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.
Hornets Reality Check: The Tank Is On
Jan 5, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) walks to the bench late in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard/David Richard-Imagn Images
📉 Offense Hits Rock Bottom The Charlotte Hornets have sunk to new lows offensively, ranking dead last in the NBA with an offensive rating of 98.7. Despite a defense that has surprisingly held its own—ranking sixth over the past two weeks—the team’s inability to score has been the story. Even with players like LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller showing flashes, the overall effort and execution aren’t there. Mark Williams’ recent performances have also raised questions about conditioning and consistency.
💡 Is It Tanking Time? If the recent losing streak hasn’t convinced you, the Hornets’ lineup experiments might. Rotations featuring fringe players scream “evaluation mode,” signaling the team could be angling for a shot at a top draft pick. Cooper Flagg, anyone? Head coach Charles Lee faces the daunting task of keeping this team motivated while the front office decides whether to blow it all up at the trade deadline.
🔥 Jimmy Butler in Charlotte? Rumors of Jimmy Butler’s discontent in Miami have sparked wild speculation, and we couldn’t resist exploring what a Hornets-Butler marriage might look like. Could Butler’s fiery leadership reinvigorate this team, or would it be another misstep in a season full of them? At 34 years old and with a massive contract, the odds seem slim, but the chaos-loving part of me wouldn’t mind shaking things up.
🎧 Listen Now Dive into today’s Locked On Hornets podcast as Walker and I dissect the team’s struggles, debate trade scenarios, and even entertain a Jimmy Butler dream sequence. Don’t miss it—your Hornets therapy session awaits.
Jan 4, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) greets Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) before a game at Frost Bank Center. | Scott Wachter/Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Casting a cursory eye up and down the standings this weekend, I noticed some appearances that made me take a second look. This went for teams for climbing and sliding. So, I’m introducing a potentially recurring feature called “Monday movers”, highlighting teams jostling and jockeying in the standings, likely bound to get more contentious as the season goes on.
San Antonio Spurs
What a thrill it must be for long-suffering Spurs fans to take a glance at the West’s top 10 and see their team there, after so many seasons spent hanging around the bottom of the conference. What a thrill it was for me, too!
It’s not all because of Victor Wembanyama, but the phenom did hit two milestones this weekend: he played his 100th NBA game and he turned 21. His in-game numbers are similarly worth celebrating.
He’s the first player since Shaquille O’Neal to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds before turning 21, and the 7th player in the last 45 years to score over 2,200 points (he’s scored 2,278) through his first 100 games. Other than Bill Walton and Brad Daugherty, Wembanyama’s the only other 7-foot center with 385+ assists before turning 21, though their first 100 games. He’s also put up more threes than Steph Curry did, with 225 to Curry’s 200 through their first 100 games.
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
Opponent The Hornets faced the Cavaliers in a competitive matchup, highlighting the strong performance of Cleveland’s roster. The game underscored the challenges Charlotte faces against top Eastern Conference teams. (AP News)
Roster The Hornets are adjusting their playing time for key reserves like Micic and Richards. This strategic decision aims to optimize team performance as the trade deadline approaches. (Sports Illustrated)
Watch Looking ahead, the Hornets are evaluating draft prospects including Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, and Kasparas Jakucionis. These potential picks could shape the future of the team’s roster. (Sports Illustrated)
Prediction By 2028, some of the Hornets’ young players could emerge as NBA All-Stars. This projection highlights the potential growth and development within the team’s current lineup. (Bleacher Report)
Trades The Jimmy Butler vs. Heat saga escalated quickly: Here’s what we know. (ESPN)
Biz Amazon adds Blake Griffin and Dirk Nowitzki to its inaugural studio coverage for the 2025-2026 season. (The Athletic)
A Closer Look at Brice Sensabaugh’s Scoring Surge
Jan 5, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Utah Jazz guard Brice Sensabaugh (28) is interviewed by Seg Media reporter, Lauren Green following a game against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-Imagn Images | Russell Lansford/Russell Lansford-Imagn Images
One of the most intriguing developments on Sunday came from the Utah Jazz, where rookie Brice Sensabaugh has suddenly burst onto the scene with a scoring explosion.
Sensabaugh dropped 27 points against the Orlando Magic, following up a 34-point performance in his previous outing. That’s a staggering 61 points over two games for a player who had been largely off the fantasy radar. His usage rate has skyrocketed to over 30% in these contests, and he’s been scorching hot from beyond the arc, hitting 12 of 17 three-point attempts.
However, before we rush to add Sensabaugh in all leagues, it’s crucial to examine the context of his breakout. The Jazz were missing several key players, including Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Jordan Clarkson. This opened up a significant opportunity for Sensabaugh to showcase his scoring prowess.
The sustainability of Sensabaugh’s production is questionable. His three-point shooting percentage is bound to regress, and when the Jazz get healthier, his minutes and usage are likely to decrease. That said, he’s shown enough to warrant consideration as a streaming option in deeper leagues, particularly when Utah is shorthanded.
Click the button below for more insights, including another Thunder player to keep an eye on for your fantasy roster.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Hornets podcasts.
Hornets’ Tank Watch | Brandon Miller’s Comeback | Jimmy Butler to Charlotte? The Charlotte Hornets are grappling with a historically bad offense, even as their defense improves. We dive into the team’s effort issues, potential trade moves, and explore whether Jimmy Butler could be a surprise addition to the roster.
Mark Williams is back!! Hornets lose in OT to Chicago Rod Morrow from The Black Guy Who Tips Podcast joins the show to discuss the Hornets tough OT loss last night to the Bulls. Mark Williams has his best game since returning from injury and Miles is battling despite missing shots. What were the main takeaways?
