Locked On Hornets - Daily Podcast On The Charlotte Hornets

It's that time of year, folks—schedule season is upon us! On today's show, we dive headfirst into the newly released Charlotte Hornets preseason and Emirates NBA Cup schedules. We'll tell you who the Hornets are facing in their tune-up games, including two "home" games away from home in Charleston and Greensboro as the Spectrum Center renovations wrap up. Then, we'll analyze the group for the in-season tournament, which sees Charlotte starting with tough road games against Miami and Milwaukee before coming home to face New York and Chicago.

Just as we get some good news, we also have to say goodbye... again. We discuss the departure of former head coach and recent front office advisor Steve Clifford, who is heading to the Phoenix Suns. This continues a trend of Charlotte losing key personnel, and we can't help but feel for Nick Richards, who just can't seem to get away from Cliff's sideline yelling. We also touch on some surprising local news, as Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has agreed to purchase the Portland Trail Blazers. Finally, we've got updates on new jersey numbers for Collin Sexton and Nick Smith Jr. , and we give a shoutout to former Hornets sideline reporter Ashley ShahAhmadi on her new national gig with NBC! It's a packed show you won't want to miss.

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Become an official member of the Locked On Hornets Sicko Brigade and get Hornets news, rumors and pictures of Byron Mullens sent directly to your phone via Subtext (14 Day Free Trial): https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonhornets

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Get Doug's gamenotes, special articles and a podcast on Hornets history at the Every Hornets Boxscore substack: everyhornetsboxscore.com

Get more Walker on Wes and Walker 12-3pm on WFNZ 92.7 FM

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

Top 35 Hornets of All-Time According to Walker Mehl: https://hornets.substack.com/p/the-top-35-players-in-hornets-history

📲 Follow Locked On Hornets on Twitter

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Doug Branson https://twitter.com/DougBransonLOH

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The Hornets’ newest Real Access episode, Laying the Foundation, gives us a polished but revealing look at the team’s draft process — and we’ve got plenty of thoughts. From Kon Knueppel’s impressive workout that seemed to lock him in as the pick, to the front office’s clear messaging about patience and “no skipping steps,” the episode offered both salesmanship and substance. We break down the key nuggets, including Jeff Peterson’s poker analogy about pushing all the chips in when the time is right, and the subtle hints about how the decision-making unfolded once VJ Edgecombe was off the board.

LaMelo Ball’s offseason appearance didn’t go unnoticed, and we discuss why showing up matters — especially for young draft picks like Knueppel, Sion James, and Liam McNeeley. We also touch on the full-circle moment for Steve Clifford, who got the honor of calling in the pick in his new advisory role, and how his draft instincts have aged well over time.

But it’s not all goodbyes and good vibes — the Hornets are losing Chris Jent to the Knicks, and we evaluate how much that impacts Charlotte’s bench. From potential replacements (hello, Kemba?) to the evolving NBA trend of offensive and defensive coordinators, we cover the ripple effects. This episode has it all: draft drama, offseason leadership, and a glimpse into the Hornets’ future plans.

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Get Doug's gamenotes, special articles and a podcast on Hornets history at the Every Hornets Boxscore substack: everyhornetsboxscore.com

Get more Walker on Wes and Walker 12-3pm on WFNZ 92.7 FM

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

Top 35 Hornets of All-Time According to Walker Mehl: https://hornets.substack.com/p/the-top-35-players-in-hornets-history

📲 Follow Locked On Hornets on Twitter

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Walker flies solo again to go over the latest Chris Jent news. Will a key member of Charlotte's coaching staff leave for New York as soon as he wins a SL Title? Walker get you ready for the Hornets upcoming Reel Access episode chronicling the start of a new era. Finally, who has the better shot of competing for 6th Man of the Year: Collin Sexton or Tre Mann?

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Get more Walker on Wes and Walker 12-3pm on WFNZ 92.7 FM

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#Hornets #LaMelo #LaMeloBall #CharlotteHornets

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Walker Mehl flies solo to discuss how the city celebrated the Hornets winning a Summer League Title. Did ownership take advantage of the fans by charging 50 dollars per SL T-shirt? Walker reminds you that he's all in on Moussa Diabate, and forgets to discuss Chris Jent's potential exit from the coaching staff... whoops.

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#Hornets #LaMelo #LaMeloBall #CharlotteHornets

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On today's episode, we're pulling back the curtain on the Charlotte Hornets' performance last season by taking a hard look at the numbers. Using data from Basketball Index, we explore the areas where the team surprisingly excelled, like floater and deep three-point shot creation, and discuss how much of that is simply the "LaMelo Ball effect". However, the data also reveals some critical flaws; we break down why the Hornets were dead last in the league in both transition and pick-and-roll ball-handler points per possession, highlighting a major disconnect between creating shots and executing efficiently.

Then, we open up the "Sicko Satchel" to answer your questions! First up, Michael Jordan (EVER HEARD OF HIM?): does his rough tenure as the Hornets' majority owner impact his status as the GOAT?. We debate the topic, separating the player from the executive, and explore the common trend of superstar players struggling to evaluate talent. We also address the massive fan demand for the Summer League Championship t-shirts and a potential MVP bobblehead.

Finally, we wrap up with a topic that has the internet buzzing: Happy Gilmore 2. Prompted by former Hornet Frank Kaminsky's scathing review, we give our own thoughts on the long-awaited sequel. We discuss the film's shocking opening, why we were initially excited for its radical direction, and how it ultimately left us angry and disappointed by leaning too heavily on lazy callbacks and clips from the original movie.

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Become an official member of the Locked On Hornets Sicko Brigade and get Hornets news, rumors and pictures of Byron Mullens sent directly to your phone via Subtext (14 Day Free Trial): https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonhornets

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Get Doug's gamenotes, special articles and a podcast on Hornets history at the Every Hornets Boxscore substack: everyhornetsboxscore.com

Get more Walker on Wes and Walker 12-3pm on WFNZ 92.7 FM

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

Top 35 Hornets of All-Time According to Walker Mehl: https://hornets.substack.com/p/the-top-35-players-in-hornets-history

📲 Follow Locked On Hornets on Twitter

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Walker Mehl https://twitter.com/WalkerMehl

Doug Branson https://twitter.com/DougBransonLOH

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On today's episode, we're jumping right into the news that always seems to find the Hornets: an injury update. We discuss the latest report from Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer, which indicates that Josh Green is still recovering from shoulder surgery and will likely not be ready for the start of training camp. We break down what this means for his already complicated place in the rotation, his trade value, and whether this opens the door for a player like Tidjane Salaun to get more opportunities early on.

Rod Boone article: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/charlotte-hornets/article311481680.html 

Langston Wertz Jr. article: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/charlotte-hornets/article311476077.html

Then, we're firing up the aggregation station once again to discuss some powerful comments from ESPN's Zach Lowe. On his recent podcast, Lowe made it crystal clear that he believes the entire future of the Hornets franchise is "going nowhere" unless Brandon Miller develops into an All-Star. We play the audio and debate his emphatic take, exploring the immense pressure on Miller in his third year, especially with a contract extension looming after the season. We also touch on Miller's own recovery from a wrist injury and analyze a recent interview where his non-committal answers about the team's history raised some eyebrows.

We'll wrap things up by dipping into the Sisko Satchel to answer a listener question about the developmental arc for rookies Tidjane Salaun and K.J. Simpson heading into the season.

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Become an official member of the Locked On Hornets Sicko Brigade and get Hornets news, rumors and pictures of Byron Mullens sent directly to your phone via Subtext (14 Day Free Trial): https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonhornets

Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More

🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA

Get Doug's gamenotes, special articles and a podcast on Hornets history at the Every Hornets Boxscore substack: everyhornetsboxscore.com

Get more Walker on Wes and Walker 12-3pm on WFNZ 92.7 FM

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

Top 35 Hornets of All-Time According to Walker Mehl: https://hornets.substack.com/p/the-top-35-players-in-hornets-history

📲 Follow Locked On Hornets on Twitter

Locked On Hornets https://twitter.com/LockedOnHornets

Walker Mehl https://twitter.com/WalkerMehl

Doug Branson https://twitter.com/DougBransonLOH

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Monarch Money

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FanDuel

Right now, new customers can get ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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On today's show, we're diving straight into the latest national media take on the Charlotte Hornets. Esteemed NBA analyst Kevin Pelton of ESPN just dropped his offseason grades for every team, and he gave the Hornets a solid B-minus. We'll break down his reasoning, which praises the front office for finally adding veteran playmakers like Spencer Dinwiddie and Collin Sexton to supplement LaMelo Ball, ensuring the offense doesn't collapse when he's off the floor.

Then, we continue our long-running offseason segment, "Who Wore it Best?" After a quick recap of every winner so far for our new listeners, we tackle the surprisingly complex history of jersey number 8. We discuss the short stints of guys like Dennis Smith Jr. and Montrezl Harrell before landing on our consensus pick—and the wild three-team trade that brought him back to Charlotte for a second time.

Finally, we're getting into the community spirit. We'll read a letter from the front line involving a fan's heartwarming interaction with his neighbor and an autographed card from former Hornet and past show guest, Dave Hoppen! We'll wrap things up by talking about the fantastic Summer League Championship viewing party thrown by the Crown Club and a very special appearance by new head coach Charles Lee, who is already making a huge effort to connect with the fanbase.

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Become an official member of the Locked On Hornets Sicko Brigade and get Hornets news, rumors and pictures of Byron Mullens sent directly to your phone via Subtext (14 Day Free Trial): https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonhornets

Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More

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Get Doug's gamenotes, special articles and a podcast on Hornets history at the Every Hornets Boxscore substack: everyhornetsboxscore.com

Get more Walker on Wes and Walker 12-3pm on WFNZ 92.7 FM

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

Top 35 Hornets of All-Time According to Walker Mehl: https://hornets.substack.com/p/the-top-35-players-in-hornets-history

📲 Follow Locked On Hornets on Twitter

Locked On Hornets https://twitter.com/LockedOnHornets

Walker Mehl https://twitter.com/WalkerMehl

Doug Branson https://twitter.com/DougBransonLOH

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Monarch Money

Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year

Gametime

Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.

FanDuel

Right now, new customers can get ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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On today’s episode, we dive into some national media discussions, starting with Zach Lowe's Eastern Conference tier list. Lowe places the Hornets in the bottom tier alongside Washington and Brooklyn, calling Charlotte the "most interesting of those three teams." We break down his main concerns, including his view that the Hornets have "no pathway... to be a competent defense" and a significant lack of starting-caliber centers.

Next, we tackle an ESPN article naming the "worst mistake" for every team in the 2020s. For the Hornets, they chose the four-year, $120 million Gordon Hayward contract. We debate whether that's the correct choice, offering our own candidates for the title, including the disastrous 2021 draft that involved trading up for Kai Jones and the broader failure to aggressively build around LaMelo Ball after he won Rookie of the Year.

Finally, we open up the "Sicko Satchel" to answer your questions. We strategize how the Hornets can combat their center problem with creative solutions like small-ball lineups featuring Grant Williams and a high-chaos defensive identity. We also touch on which new player combinations we're most excited to see and the future of players like Nick Smith Jr.

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On today’s episode, we dive into the Charlotte Hornets' latest move, signing guard Antonio Reeves to a two-way contract. Reeves isn't a typical two-way player; the former Pelicans second-round pick is an elite shooter who ranked in the 100th percentile on non-corner threes last season. We'll discuss how his specific skillset fits into the roster and what his advanced stats say about his potential impact.

The signing also provides a clear window into the front office's broader strategy. We explain how adding sharpshooters like Reeves is essential for Charles Lee to implement his desired offensive system, and why the new, more restrictive CBA makes finding cost-controlled talent on two-way deals more critical than ever. This is how competitive teams will have to build their depth around stars like LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in the coming years.

Finally, we address the growing buzz around the team's Summer League Championship... or rather, the lack of t-shirts celebrating it. There's a high demand from a fan base desperate to celebrate any form of winning, yet the organization has been slow to respond. We discuss why this is about more than just merchandise; it’s about understanding the pulse of a fan base that is ready and waiting to support a winner.

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Get Doug's gamenotes, special articles and a podcast on Hornets history at the Every Hornets Boxscore substack: everyhornetsboxscore.com

Get more Walker on Wes and Walker 12-3pm on WFNZ 92.7 FM

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

Top 35 Hornets of All-Time According to Walker Mehl: https://hornets.substack.com/p/the-top-35-players-in-hornets-history

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Gametime

Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.

FanDuel

Right now, new customers can get ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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On today’s episode, we dive into CBS's latest NBA front office rankings, which place the Hornets at #20, just a single spot up from their previous ranking of 21. We question why they are still behind teams like Washington and Brooklyn , and argue that the new ownership group deserves more credit for getting one over on front office gurus like Pat Riley and Sam Presti with the Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward trades.

Then, we break down some fantastic reporting from Keith Smith who spoke with an anonymous Hornets front office executive. 

Full article: https://www.spotrac.com/news/_/id/2912/eastern-conference-summer-league-notes

The exec confirms that LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller are the "anchors, pillars, foundation" of the franchise and that the recent draft strategy was all about finding versatile players to complement them. We also discuss the executive's confidence in the team's current frontcourt depth, including Mason Plumlee, a recovering Grant Williams, and the high-energy Moussa Diabate. We believe the team has a lot of faith in Diabate and think he could be in line for a starting role.

Finally, we wrap up by congratulating the Hornets' Summer League award winners. We celebrate Kon Knueppel and KJ Simpson for being named to the All-Summer League Second Team, a perfect representation of the squad's balanced team effort in Las Vegas.

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…

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Become an official member of the Locked On Hornets Sicko Brigade and get Hornets news, rumors and pictures of Byron Mullens sent directly to your phone via Subtext (14 Day Free Trial): https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonhornets

Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More

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Get Doug's gamenotes, special articles and a podcast on Hornets history at the Every Hornets Boxscore substack: everyhornetsboxscore.com

Get more Walker on Wes and Walker 12-3pm on WFNZ 92.7 FM

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

Top 35 Hornets of All-Time According to Walker Mehl: https://hornets.substack.com/p/the-top-35-players-in-hornets-history

📲 Follow Locked On Hornets on Twitter

Locked On Hornets https://twitter.com/LockedOnHornets

Walker Mehl https://twitter.com/WalkerMehl

Doug Branson https://twitter.com/DougBransonLOH

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

OpenPhone

Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at www.openphone.com/lockedonnba

Hungryroot

With Hungryroot, it’s like having a personal shopper and a nutritionist all in one. For a limited time, get 40% off your first box and a free item in every box for life! Just go to Hungryroot.com/lockedonnba and use code LOCKEDONNBA.

Monarch Money

Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year

Gametime

Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.

FanDuel

Right now, new customers can get ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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