The ping pong balls didn’t bounce Charlotte’s way—again. In this emotional post-lottery episode, Walker and Doug give voice to the pain Hornets fans are feeling after the team secured the 4th overall pick while the Mavericks, Spurs, and Sixers all jumped ahead. Was it rigged?

Doug shares his firsthand experience from the draft lottery room in Chicago, including wild behind-the-scenes moments with Adam Silver and Hornets brass. Meanwhile, Walker recaps the stunned reaction at the Hornets’ lottery party at Legion Brewing—where hope quickly turned into heartbreak.

Despite the gut punch, the guys look forward. What are the early names to watch at #4? Is it VJ Edgecombe, Ace Bailey, or Tre Johnson? Could the Hornets package a deal to move up? We also break down ESPN's updated mock draft and the potential value of the Hornets' second-round picks, including intriguing big men like Ryan Kalkbrenner and Max Reynaud.

Finally, we explore what the Hornets need to do to stop relying on lottery luck and start building like the Pacers—through smart moves, not ping pong prayers.

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Top 35 Hornets Nicknames of All-Time According to Doug Branson: https://hornets.substack.com/p/the-top-35-nicknames-in-hornets-franchise

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