<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/knicks-news-landry-shamet-exits-hornets-game-in-pain-injury');   ga('set', 'title', 'Knicks’ Landry Shamet exits Hornets game in pain with concerning injury');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Knicks-news-Landry-Shamet-exits-Hornets-game-in-pain-with-concerning-injury.jpg"></figure><h1>Knicks’ Landry Shamet exits Hornets game in pain with concerning injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-15T19:20:21-07:00">October 15th, 7:20pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-15T20:56:30-07:00">October 15th, 8:56pm</time><address><a>Derek Hryn</a>Derek Hryn is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints specializing in NFL and NCAA Football coverage. Derek was previously a fantasy football expert at DK and SB Nation, and he has been featured at FanSided, USA Today, NBC Sports, The New York Post, and others.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Coming in with three appearances to his credit thus far, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/knicks-news-landry-shamet-1-year-deal">New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet</a> left Tuesday’s preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets with a right arm injury.</p><p>During the third quarter, Shamet <a href="https://x.com/TheStrickland/status/1846359579967254688" rel="noopener">appeared to injure his right arm</a> deflecting the ball on defense, as a Hornets player soared for a driving layup. He went right to the locker room <a href="https://x.com/IanBegley/status/1846360685267075129" rel="noopener">in significant pain</a>, per Ian Begley on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>The Knicks defeated the Hornets 111-105, with Shamet chipping in for eight points and two rebounds. New York and the Golden State Warriors are the last unbeaten teams in the NBA preseason. Precious Achiuwa led the way for the Knicks with 20 points and 16 rebounds.</p><h2><b>Landry Shamet’s 2024 Knicks preseason performance</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Landry-Shamet.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Averaging 10.7 points per game over four appearances as a member of the Knicks, Shamet is expected to be a huge role player for a team on the rise in the 2024-25 season. He’s drilled at least a pair of threes in each game to this point. His sharpshooting prowess, and adequate size for a combo guard at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, he has been a proper addition to the Knicks during their preseason perfection, and that should continue to translate to the regular season.</p><p>Although he’s been a journeyman for most of his NBA career, Shamet has been an impactful role player on each of his five teams before joining the Knicks. He played 61 games for the Brooklyn Nets in the 2020-21 season, so he’s no stranger to the Big Apple. And it’s seemed to have helped him make the successful transition to the Knicks’ loaded roster.</p><p>Shamet and the Knicks return to preseason action on October 18. Shamet would get his first attempt at besting <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/wizards-news-washington-makes-11-million-landry-shamet-decision">his former Washington Wizards team</a>, but the Knicks will likely monitor his ailment in the upcoming days to fully determine his status.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Knicks’ Landry Shamet exits Hornets game in pain with concerning injury

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/sources-lakers-involved-offseason-trade-pursuited-coveted-hornets-center');   ga('set', 'title', 'Sources: Lakers involved in offseason trade pursuit of coveted Hornets center');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Lakers-involved-in-offseason-trade-pursuited-of-coveted-Hornets-center.jpg"></figure><h1>Sources: Lakers involved in offseason trade pursuit of coveted Hornets center</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-14T13:57:00-07:00">October 14th, 1:57pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-14T14:48:54-07:00">October 14th, 2:48pm</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Lakers always hold high expectations as a franchise. Of course, those expectations are amplified with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the team. Since winning their last championship in 2020, the Lakers have endured quite a few lackluster seasons, which ultimately led to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jj-redick-hired-head-coach-after-dan-hurley-fiasco">Darvin Ham being replaced by JJ Redick</a> this offseason and the outside noise calling for Rob Pelinka and this front office to make trades during the offseason. Ultimately, Los Angeles didn’t pull the trigger on any trades, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t try to make any moves.</p><p>During the offseason, the trade market around the NBA is volatile. Countless calls are always made, regardless if there is serious momentum towards a trade being made. The Lakers expressed interest in several possible trade targets during the summer, league sources confirmed to ClutchPoints. One of the players they expressed interest in was Nick Richards from the Charlotte Hornets.</p><p>Richards, a 2020 second-round pick, has spent his entire career with the Hornets. While he did not hold much of a role during his first two years in the league, Richards has since become a very intriguing role player at the center position because of his rebounding and toughness on the interior. Due to Charlotte dealing with various frontcourt injuries through the years, Richards has stepped up into a much larger role for them, as he played in a career high 67 games and made 51 starts during the 2023-24 season.</p><p>In March 2023, the Hornets extended the young big man with a three-year, $15 million extension, a contract many teams around the league have raised an eyebrow to because of his production.</p><h2><b>Hornets’ hesitance with Nick Richards trade talks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Hornets-Nick-Richards-1.jpg"><figcaption>Scott Kinser-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Hornets have made it known to those around the league that they are willing to hear all offers that come their way and will help facilitate trades. That is why the only way the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/how-karl-anthony-towns-trade-helps-knicks-timberwolves-hornets">New York Knicks were able to recently acquire Karl-Anthony Towns</a> in a blockbuster trade was by having Charlotte be a third team to help facilitate contracts and salaries. At the same time, the Hornets are not just making trades to make trades. Strategy is involved, and Charlotte is setting themselves up for long-term potential.</p><p>LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, sources said, are the only two players the organization has no desire to see leave anytime soon. With this said, the Hornets are also operating with the mindset that immediate growth can present itself following an underwhelming 2023-24 campaign in which they went 21-61. Charles Lee, who just won a championship with the Boston Celtics, is now the head coach of a young, hungry team that many are overlooking in the Eastern Conference.</p><p>With Lee taking the team in a new direction, one that is filled with energy and excitement, Charlotte has been hesitant to make any drastic changes to the roster this offseason. This is one of the driving factors behind trade talks involving Richards not progressing, as well as the notion that the Hornets haven’t been ready to part ways with the secondary big man due to his production and Mark Williams’ inconsistency with remaining on the court.</p><h2><b>Lakers among team to inquire about Nick Richards</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Nick-Richards-vs.-Lakers.jpg"><figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>As far as the Lakers pursuing Richards, no real traction on a deal ever materialized from Charlotte’s point of view, sources said. Los Angeles has been in the market for a big man addition dating back to the trade deadline during the 2023-24 season and also explored the possibility of pursuing Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela in the offseason. Capela, along with Dejounte Murray, were two players the Lakers inquired about prior to the 2024 NBA Draft.</p><p>Recently, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that LA has been trying to find ways to <a href="https://x.com/ESPNNBA/status/1844458415998775763" rel="noopener">get better at the center position</a> due to Davis’ ability to play alongside other big men and Christian Wood being injured. Of course, the question of who the Lakers could potentially trade for looms large.</p><p>Robert Williams III is expected to be a defensive-minded center who hits the trade block between the start of the season and the trade deadline in February, and Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler has heard his name come up countless times in trade rumors. With the Jazz rebuilding and not necessarily being sold on Kessler being their center of the future, the 2024-25 season could see the 23-year-old be packaged in a deal that includes one of Utah’s veterans like Jordan Clarkson or John Collins.</p><p>Jonas Valanciunas, who signed a contract with the Washington Wizards in free agency after being connected to Los Angeles, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-lakers-expected-revisit-trade-talks-lebron-james-approved-target">could also emerge as a trade target for the Lakers</a> ahead of the trade deadline. However, as a result of Valanciunas just joining the Wizards in free agency, he is ineligible to be traded before Dec. 15. Toronto Raptors big man Kelly Olynyk is another player who has been linked to the Lakers in the past. A couple of months into the new season, around the time Valanciunas becomes available in trade talks, is around the time that trade rumors surrounding Richards could begin to pick back up.</p><p>As was the case with the Lakers, the Hornets never came close to trading Richards away this offseason, sources said. Along with wanting to maintain flexibility with Williams being injured, Charlotte has liked the production and energy that Richards has brought. Among a handful of teams that showed interest in Richards this offseason, including the Lakers, the Knicks were eyeing the Hornets center well before anything happened with Towns, sources said, as a replacement for Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson in the frontcourt.</p><p>While it is unknown if they ever expressed interest in Richards, various scouts who spoke with ClutchPoints viewed the New Orleans Pelicans as an ideal landing spot if the Hornets were to show interest in trading the 26-year-old big man. The Pelicans lost Valanciunas in the offseason and have a glaring need at the center position that Richards could solve. The Phoenix Suns are a team that has long held interest in Richards as well.</p><p>Like the Lakers, another team that held interest this offseason in potentially buying low on frontcourt help was the Cleveland Cavaliers. Due to injury concerns surrounding Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen last season, Cleveland explored options of possibly adding depth at the center position, and a player like Richards would make sense given his small contract and ability to play in the low post. The Cavs never really went down the road of pursuing a trade for another center, as their primary focus was getting new deals done with Mobley, Allen, Donovan Mitchell, and, eventually, Isaac Okoro.</p><p>At some point, many around the league believe the Lakers will add some more depth alongside Davis in the frontcourt. Whether that player will be Richards in a trade with the Hornets is to be determined.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Sources: Lakers involved in offseason trade pursuit of coveted Hornets center

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/grizzlies-news-memphis-reveals-plan-hornets-injury-riddled-roster');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grizzlies reveal plan vs. Hornets amid injury-riddled roster');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Grizzlies-news-Taylor-Jenkins-aiming-to-give-reserves-longer-runs-versus-Hornets.jpg"></figure><h1>Grizzlies reveal plan vs. Hornets amid injury-riddled roster</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-10T04:27:45-07:00">October 10th, 4:27am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-10T04:27:45-07:00">October 10th, 4:27am</time><address><a>Chris Dodson</a>Chris Dodson is a New Orleans Pelicans beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball in spurts for over a decade. A basketball lifer from the bayou, his gumbo-stirring form matches his elbow jumper celebrations. Fast enough for varsity hoops, tall enough for a soccer scholarship. He has words and will travel, just not on the court.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grizzlies-news-ja-morant-optimistic-ankle-injury-update-after-scare">Memphis Grizzlies got a Ja Morant injury scare</a> in the very first game of the 2024-25 NBA season. Consider that one hurdle that had to be cleared this year at some point. At least it is over with and was relatively minor considering the worst-case scenario. Still, a cautious coach Taylor Jenkins will be forgiven for giving the reserves a bit more run against the Charlotte Hornets. The preseason second game is not exactly the proving ground this organization has been looking forward to the entire offseason after all.</p><p>Perhaps the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grizzlies-news-marcus-smart-reveals-zach-edey-unlock-full-potential-defense">Grizzlies could lean on Zach Edey</a>‘s Marcus Smart-approved defense. Morant’s ankle roll which stopped Naji Marshall’s pass also stopped a few hearts around Memphis. The Grizzlies need the All-NBA-caliber point guard to play the required 65 games to earn the honor. A top-four seed in the Western Conference will go a long way to easing some pressure in the NBA Playoffs.</p><p>That’s why two-way talents and G-League-bound training camp bodies should see plenty of action when Lamelo Ball’s Hornets visit Beale Street. Japanese point guard Yuki Kawamura has been getting plenty of <a href="https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/nba/grizzlies/2024/10/09/yuki-kawamura-memphis-grizzlies-japan-basketball-ja-morant-shortest-player/75513651007/" rel="noopener">praise after practice</a> lately. Scotty Pippen Jr. probably has the backup spot on the depth chart but Kawamura is worth a look considering the Charlotte matchup. If Pippen Jr. is elevated to the varsity roster, the Grizzlies will have an open two-way spot to fill.</p><p>Edey will be the main attraction though. Memphis fans will want to see the newest addition up close and personal. Coach Taylor Jenkins <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/grizzlies-zach-edey-has-green-light-to-shoot-3s-despite-just-one-in-college-says-coach-taylor-jenkins/" rel="noopener">gave a detailed rundown</a> of what the Grizzlies hope to see moving forward this season.</p><p>“I think I just want the game and the decision-making to come to him,” Jenkins explained. “I think he’s doing a great job — y’all haven’t seen it yet — but finding those right opportunities to rim-run, play behind the defense down in the paint, and then when it’s opportunities to be out on the perimeter — whether he’s trailing a play or he just happens to kind of move himself out there — I want him to feel like he has the green light.”</p><p>A green light from beyond the arc for the Purdue alum? Yup. That directive applies to everyone on the roster according to Jenkins, Edey included. The Grizzlies want to get as many data points as possible before the postseason begins.</p><p>“(It’s a green light for) all of our guys. I don’t want to restrict (Edey) by any means,” Jenkins shared. “I want to kind of see what he’s capable of. He’s showing me a lot right now, and, obviously, once we get into game flow, I’ll have a better feel for where he’s at. But I am excited to see him growing his game out on the perimeter a little bit more.”</p><p>If ever there were a time to fire away for the 7-foot-4 phenom, the preseason is it.</p><h2><b>Grizzlies can get weird against Hornets</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Zach-Edey-on-defense.jpg"><figcaption>Jerome Miron-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Memphis might list half the roster on the injury report. Morant (ankle), Jaren Jackson Jr. (hamstring), Cam Spencer (ankle), G.G. Jackson (foot), and Vince Williams (tibia stress reaction) are nursing some bruises as it is. Sitting Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart for the evening as a precaution would be defensible.</p><p>Curious FedEx Forum customers would still get to see Zach Edey and Jay Huff trying and redefine the traditional big man stereotypes. Brandon Clarke, Jake Laravia, and Santi Aldama are always good bets to do something sensational in exhibition settings. Jaylin Wells was dialed up against the Dallas Mavericks. Doubling down on his minutes to gauge defensive consistency and scalability in the offense now may pay off later.</p><p>The Hornets do not have many threats beyond Ball and Brandon Miller. The Grizzlies can afford to trot out the tallest (Zach Edey) and shortest (Kawamura) players in the league for at least a few minutes. Will it happen? Tipoff is scheduled for 7 PM CST. There is only one way to find out.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grizzlies reveal plan vs. Hornets amid injury-riddled roster

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/hornets-news-terry-rozier-generational-take-lamelo-ball-potential');   ga('set', 'title', 'Terry Rozier delivers ‘generational’ take about LaMelo Ball’s potential with Hornets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Terry-Rozier-delivers-generational-take-about-LaMelo-Balls-potential.jpg"></figure><h1>Terry Rozier delivers ‘generational’ take about LaMelo Ball’s potential with Hornets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-09T14:34:07-07:00">October 9th, 2:34pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-09T14:36:53-07:00">October 9th, 2:36pm</time><address><a>Jerry Donatien</a>Jerry Donatien has worked for ClutchPoints since 2018. He is currently the company's Charlotte Hornets reporter, and he also does voiceovers on different sports stories. He worked the NBA All-Star weekend in 2019 and 2023, the NCAA woman's tournament, and he interned with Beasley Media group.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>LaMelo Ball’s former teammate, Terry Rozier, was always a beloved member of the Charlotte Hornets. Despite <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/terry-rozier-trade-grades-heat-hornets">being traded last season from the Hornets</a> to the Miami Heat, the veteran guard still holds a soft spot for his former team. Ball learned a lot from Rozier, who gave the All-Star guard and his former team <a href="https://x.com/HornetsReddit/status/1844004183071985697" rel="noopener">props before a recent preseason</a> matchup against one another.</p><p>“He’s generational, I tell him that all the time,” Rozier said. “That’s little bro, he’s real good. This team is only going to go as far as he takes them having him be healthy. He knows what he gotta do.”</p><p>After spending 4 seasons with Ball, Rozier saw the trajectory he was on up close and personal from the start. From not being the full-time starter, to growing into a mainstay in the lineup, and eventually, the All-Star caliber potential showed later on. It’s a full-circle moment for a guy like Rozier who got to see a couple of these players grow and develop to be key contributors. Sharing a backcourt with a Ball for that long, Rozier had a front-row seat to all the ups and downs.</p><h2><b>Terry Rozier shows love to the Hornets organization too</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Terry-Rozier-during-a-Heat-game-on-April-5-2024.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Rozier had nothing but positive things to say about the Hornets.</p><p>“The players are bought in,” Rozier said when asked about the changes Charlotte has made over the offseason. “They have a mindset aligned with the new owners and everything, how they want to go about stuff, and it’s just good to see.”</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/hornets-news-lamelo-ball-miles-bridges-react-terry-rozier-trade">Trading Rozier at the 2024 deadline</a> was the start of a domino effect for Charlotte. Along with moving Gordon Hayward at the deadline, they were able to get Tre Mann, Vasilije Micić, Grant Williams, Seth Curry, and draft compensation in those deals. Those players are all key pieces off the bench moving forward into the 2024-25 season. Leading up to having a solid draft picking up a project player in Tidjane Salaun, and another developing guard in KJ Simpson.</p><p>Those trades laid out the foundation of what could be a solid young team as the season wanes on. Hornets fans should be thankful that Rozier was moved to really embrace and kick off this new wave of basketball for this organization. Surely it wasn’t an easy move after he spent nearly five years with the franchise, but it’s business. Plus, landing in Miami gave him a chance to compete and be a part of their long-term plan.</p><h2><b>Miles Bridges’ take on Terry Rozier in Miami Heat jersey</b></h2><p>Miles Bridges played three in a half seasons with Terry Rozier, so seeing him in a Heat jersey was odd for him.</p><p>“Yeah, it’s weird, but at the same time, I’m happy to see my brother out there happy and doing his thing. I for sure wanna beat him 4-0 this year.”</p><p>Bridges will have a shot to kick that off immediately as the Hornets host the Heat in game number one of the regular season on October 26th.</p><p>All of Miami’s starters didn’t play over 17 minutes while Charlotte had a few guys in the mid-20s well they cleared their benches mid-way through the 3rd quarter.</p><p>Next time they suit up, we’ll see Charlotte’s new brand of basketball rolled out as they begin their long NBA journey.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Terry Rozier delivers ‘generational’ take about LaMelo Ball’s potential with Hornets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/hornets-news-charles-lee-perfectly-sums-up-lamelo-ball-performance-vs-heat');   ga('set', 'title', 'Hornets coach Charles Lee perfectly sums up LaMelo Ball’s performance vs. Heat');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Hornets-coach-Charles-Lee-perfectly-sums-up-LaMelo-Balls-performance-vs.-Heat.jpg"></figure><h1>Hornets coach Charles Lee perfectly sums up LaMelo Ball’s performance vs. Heat</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-08T21:41:24-07:00">October 8th, 9:41pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-08T21:41:49-07:00">October 8th, 9:41pm</time><address><a>Jerry Donatien</a>Jerry Donatien has worked for ClutchPoints since 2018. He is currently the company's Charlotte Hornets reporter, and he also does voiceovers on different sports stories. He worked the NBA All-Star weekend in 2019 and 2023, the NCAA woman's tournament, and he interned with Beasley Media group.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Charlotte Hornets captured their first preseason victory <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/hornets-news-charles-lee-competitive-expectations-after-brutal-seasons">under their rookie head coach Charles Lee</a>, beating the Miami Heat 111-108. Lee made sure to give his franchise player his props after his strong game.</p><p>“On top of being a two-way player, I’ve also loved the way he’s been able to play with the ball in his hands and off the ball. His improved running habits off the ball, getting some more catch-and-shoot threes, and trusting his teammates. We talked about pick &amp; rolls and can we hit the seam a little more? I though tonight we hit them a couple times and got wide-open threes. His overall growth and development and trust in all the guys will continue to grow.”</p><h2><b>LaMelo Ball led the game in scoring in limited time</b></h2><p>Despite only playing 23 minutes, LaMelo Ball poured in 24 points and shot 6-12 from deep. A lot of those were easy, catch-and-shoot opportunities as Coach Lee mentioned. With the attention <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/hornets-brandon-miller-miles-bridges-dominate-alongside-lamelo-ball">that Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges can draw</a>, Ball has been able to spring open in the three-point area. That should be a recurring trend throughout the regular season if everyone is able to stay healthy and available.</p><p>Expanding less energy on always being on the ball and creating for others, should help keep the Hornets guard fresh during games and in the fray of the season.</p><h2><b>Kemba Walker’s value is showing early</b></h2><p>It helps to have a former All-Star caliber point guard at your disposal as a player or coach. Kemba Walker’s impact is already paying dividends for Hornets player already, according to Miles Bridges.</p><p>“It’s great just hearing a veteran voice that I heard my rookie year it’s good,” Bridges said. “And he knows basketball. Him just talking to Melo is big for him since he’s been there before.”</p><p>Bridges’ rookie year was Walker’s last year with the Charlotte Hornets in the 2018-19 season. So Bridges not only knows what Walker is about after sharing a locker room with him, but learned a lot from one of the better veteran guards at that time. Hearing that a productive player is already pouring into Charlotte’s current franchise guard is an underrated resource for this young team.</p><p>The Hornets have three more preseason games remaining on the road after <a href="https://www.nba.com/hornets/schedule" rel="noopener">playing their first two at home in the Spectrum Center</a>. The team is still meshing and learning Lee’s system. Being able to roll the starters out for around 20-25 minutes per game is the perfect way to do that for guys like Ball, Miller, and Bridges to continue to play and adjust to any kinks that may need to be ironed out. For example, they still need to do a better job taking care of the basketball since they had 21 turnovers vs. Miami.</p><p>Due to all the injuries a season ago, it’s still relatively new for some of these guys to play extended minutes with each other in live game competitions. With all the games coming on the road too, it’ll be a good way to see how the guys play in a hostile environment after two entertaining home matchups against Eastern Conference foes.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Hornets coach Charles Lee perfectly sums up LaMelo Ball’s performance vs. Heat

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/why-brandon-miller-primed-all-star-campaign');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Hornets’ Brandon Miller is primed for All-Star campaign');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Why-Hornets-Brandon-Miller-is-primed-for-All-Star-campaign.jpg"></figure><h1>Why Hornets’ Brandon Miller is primed for All-Star campaign</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-03T08:18:30-07:00">October 3rd, 8:18am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-03T08:19:04-07:00">October 3rd, 8:19am</time><address><a>Jerry Donatien</a>Jerry Donatien has worked for ClutchPoints since 2018. He is currently the company's Charlotte Hornets reporter, and he also does voiceovers on different sports stories. He worked the NBA All-Star weekend in 2019 and 2023, the NCAA woman's tournament, and he interned with Beasley Media group.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/hornets-brandon-miller-miles-bridges-dominate-alongside-lamelo-ball">The 2024-25 season for the Charlotte Hornets should be a much improved one</a>, but of course, it starts with their young stars. More specifically on second-year man Brandon Miller. With all the injuries to the roster a season ago, Miller was one of the few bright spots. He was second in scoring amongst the rookies with 17.3 points per game, finishing only behind Victor Wembanyama, the eventual Rookie of the Year. <a href="https://pr.nba.com/voting-results-2023-24-nba-regular-season-awards/" rel="noopener">He also finished 3rd in voting for the ROY </a>in 2024. It was a great rookie season, but an All-Star one is loading.</p><h2><b>Team USA experience over the summer will help Brandon Miller</b></h2><p>He wasn’t selected to the big boy squad, but he did play on the select team for Team USA before they won a gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics. He spoke on his experience in Las Vegas for practices against NBA stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and more.</p><p>“It was fun playing against the greatest players in the world,” Miller said. “Learning from them everyday. Couldn’t ask for more, going in competing at a high level. Just trying to get better everyday.”</p><p>Miller also highlighted how it helped his game.</p><p>“It helped me out to know certain spots, shifts on the defensive side. This year working on the elite two-way, that’s what Charles (Lee) has been enforcing. I feel like I showed a little bit of that last year, but this year will be a great year for a two-way season.”</p><p>Playing against the cream of the crop over the summer is the best way to spend it as an NBA player.</p><h2><b>Hornets’ coach Charles Lee could be the perfect fit</b></h2><p>A defensive-minded, younger head coach is the perfect fit for a young player with franchise potential. Especially one that is focusing on the defensive side of the ball. Great defense normally leads to easier looks offensively. Getting easier looks in transition, creating mismatches on the other end from a block or steal, and getting the choice to play out of a half court set or capitalize on the break. Lee’s defensive schemes will help the team grow, but Miller could be the face of it.</p><p>At 6’9, Miller can wreak havoc on that end of the floor. He averaged under a block and a steal in the 2023-24 season, but those numbers should go up heading into year two, which could and should solidify his two-way title. His offense will take a step up for sure, but showing that he is an impactful defender could stamp his All-Star ticket.</p><h2><b>Lead the Hornets in scoring</b></h2><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/hornets-news-lamelo-ball-eases-injury-concerns-2024-25-season">With LaMelo Ball coming back into the fold</a>, the lead facilitator, Miller’s job on offense is about to be a lot easier. Miller played on the ball a lot as rookie due to Ball’s absence a season ago. Now the Hornets will be able to have him play both and off it. Taking the ball out of his hands to run floppy more, and other sets that could help him get the ball without having to initiate the offense all the time.</p><p>That should lead to big-time scoring numbers and even an uptick in his assists playing with more help. His game should evolve over the course of the season. That would be appealing more to fans outside of Charlotte if they don’t pay attention to the Hornets. Obviously winning will put them on the map more than anything, but Brandon Miller’s individual strides should help.</p><p>Realistically, Miller could average 25-plus points, seven rebounds, and four assists is in reach for him. Let’s sit back and see if he can live up to these expectations.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Hornets’ Brandon Miller is primed for All-Star campaign

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/how-karl-anthony-towns-trade-helps-knicks-timberwolves-hornets');   ga('set', 'title', 'How complex Karl-Anthony Towns trade helps Knicks, Timberwolves, Hornets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/How-complex-Karl-Anthony-Towns-trade-helps-Knicks-Timberwolves-Hornets.jpg"></figure><h1>How complex Karl-Anthony Towns trade helps Knicks, Timberwolves, Hornets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-02T14:35:37-07:00">October 2nd, 2:35pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-02T14:36:26-07:00">October 2nd, 2:36pm</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It took a lot of moving parts, but the New York Knicks have officially acquired four-time All-Star and former first overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a three-team trade that also involved the Charlotte Hornets. Although unorthodox for a trade like this to occur just days before the start of training camp, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-how-long-knicks-were-working-massive-karl-anthony-towns-trade">Knicks finally got the superstar talent that they had been searching for</a> to pair with Jalen Brunson in order to make a serious championship push during the 2024-25 season.</p><p>Towns, a New Jersey native, now gets to play for the franchise he grew up idolizing. On paper, the Knicks have a fierce and very talented-looking roster, yet this trade came at a price. Julius Randle, who made three All-Star appearances with New York over the last four seasons, heads to Minnesota alongside key secondary guard Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-Diop, and a protected first-round pick by way of the Detroit Pistons.</p><p>To facilitate this trade, however, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/knicks-news-how-new-yorks-creativity-with-mikal-bridges-trade-enabled-karl-anthony-towns-deal">Knicks needed to get super creative</a> because of the financial bind they found themselves in. As a result of sign-and-trades that were made to acquire Mikal Bridges earlier in the offseason, the Knicks found themselves hard capped at the second tax apron ($188.9 million), and their payroll prior to the Towns trade was inching dangerously close to this mark. In order to acquire the All-Star big man’s $49.2 million cap hit for the 2024-25 season, New York found numerous loopholes in the financial aspects of the CBA and the way teams can trade.</p><p>The biggest caveat the Knicks discovered when getting creative in these trade discussions was the use of minimum-like players that they owned the cap-hold rights to from free agency. Duane Washington Jr., Charlie Brown Jr., and DaQuan Jeffries played in a combined 25 games for the Knicks last season and scored a combined 20 points, yet they held the key to getting this deal done.</p><p>In order to acquire Towns, the Knicks needed to come with a couple million dollars of his near $50 million salary. As a result, the Knicks agreed to sign-and-trade deals with Washington, Brown, and Jeffries, sending all three players to the Hornets, the third team involved in this trade. The interesting part about these deals is that they were not for the minimum, as teams are not allowed to stack minimum contracts in trades.</p><p>So, the Knicks pulled a fast one on the NBA — agreeing to three contracts with these three players that were <a href="https://x.com/FredKatz/status/1841542867803897955" rel="noopener">exactly</a> $1 above the minimum threshold, according to The Athletic’s Fred Katz.</p><p>Essentially, the Knicks packaged three minimum players together in sign-and-trade agreements with the Hornets to reach the financial threshold and acquire Towns from the Timberwolves. It is also worth noting that New York sent $7.2 million in cash considerations to Charlotte, and the Hornets surrendered the draft rights to 2023 second-round pick James Nnaji in order to complete the three-team trade.</p><p>Even with all of these moving parts and the Knicks getting creative with how they executed all three sign-and-trades with the Hornets, there was still a roadblock that they needed to pass regarding Washington.</p><h2><b>How Knicks navigated Karl-Anthony Towns trade</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Karl-Anthony-Towns-vs.-Knicks.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>A decision to trade for Towns was not an easy one for the Knicks to make. Aside from the emotions of having to give up Randle and DiVincenzo, the Knicks front office had to work day and night to get this trade completed with all of the minor details of draft picks, cash considerations, and the three sign-and-trade agreements.</p><p>One of the sign-and-trade deals turned out to be a lot more complicated than many would imagine. Jeffries and Brown weren’t the issue, but <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/knicks-news-the-european-complication-delayed-karl-anthony-towns-trade">Washington had a current contract with KK Partizan NIS</a>, known as Partizan, in Serbia. The 24-year-old guard, who had spent time in the NBA, most recently with the Knicks, was able to be included in this mega deal for Towns simply because Partizan agreed to have New York pay his buyout.</p><p>As a result, Washington signed a new NBA deal with the Knicks, was subsequently traded to the Hornets, and now he could potentially rejoin Partizan if the Hornets allow him out of his new contract. At this time, there is not a lot of clarity on this matter, yet the key detail is that he was just traded to Charlotte to complete this Towns trade.</p><p>All of this seems very fishy and like the Knicks are breaking the rules, but everything was done within the parameters of the rules the NBA has set for trades. Then again, the league is likely to review these rules, especially signing players to $1 above the minimum, in order to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again.</p><p>The Knicks pulled a fast one, and they got away with it because they outsmarted the rest of the NBA. If anything, the organization needs to give their carpologists and front office personnel who figured out this loophole a raise!</p><p>With the trade officially being announced and recognized by the league on Wednesday, the Knicks are now sitting around $185.3 million in total cap allocations for the upcoming season, roughly $3.5 million below the second tax apron. This is the reason why the Knicks are set up for success and why they have arguably the best front office in the NBA.</p><p>Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and now Towns were all added by New York within the last two years. That is quite the masterpiece for Leon Rose and his team.</p><p>As far as Towns joining the Knicks goes, the team could not be more thrilled. In the organization’s <a href="https://x.com/NY_KnicksPR/status/1841547499930030156">press release</a> on Wednesday, Rose broke his silence on the trade and offered his opinion on the addition of the All-Star.</p><p>“We are beyond excited to welcome Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks family. Karl-Anthony brings a skillset that is unique to the game of basketball,” Rose said. “He possesses a blend of playmaking, shooting, rebounding, and defending that in combination with his size allows him to compete at a level that is rare in this league. Karl-Anthony has demonstrated throughout his career to be a high-caliber player and person on and off the court who will complement the type of team and culture we continue to build in New York.”</p><p>The Knicks added the star that they have had their eyes on for quite some time, and they did so in a very unique fashion. For the other teams involved in this trade, their situations also become a lot more clear with Towns going to New York.</p><h2><b>Impact of Karl-Anthony Towns’ departure from Timberwolves</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Julius-Randle-and-Donte-DiVincenzo.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>How will Towns leaving the Timberwolves impact the team and Anthony Edwards?</p><p>This is the big question that Minnesota faces entering training camp, as everyone with the organization, other than the front office and those that made the decision to trade Towns, is left puzzled and wondering what is next. Edwards still remains, and he is going to be the focal point of the franchise. He is a young, athletic talent that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/timberwolves-news-anthony-edwards-issues-clear-cut-mvp-goal-for-2024-25-campaign">Wolves believe can, and will, become the MVP of the league</a> sooner than later.</p><p>Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid also remain as the sparks on this Timberwolves roster. After trading Towns, the Timberwolves are actually in a better spot both financially and in terms of their roster makeup.</p><p>One of the greatest problems Minnesota faced en route to making the Western Conference Finals was the fact that their bench, outside of Reid, struggled to produce when Edwards was on the bench. Now that DiVincenzo is joining the mix, the Timberwolves now have immediate options to turn to from the perimeter for production. Not to mention, Randle’s scoring prowess and athleticism in the paint make him a dynamic option for the Wolves to play through with or without Edwards in the game.</p><p>Financially speaking, the Timberwolves have created flexibility for themselves moving forward by getting out of Towns’ $220 million contract. After agreeing to long-term extensions with Edwards and McDaniels recently, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-timberwolves-facing-100-million-loss">Timberwolves were set to be a second-apron team moving forward</a>. The good thing about trading Towns is that his money is off the books, and Randle is entering what will be the final year of his contract since he owns a $30.9 million player option for the 2025-26 season.</p><p>Whether or not the Timberwolves keep Randle long term, he now becomes an asset that they could potentially flip in another trade to pair Edwards with a different star. Not having Towns on the roster also paves the way for Reid, who has been an integral part of Minnesota’s success, to rise into an even better talent.</p><p>Randle takes over Towns’ production from a scoring and rebounding standpoint. DiVincenzo is now a key sixth man that can facilitate an offense and knock down shots from anywhere. Most importantly, the Timberwolves do not have their hands tied behind their back financially, allowing them to explore the possibilities of improving their championship outlook for years to come with Edwards.</p><p>Although it was a tough decision to make, moving on from Towns was the right one for the Wolves.</p><h2><b>Hornets involvement in trade</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Hornets-Charles-Lee-with-LaMelo-Ball-and-Brandon-Miller.jpg"><figcaption>Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Many are going to question the Hornets’ involvement in the Towns trade and wonder why they did it. After all, they essentially helped an Eastern Conference foe land an All-Star talent, and Charlotte did not really gain anything from this trade that can help them immediately during the 2024-25 season.</p><p>So, why did the Hornets get involved?</p><p>For starters, it never hurts to help facilitate a trade as the third team, especially if you aren’t going to be in contention mode. The Hornets are still rebuilding and figuring out their path for the future with first-year head coach Charles Lee. There is reason to be optimistic about this team’s potential entering the new year, yet they are still nowhere close to being on the same level as the likes of the Knicks, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers at the top of the conference.</p><p>By being involved in this trade, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/knicks-news-new-york-karl-anthony-towns-trade-almost-finalized-hornets-moves">Hornets were able to land three future second-round picks</a> that they can utilize in future trades to improve their roster. Due to the Knicks needing to get creative with their ways of coming up with the funds to acquire Towns, the Hornets also got $7.2 million in cash considerations, along with the three sign-and-trade players. Essentially, this money helps Charlotte cover the costs of taking on these players, especially if they were to buy them out of their contract.</p><p>Just like how the Timberwolves created future flexibility by trading Towns, the Hornets created a gap for themselves to start making a plan for their future. Second-round picks are valuable nowadays. At the expense of the rights to James Nnaji, a 2023 second-round pick the team wasn’t going to be utilizing for the foreseeable future, the Hornets got cap relief and three second-round picks that they can use as they see fit in any scenario.</p><p>If it isn’t going to cost anything, why not be involved in the trade? That was the main line of thinking for the Hornets, who ended up being the Knicks’ saviors since they were basically the only team in the league who could facilitate the trade involving Karl-Anthony Towns.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How complex Karl-Anthony Towns trade helps Knicks, Timberwolves, Hornets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/knicks-news-new-york-karl-anthony-towns-trade-almost-finalized-hornets-moves');   ga('set', 'title', 'Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns trade almost finalized after Hornets’ moves');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Knicks-news-New-Yorks-Karl-Anthony-Towns-trade-almost-finalized-after-Hornets-moves.jpg"></figure><h1>Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns trade almost finalized after Hornets’ moves</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-01T17:25:08-07:00">October 1st, 5:25pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-01T18:12:11-07:00">October 1st, 6:12pm</time><address><a>Joshua Valdez</a>Joshua Valdez started his journalism career as the Sports Editor for the Rutgers University newspaper before becoming an associate editor for ClutchPoints. He is a diehard Yankees, Jets, Knicks, Rutgers, and Tottenham Hotspur fan. When Joshua is not either watching a game or writing about one, you can find him in an art-house movie theater or working on a screenplay.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Minnesota Timberwolves agreed to deal star big man<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-how-long-knicks-were-working-massive-karl-anthony-towns-trade"> Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks</a> on Saturday night, but the full terms weren’t known yet. The picture is now clear thanks to the Charlotte Hornets’ involvement as a financial aid for both the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-news-karl-anthony-towns-julius-randle-trade-between-timberwolves-knicks-sends-shockwaves">Knicks and Wolves</a>.</p><p>The trade has been <a href="https://x.com/BobbyMarks42/status/1841269259244368112" rel="noopener">agreed upon by all parties</a>, via ESPN’s Bobby Marls.</p><p>“Here are the agreed trade details, per sources. The trade call has not taken place yet,” Marks reported.</p><p>“New York receives: Karl-Anthony Towns (from MIN) and the draft rights of James Nnaji (from Charlotte)</p><p>Minnesota receives: Julius Randle (from NYK), Donte DiVincenzo (from NYK), Keita Bates-Diop (from NYK) and 2025 top-13 protected Detroit first (via NYK)</p><p>Note: The first from Detroit is top-11 protected in 2026, top-9 protected in 2027. It will turn into a 2027 second from Detroit if not conveyed in 2025, 2026 or 2027.</p><p>Charlotte receives: 2025 second (least favorable of Denver or Philly via Minnesota), 2026 (Golden State via NYK), 2031 second (from NYK), DaQuan Jeffries (sign-and-trade from NYK), Charlie Brown Jr. (sign-and-trade from NYK), Darius Washington (sign-and-trade from NYK) and $7.2M cash.”</p><p>Why were the Hornets involved?</p><h2><b>The Hornets helped the Knicks and Wolves execute the finances</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Karl-Anthony-Towns_29a8ac.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Rempel-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>With both New York and Minnesota both “apron” teams under the new salary-cap rules, both clubs needed help facilitating the trade. The Knicks were $7.6 million <a href="https://x.com/BobbyMarks42/status/1839852836353650918" rel="noopener">below the second apron</a>, and the Wolves weren’t allowed to take back more money in a trade, via Marks.</p><p>The second apron is about $11 million over the first apron for a total of $190 million. Going above that threshold is risky business for NBA clubs, as it severely restricts their ability to maneuver financially. Examples include losing the “mid-level exception.” losing the right to combine multiple players’ salaries into trades and losing the ability to send money in trades.</p><p>In short, if the Knicks win the NBA championship with Towns, they can thank the Hornets.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns trade almost finalized after Hornets’ moves

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/hornets-brandon-miller-miles-bridges-dominate-alongside-lamelo-ball');   ga('set', 'title', 'Hornets’ Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, ready to dominate alongside LaMelo Ball');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Hornets-Brandon-Miller-Miles-Bridges-ready-to-dominate-alongside-LaMelo-Ball-1.jpg"></figure><h1>Hornets’ Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, ready to dominate alongside LaMelo Ball</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-01T07:22:28-07:00">October 1st, 7:22am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-01T07:22:28-07:00">October 1st, 7:22am</time><address><a>Jerry Donatien</a>Jerry Donatien has worked for ClutchPoints since 2018. He is currently the company's Charlotte Hornets reporter, and he also does voiceovers on different sports stories. He worked the NBA All-Star weekend in 2019 and 2023, the NCAA woman's tournament, and he interned with Beasley Media group.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Charlotte Hornets media day featured young, hungry players making up the team’s big three. LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Miles Bridges all seem optimistic about the 2024-2025 season.</p><p>After only winning 21 games the season before, there is nowhere to go but up for this young team. That all <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/hornets-news-charles-lee-sounds-off-championship-culture-charlotte">starts with their new head coach Charles Lee</a>.</p><h2><b>Miles Bridges believes in Charles Lee, team development</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Hornets-Brandon-Miller-Miles-Bridges-ready-to-dominate-alongside-LaMelo-Ball.jpg"><figcaption>Scott Kinser-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Lee came to the Hornets after serving under head coach Joe Mazzulla on the Boston Celtics. It may be his first time as an NBA head man, but he has been an assistant coach in the league since 2014. He has been a member of two NBA championship squads.</p><p>“Just enthusiasm,” Bridges said when describing Charlotte’s rookie head coach. “He’s energetic, the last two coaches have been laid back, except for Cliff when he got mad. Coach (Lee) comes with a lot of energy and I feel like that’s what we need.”</p><p>Lee turns 40 in November, so he’s young in NBA terms when it comes down to coaching. Spending time around Mazzulla on a title run with the Celtics in 2024 also puts a different battery in the pack as well. Bridges believes in the team’s development under his new head coach.</p><p>“Taking it one day at a time, one game at a time. Focusing on the next days to get better, day by day,” Bridges said. “The new Hornets DNA is to be obsessed with daily improvement and I feel like that’s what we’ve been doing.”</p><h2><b>The big three is anxious to play at full strength</b></h2><p>While injuries have held Ball back, he is <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/hornets-news-lamelo-ball-eases-injury-concerns-2024-25-season">expected to be ready</a> for the start of the regular season. Seeing the Hornets reach their full potential <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/hornets-news-lamelo-ball-high-flying-declaration-brandon-miller-miles-bridges-duo">next to Bridges and Miller is a tantalizing sight for Ball</a>.</p><p>“Definitely excited, I mean y’all seen how Miles could jump and Miller might have little low bounce, it’s crazy,” Ball said. “Both of them jumping is definitely a scary fast break.”</p><p>Ball and Miller only played 19 games with one another in the 2023-24 season, so the excitement is their to see the Hornets likely number one and two options mesh their games together to dominate. Ball wasn’t the only one praising Miller, Bridges also had nothing but good things to say about the sophomore star.</p><p>“Brandon gets better everyday. I’ve been so impressed with him since he came to the Hornets,” Bridges said. “He’s more poised than he was last year, he can facilitate better, I wouldn’t be surprised if he hits that All-Star stride.”</p><h2><b>Brandon Miller hypes up Mile Bridges, LaMelo Ball</b></h2><p>The attention will be on Miller since he stole the show last year,  being a consistent force throughout the course of the season. But Miller knows he didn’t find his stride alone.</p><p>“It feels great coming from him,” Miller said about Bridges’ comments. “Without him I wouldn’t make it to be an All-Star. He makes me better, pushes me, I push him. It’s going to be a great season for him too.”</p><p>Miller also noted how playing next to Ball will help elevate his and the entire Hornets’ game.</p><p>“I’m so excited, man. Best IQ in the game. I think he’s the best playmaker, he’s gonna help us. Everyone’s going to follow his lead and we’re going to be right there with him,” Miller said. “Without him it would be different as you saw last year. It’s a new year, I see him doing great things this year. All-Star for him. I’m rooting for him.”</p><p>Training camp will give these guys a chance to grow even closer and build that rapport to backup their lofty expectations. The <a href="https://www.nba.com/hornets/news/hornets-announce-2024-25-preseason-schedule" rel="noopener">first preseason game</a> is at Spectrum Center October 6 against the New York Knicks.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Hornets’ Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, ready to dominate alongside LaMelo Ball

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/hornets-news-lamelo-ball-eases-injury-concerns-2024-25-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Hornets’ LaMelo Ball eases injury concerns ahead of 2024-25 season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LaMelo-Ball-eases-injury-concerns-ahead-of-2024-25-season.jpg"></figure><h1>Hornets’ LaMelo Ball eases injury concerns ahead of 2024-25 season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-09-30T16:01:51-07:00">September 30th, 4:01pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-09-30T16:01:51-07:00">September 30th, 4:01pm</time><address><a>Jerry Donatien</a>Jerry Donatien has worked for ClutchPoints since 2018. He is currently the company's Charlotte Hornets reporter, and he also does voiceovers on different sports stories. He worked the NBA All-Star weekend in 2019 and 2023, the NCAA woman's tournament, and he interned with Beasley Media group.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>There’s plenty of storylines to follow for the Charlotte Hornets entering the 2024-25 campaign, but none bigger than the one that follows franchise cornerstone LaMelo Ball. Since the 2022-23 season, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/hornets-lamelo-ball-officially-ruled-out-for-rest-of-season-with-ankle-injury">Ball has only appeared in 58 total games</a>. Everyone’s hoping to see him return to action soon, but nobody more than himself as he enters year number five in his young career.</p><p>“Happy to be here happy to get started. I feel good and ready to play,” Ball said. He’s dealt with some ankle issues over the last few seasons, but that could be a thing of the past for him. “They got me in ankle braces. I found some good ones, so it should be straight.”</p><p>Ball <a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/charlotte-hornets/article287445210.html" rel="noopener">has been labeled injury prone</a> by some after failing to stay on the floor with lower leg issues. Some viewed his injury history similar to Steph Curry’s, who also came into the NBA with ankle issues of his own.</p><p>“Obviously I knew I needed something, but it was about feel,” Ball said. “I’d be wearing some and it’d still hurt or it’d rub on my ankle. Just glad I found something that worked.”</p><p>He’s hoping his ankles hold up this season in order to unlock this team’s potential moving forward.</p><h2><b>LaMelo Ball’s new vet gives him huge props</b></h2><p>Sixteen-year NBA veteran Taj Gibson is entering his first season with the Charlotte Hornets after spending the 2023-24 season with the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons. He’s seen his fair share of talented young players in his career and he gets to share the floor now with a few more guys in Charlotte. He gave everyone their props, but gave their franchise point guard the biggest shoutout.</p><p>“One thing about him that all great guards have to have is confidence,” Gibson said. “One thing about Melo is when he comes into a room, he brightens up the room. He’s himself, he’s not trying to be anybody else.”</p><p>That’s the kind of energy most franchise players need to have when it comes down to turning around an organization. Ball averaged 23.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and eight assists in 22 games last year before going down with his injuries. Putting up a career-high in points before getting sidelined.</p><h2><b>LaMelo Ball’s All-Star form can help propel this team</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LaMelo-Ball.jpg"><figcaption>Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Ball was an All-Star in 2022 with a less talented roster at the time. With more help around him, it’s possible he can get back to that kind of level, especially if his team winning games. Charlotte only won 21 games in 2023-24 due to injuries to Ball, Mark Williams, and others. With <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/hornets-news-charles-lee-competitive-expectations-after-brutal-seasons">a new coaching staff in place</a>, everyone is setup to succeed, but it all starts with LaMelo Ball.</p><p>As a scorer and playmaker at 6’7, getting to his spots and getting his teammates involved will continue to be his role with his team. With Charles Lee in place, their will be a heavy emphasis on defense. Even Ball understands that and is ready to embrace the challenges that come with growing on that side of the floor.</p><p>After being last in defensive efficiency in 2024, it’ll have to be on hands on deck for the Hornets to improve on that end of the floor. Which again, starts with their best player leading the way to make a leap to being a two-way star.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Hornets’ LaMelo Ball eases injury concerns ahead of 2024-25 season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/hornets-news-lamelo-ball-high-flying-declaration-brandon-miller-miles-bridges-duo');   ga('set', 'title', 'Hornets’ LaMelo Ball drops high-flying declaration on Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges duo');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Hornets-news-LaMelo-Ball-drops-high-flying-declaration-on-Brandon-Miller-Miles-Bridges-tandem.jpg"></figure><h1>Hornets’ LaMelo Ball drops high-flying declaration on Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges duo</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-09-30T15:55:54-07:00">September 30th, 3:55pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-09-30T15:56:48-07:00">September 30th, 3:56pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Charlotte Hornets have shown bursts of potential over the last few years, but they have yet to take the next level as a franchise. While fans know that there is still loads of adversity ahead, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/predicting-hornets-record-2024-25-season-schedule-release">2024-25 NBA season</a> offers the squad an auspicious opportunity to achieve significant growth on both collective and individual levels.</p><p>Health could be the only real impediment preventing the Hornets from effectively forming a young, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/predicting-starting-lineup-for-charlotte-hornets">exciting core this year</a>. LaMelo Ball, who has missed the majority of each of the last two seasons with an ankle injury, <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1840788752505180490" rel="noopener">is pumped up</a> about the prospect of playing an entire campaign with Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges. He is specifically looking forward to seeing them run wild in transition.</p><p>“Both of them jumping?” Ball said at Media Day on Monday, via ClutchPoints. “That’s definitely a scary fast break.” For a deft playmaker like the 23-year-old, having two dynamic athletes to lean on should be highly motivating. The league has not seen this trio at full force yet, but if Ball, Miller and Bridges all continue to develop as expected, defenses will have their hands full.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“Both of them jumping? That’s definitely a scary fast break.”</p><p>LaMelo Ball says he’s excited to play with Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller this year 🔥</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryDonatien?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JerryDonatien</a>) <a href="https://t.co/gFp9m3Q5YN">pic.twitter.com/gFp9m3Q5YN</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1840788752505180490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>What will the Hornets be capable of in the next couple of years?</b></h2><p>Ball has proven himself capable as both a rim attacker and perimeter threat in the past. Miller has a potent combination of length and skill that should only be more apparent in his second season. And Bridges can impact the game in multiple ways. With these three talents leading the way, the Hornets are brimming with promise.</p><p>Though, it is up to former Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics assistant and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/takeaways-charles-lee-being-named-hornets-next-head-coach">first-year head coach Charles Lee</a> to help them reach their ceiling. That will obviously take time, but fans desperately want to see the foundation of a successful franchise reveal itself in 2024-25.</p><p>They also know better than to hastily board the hype train, however. Optimism and skepticism will continue to wrestle with one another in Charlotte until this franchise provides definitive evidence of a breakthrough.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Hornets’ LaMelo Ball drops high-flying declaration on Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges duo

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/hornets-news-charlotte-mark-williams-injury-blow-2024-25-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Hornets hit with Mark Williams injury blow ahead of 2024-25 season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_0794.jpeg"></figure><h1>Hornets hit with Mark Williams injury blow ahead of 2024-25 season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-09-27T19:29:50-07:00">September 27th, 7:29pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-09-27T19:29:50-07:00">September 27th, 7:29pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Charlotte <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/the-hornets-have-one-of-the-best-young-cores-in-the-nba">Hornets have a decent young core</a> of players as the 2024-25 season approaches. But they might be without one of them for a certain time period. It was revealed on Friday that Mark Williams had <a href="https://x.com/hornets/status/1839833384820068811?s=46&amp;t=vnLDgTn4yNZudl1UzUUjJA" rel="noopener">suffered a foot injury</a> during an offseason workout, the Hornets announced.</p><p>The Hornets also announced that Mark Williams would miss all of training camp due to the injury and would be reevaluated in two weeks. The injury was revealed as a strained tendon in his left foot. The team will provide more updates as more information becomes available.</p><p>Now heading into his third season in the NBA, Williams was expected to take a big leap as the starting center. But Hornets fans may have reason to be worried. He missed most of last season due to a back injury.</p><p>The Hornets begin training camp on Tuesday at Duke. They have also been a team with quite a bit of misfortune in recent seasons due to injuries to key players.</p><h2><b>Mark Williams was poised for big season with Hornets<br></b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_0795.jpeg"><figcaption>Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>While the injury is certainly a setback, Hornets fans could remain optimistic that Mark Williams will be a key contributor for the team this season. He’s shown flashed across his two years in the NBA so far and he’s one of the bright spots for a franchise that’s been down on its luck recently.</p><p>Williams was the No. 15 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Hornets. He had a very promising rookie season, appearing in 43 games, including 17 starts. He averaged 9.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocked shots with splits of 63.7 percent shooting from the field and 69.1 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>The former Duke big man then began the 2023-24 season with a bang, before being shut down in early December. Williams did not appear in a game for the Hornets after Dec. 8. His last game he played, he put up four points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal and two blocked shots.</p><p>Overall, Williams was limited to only 19 games in 2023-24, but all starts at a little over 26 minutes per game. During that 19-game stretch he averaged 12.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocked shots with splits of 64.9 percent shooting from the field and 71.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>Williams has the potential to be one of the best defensive centers in the league with his length, mobility and knack for protecting the paint. Offensively, he’s a rim-running big who can finish lobs and is a solid threat as a the roller in the pick and roll.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Charlotte
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CharlotteHornets NEWS

Hornets News: Get the latest Charlotte Hornets news, scores, stats, standings, fantasy games, and more from ClutchPoints.

Latest Hornets News

Knicks’ Landry Shamet exits Hornets game in pain with concerning injury

Sources: Lakers involved in offseason trade pursuit of coveted Hornets center

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Charlotte
Hornets NEWS