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.
Draft Dreams and Development Dilemmas
Locked On Hornets
đ Brandon Miller: Year Two Check-In Brandon Millerâs sophomore campaign is raising eyebrows, but not necessarily for the right reasons. His efficiency has taken a dip despite increased volume, and his on-ball game is a work in progress. While Millerâs off-ball efficiency remains strong (86th percentile per Basketball Index), heâs struggled to create shots and navigate defenses effectively. Is this just a bump in the road or a cause for long-term concern?
đĄ My Take: He was the 2nd overall pick so expectations should stay high and heâs struggled to meet them this season due to subpar ball handling and on-ball shot making. He can still make a leap into stardom and even super-stardom but the canyon has suddenly gotten wider. Miller evolving into a multi-time All-Star role player on a contender like Khris Middleton might be a more realistic outlook at this point.
đ Cooper Flagg: A Lottery Lifeline? The Hornets sit comfortably in the lottery mix, with fans dreaming of Cooper Flagg. The 6'9" Duke prospect could be the franchise cornerstone Charlotte desperately needs. Could Flagg join LaMelo Ball and Miller to form a dynamic core?
đĄ My Take: Flagg is the real deal, a perfect match for Charles Leeâs style of play and a perfect running mate for LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. Securing him would make the suffering worth it. If Charlotte gets him, the future suddenly looks much brighter. Even if the Hornets miss out on the #1 overall selection, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey both look like great prospects as well. Beyond the 3rd pick, I think the Hornets should seriously considering packaging their early lottery pick in an effort to bring seasoned NBA veteran talent to help Ball and Miller.
đłď¸ The Sicko Satchel: A Tough Fan Dilemma Would you take a âMickey Mouseâ championship followed by decades of irrelevance, or consistent relevance with no title? Fans weighed in, and itâs safe to say opinions are split.
đĄ My Take: I desperately want a championship for the Hornets but weâve been in the desert of irrelevance for too long. Give me a few decades of playoff series wins even if it means the L.O.B remains out of reach.
Jan 13, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles up court against the Toronto Raptors during the second half at Scotiabank Arena. | John E. Sokolowski/John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Something I realized last night at the Warriors-Raptors game, perhaps more pressingly than the last time the team was in town a season ago â this thing isnât going to last forever.
You wouldnât get that impression from Steph Curry, who takes his pre-game warmup last and happily engages with the fans who show up an hour before tip-off to watch him. Curryâs off-court presence, compared to his superstar contemporaries, has always been demure and private, but watching him revel and work within that outsized adoration is a privilege in itself. No fan in attendance watching him take feathery lob after feathery lob, or take a volleyball spike to the basketball so he could meet it mid-air for a dunk, was thinking about the finite nature of Curry â performer or competitor.
Even if the underlying desire of proximity to greatness stems from the understanding that one day that greatness will no longer exist, that reality doesnât translate in the moment. In the moment, thereâs just Curry, laughing with his coaches, signing the backs of jerseys, going through footwork, prepping for the nightâs game.
Where the impression of a dynasty in its final stages becomes more pronounced is through the words of Warriors coach, Steve Kerr. Asked about how difficult it is to maintain a dynasty, and Kerr reverted to Curry.
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
Rumor Speculation surrounds the potential trade of Nick Richards to the Knicks. Could the Hornets capitalize on this move? (Sports Illustrated)
Draft The 2025 NBA Draft is only a few months away. So who will the Hornets pick? (Bleacher Report)
Analysis TheDetroit Pistons are emerging as a serious surprise story this season. (TSN)
Biz Explosive court documents show co-conspirators and other shocking details in Jontay Porterâs ongoing betting scandal. (The Athletic)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
NBA Injury Update: Key Players Sidelined and Return Timelines For Fantasy Basketball
Jan 12, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (13) attempts a three point basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the third quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray/Rob Gray-Imagn Images
As we approach the midpoint of the NBA season, injuries continue to play a significant role in shaping team dynamics and fantasy basketball strategies. Letâs take a closer look at some of the most impactful injuries across the league and their potential implications.
The Utah Jazz are once again at the forefront of injury-related drama. Lauri Markkanenâs back spasms and John Collinsâ hip issue have raised eyebrows, with many speculating about potential load management strategies. Keyonte Georgeâs heel soreness has kept him out for five consecutive games, while Jordan Clarksonâs plantar fascia injury could potentially end his season. The Jazzâs injury situation is one to monitor closely, as it could lead to increased opportunities for players like Kyle Filipowski and Isaiah Collier
In Philadelphia, Joel Embiidâs knee injury has kept him out for four consecutive games. This absence highlights the risks associated with drafting Embiid in the first round of fantasy drafts. With a busy schedule ahead, including back-to-back sets, Embiidâs playing time could be limited even upon his return.
For more insights and a deeper dive into NBA injuries and their fantasy implications, tune into the Locked On Fantasy Basketball podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Todayâs Locked On Fantasy Basketball Podcast:
⢠Portland Trail Blazers injury updates
⢠Phoenix Suns roster changes and injury concerns
⢠Orlando Magicâs lengthy injury report and fantasy implications
3peat (ICYMI)
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