Doug Branson here, the host of the daily Locked On Hornets podcast, with your daily Locked On Hornets newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Hornets and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
The Hornets’ Have a LaMelo Conundrum
Nov 16, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon/Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
1 Big Thing: Keep LaMelo—For Now
LaMelo Ball is playing out of his mind, almost leading the league in scoring. But with injuries piling up and the Hornets struggling, should Charlotte consider trading him for a haul of picks? I think not.
LaMelo represents Charlotte’s best chance to break their playoff drought, especially with Brandon Miller showing promise. The duo needs at least 20 healthy games together to prove their ceiling. Trading LaMelo now courts more questions than answers, and the Hornets can’t afford to gamble on their lone All-NBA-level talent.
Why It Matters
• NBA context: Teams like the Rockets rebuilt around stars instead of blowing it up—and it’s working.
• Hornets history: Charlotte rarely lands elite talent. Trading LaMelo could lead to another decade of irrelevance.
What’s Next: Frontcourt Fallout Mark Williams and Nick Richards are almost back, which means minutes for rookies like John Salon and Moussa Diabate will shrink. Williams brings elite shot-blocking and size, but without a reliable outside shot, the Hornets’ offense could still struggle.
Expect Moussa’s minutes to drop dramatically unless he develops an offensive threat beyond rebounding. Meanwhile, Salon’s three-point ability gives him a slight edge to stick in the rotation, but big questions remain.
Tonight’s Game: Miami Heat
Charlotte faces a surging Heat team that thrives on turnovers—the Hornets’ Achilles’ heel. The key? Limit giveaways and unlock big nights from LaMelo and Brandon Miller. It’s a tall order, but a win keeps them in the playoff conversation.
Final Word: Selling high on LaMelo is tempting but premature. The Hornets need to see what they have when healthy. This isn’t the time to fold—LaMelo and Miller might just be the franchise’s ticket back to relevance.
Enjoy Thanksgiving, and we’ll break it all down next week!
Nov 26, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) shoots the basketball over Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro/Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Here’s the thing, Scary Terry has hops. At 30-years-old and with a decade of play under his belt, Terry Rozier can cut like a knife, shake loose defenders, deflect, drive, and kick the ball out to the wing on a layup with the court vision still 20/20. He shoots, too. Tidy jumpers, deep and swooning corner threes, tricky little one-handed layups, fastbreak two-handed deliveries, Rozier runs through them like a personal rolodex.
Perhaps it’s a good reminder, for you as much as me, that age really doesn’t have anything to do with it. For one, despite what we’re led to believe by watching NBA basketball and listening to people talk about it, 30 isn’t old. Besides age, there’s a more important personal factor: whether an athlete keeps up. NBA basketball gets pushed in new directions every season as competitive teams break the mold and not yet competitive teams try to keep up.
Optimization is an unfortunate word in our modern and decidedly capitalist lexicon, but it’s what good athletes do. If there’s a skill to develop, they figure out what it is. Giannis Antetokounmpo in the mid-range this season is a perfect and very successful example. The bigger thing these smaller improvements add up to are teams with a depth of different weapons to pull out against the seemingly unbeatable juggernauts at the top. Occasionally, front offices identify what their unique skillset or style of play can be — think the decidedly big Cleveland Cavaliers, or the micro, play-every-position, Thunder — and build toward it.
For an athlete like Rozier, who many were quick to call a Kyle Lowry 2.0 when he arrived in Miami, the improvisation he’s shown with the Heat was born out of necessity but also an aptitude for reading the room. The Heat are a workaholic organization with a next-man-up mentality they don’t just talk about as an inspirational soundbite, but is twined through the fibre of all that they do.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Analysis Charlotte Hornets’ rookie Tidjane Salaun receives praise from Charles Lee for his growth despite initial struggles. Explore this detailed analysis of Salaun’s development. (Sports Illustrated)
Preview The Hornets host the Heat in a Wednesday night matchup. Read the preview.(NBA)
Analysis The point guard position is in good hands. Shaun Powell takes stock of the position and what the future looks like. (NBA)
Opinion The NBA can tinker with the All-Star Game format all it wants, but there’s only one fix. (The Athletic, subscription required)
Feel Good What happens with the money collected from fines? How the league turns bad moments into good deeds. (SB Nation)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Another Lauri Markkanen Injury For Fantasy Basketball Managers To Digest
Nov 26, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz forward/center Lauri Markkanen (23) on the floor after a collision with San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images | Christopher Creveling/Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
Injury Concerns and Player Updates
Joel Embiid’s ongoing knee issues are another significant concern. With a history of multiple meniscus surgeries, Embiid’s situation remains precarious. His recent absences highlight the risks associated with drafting him early in fantasy leagues. The high failure rate of such surgeries suggests that Embiid’s availability might be limited, making him a risky trade target.
Donovan Clingan’s grade 2 MCL sprain is also noteworthy. The Portland Trail Blazers plan to reevaluate him in two weeks, but this type of injury typically requires a longer recovery period. With Clingan sidelined, players like Ayton and Rob Williams are expected to see increased playing time, making Williams a valuable addition to fantasy rosters.
Lauri Markkanen’s Injury Impact
Lauri Markkanen’s recent knee injury adds another layer of complexity to fantasy basketball strategies. Markkanen, who has been dealing with back and knee issues, was helped off the court after a knee knock. While the injury doesn’t appear to be a severe ACL or MCL tear, it could sideline him for at least a week, if not longer. This development opens up opportunities for players like John Collins to step up and fill the void, potentially increasing their fantasy value.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Hornets podcasts.
Should the Hornets Sell High on LaMelo Ball? + Mark Williams & Nick Richards return incoming On today’s Locked On Hornets, we ask the big question: Should the Hornets sell high on LaMelo Ball? His recent scoring streak has been remarkable, but would trading him now set Charlotte back for years? Doug takes on the trade chatter and explains why the Hornets need to pump the brakes on the idea of moving their franchise star.
LaMelo Ball Scores 44 But Turnovers Doom Charlotte Hornets vs Orlando Magic LaMelo Ball scores 44 in an electric performance, but it wasn’t enough as the Charlotte Hornets fell to the Orlando Magic. On today’s Locked On Hornets, we break down the Hornets’ offensive struggles, the record-breaking streak by LaMelo, and the alarming turnover rate that doomed the team. Doug Branson, David Walker, and Walker Mehl dig into LaMelo’s isolation play, Brandon Miller’s growing pains, and the Hornets’ injury-ridden roster. Plus, updates on Mark Williams and Nick Richards’ rehab assignments, and what their returns mean for Charlotte. Tune in for a full breakdown of this wild season.
LaMelo Ball Drops 50!! as Charlotte Hornets Face More Injury Woes LaMelo Ball erupted for a career-high 50 points against the Milwaukee Bucks, but the Charlotte Hornets couldn’t secure the win. In this episode of Locked On Hornets, we break down LaMelo’s electric performance, his growing chemistry with Brandon Miller, and what this means for the team’s trajectory. Unfortunately, the Hornets received devastating news: Grant Williams is out for the season with a torn ACL. We discuss the ripple effects on the team’s rotation and how injuries have derailed the Hornets’ season. Plus, are LaMelo and Brandon Miller destined for All-Star appearances despite the team’s struggles?
