📉 Another Wizards Loss—Seriously?
The Hornets just dropped their third straight game to the Washington Wizards, a team that has been the NBA’s version of a free win. Somehow, Charlotte has now lost seven of its last ten matchups against Washington. It’s bad enough that they’re losing these games, but here’s the stat that really stings: the Hornets are responsible for 22% of the Wizards’ total wins over the past two seasons.
Yes, the Wizards—a team openly tanking, a team with a negative point differential worse than just about everyone—have been absolutely cooking the Hornets. And last night’s 124-114 loss was another reminder of just how low things have sunk.
When you’re trying to build toward something competitive, these are the games you can’t afford to drop. Charlotte needs to prove that it’s ahead of the other rebuilding teams in the East. Right now, they can’t even beat them.
🤔 Mark Williams Looks… Different
Hornets TV analyst Terrence Oglesby went in on Mark Williams at halftime, calling his first half “one of the worst performances” he’s ever seen from an NBA starting center. And, well… he wasn’t wrong.
Mark’s struggles this season have been hard to ignore. He doesn’t look like the same player. He’s slower, less aggressive, and getting bullied in the paint. Some of that might be injuries, some of it might be added weight, but something is off.
At his best, Williams was a rim protector with great mobility—someone who could hedge on defense and still recover to contest shots. Now? His closeouts are lazy, he’s getting outmuscled, and he’s struggling to make an impact in crucial moments. The Hornets have invested in him as a long-term piece, but is it time to rethink his role?
🔄 Another Trade, Another Second-Round Pick
Jeff Peterson struck again, making a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder to swap a 2030 conditional second-round pick for a 2029 second-rounder from Phoenix. On paper, it’s a minor deal. But is it part of something bigger?
The Hornets are clearly in asset-collection mode, and Peterson is hoarding picks like a GM with a long-term plan. But what’s the next move? Are these picks being lined up for a bigger trade at the deadline? Could this signal that another shakeup is coming?
🚨 What’s Next?
The Hornets have some huge questions to answer over the next few weeks:
- Can Mark Williams turn things around, or is this who he is now?
- What’s Jeff Peterson’s endgame with these second-round picks?
- Is Charlotte about to make a bigger trade before the deadline?
- And most importantly… will they ever beat the Wizards again?