today's show, we are at "peak uncertainty" as we try to solve the biggest question of the Hornets' preseason: who will be the starting center? We explore the case for all three candidates in the running for the job. Is it the veteran Mason Plumlee, whose experience, positional size, and playmaking make him the safe choice? Is it the energetic Moussa Diabaté, whose physicality and speed fit the...

On today's show, we start by examining the Hornets' offseason strategy. After Coach Charles Lee's media day comments focused heavily on adding offensive creators and playing with more tempo, we ask the question: did the team forget about defense? We conclude that it's less about forgetting and more a "level of acceptance," with the front office choosing to lean into the roster's offensive strength...

Walker goes solo to breakdown the best soundbites from his interviews on Wes and Walker. What did Charles Lee hope to accomplish this offseason? Walker gives his thoughts on Lee's comments about identity, pace, player development and more. Finally, you'll hear from Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, and Tre Mann on the upcoming season.   Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…  🎧 https://link.cht...

Charlotte Hornets Media Day has concluded, and the overwhelming takeaway is a palpable shift in the team's culture and commitment. On today's hodgepodge recap, we explore all the key comments and themes from the event. The biggest story surrounds LaMelo Ball, with Coach Charles Lee and others noting a "different commitment level" from him in the weight room this offseason, resulting in added stren...

It's time for another episode of the NBA Squad! Today we are breaking down the Houston Rockets' nightmare Fred VanVleet injury, what we want to see from NBA Media Days, whether or not the Oklahoma City Thunder can take another step up and more!   Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-nba   Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Dra...

With Charlotte Hornets Media Day arriving on Monday, we are looking ahead to the official start of the new season and the questions we want answered. For the first time in several years, the event is refreshingly free of off-court controversy, allowing the focus to be entirely on basketball. We discuss the key questions for the team's leadership, including asking Coach Charles Lee about his philos...

On today's show, we start with the breaking news that the Charlotte Hornets have waived guard Nick Smith Jr. While the move was widely expected due to a crowded backcourt, we take a moment to look back on his tenure. We acknowledge that he was a consummate professional who was given a fair opportunity to prove himself, but ultimately became a victim of the team's shift toward a veteran-heavy guard...

On today's show, we start with a fascinating question prompted by a recent article from Brett Siegel over at Clutch Points: could the Charlotte Hornets be sneaky buyers at this year's trade deadline? We examine the specific scenario—a strong, better-than-expected start to the season—that would need to happen for the front office to consider making a move. We also discuss what kind of buyers they m...

With Hornets Media Day just around the corner, we are playing a game of "What If" to explore the range of possibilities for the upcoming season. We map out three distinct scenarios based on potential win totals and examine what would have to happen for each to become a reality. First, we look at the floor: a 20-win season. This grim outcome would likely be caused by another year of devastating inj...

On today's show, we are back with the biggest takeaways from Head Coach Charles Lee's media luncheon. First, we address the battle for the starting center spot, with one host taking a victory lap on his prediction that veteran Mason Plumlee will get the initial nod. The main topic to come out of the event was a philosophical question: can a player be made into a leader? We examine the team's effor...

Walker goes solo to share some of his biggest takeaways from the Hornets Luncheon with Head Coach Charles Lee. Walker reveals his thoughts on the center rotation, why Charles Lee loves Collin Sexton, and Brandon Miller's path to becoming a leader. Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://linktr.ee/lockedonhornets Become an official member of the Locked On Hornets Sicko Brigade and g...

With training camp just around the corner, we are firing up the Rotation Station to examine the Hornets' crowded roster. The team currently has too many players on guaranteed deals and will need to make some tough decisions to get down to the 15-man limit, which promises to create some intense competition in the preseason. We identify the most likely candidates to be cut, with Daquan Jeffries and...

On today's show, we start by examining the biggest hole on the Charlotte Hornets' roster, a topic recently highlighted by Kevin Pelton of ESPN, who unsurprisingly points to the starting center position. While that may be the obvious weakness, we explore how this change in personnel could trigger a much-needed and dramatic shift in the team's offensive identity. The Hornets were statistically one o...

The moment has finally arrived—we are officially settling the debate for who wore the number three jersey best in Charlotte history. The main event features a showdown between Gerald "Crash" Wallace, the lone All-Star in Bobcats history and one of only three players ever to average two steals and two blocks in a season, and "Scary" Terry Rozier, who professionally kept the lights on and made the t...

With David Walker, the OG Walker, back in the building, we finally get to another round of "Who Wore It Best," although not the one Walker has been waiting for. We set our sights on the iconic number two jersey, sparking a debate for the ages. Is Larry "Grandmama" Johnson the undisputed champion due to his franchise-altering cultural impact, or do LaMelo Ball's Rookie of the Year and All-Star seas...

This conversation naturally leads to a major debate: are injuries a valid excuse for the team's shortcomings? The Hornets had the fourth-most games lost to injury last season, but with significant new depth, we question if that reasoning will hold up this year. The discussion then shifts to the past, prompted by a headline wondering if injuries derailed the rise of the Al Jefferson, Nic Batum, and...

On today's show, we start with the news of Josh Giddey agreeing to a four-year, $100 million contract with the Bulls. This deal perfectly illustrates the "Giddey conundrum," a tough spot for teams navigating the new CBA with players who are good, but not quite max-level talents. This leads us to examine the Hornets' own roster and future extension decisions. While the 2021 draft class is a non-fac...