2024 Training Camp - Preseason Thread

[Bassman]

Confirmed, Williams is glass. He isn’t even doing close to full basketball drills, not banging in the post, just trying to get his legs under him, and he breaks.

This front office is grating on my nerves early. Had Clingan on the front porch, ready to come in the front door, but Peterson insisted on his pet. They HAD to know the extent of uncertainty on Mark…and STILL did that. Now this chatter of being some other team’s salary b’+@# again with the Knicks…possibly even shipping out Richards? With THIS uncertainty?

No wonder the training staff has both Melo and Miller using ankle braces early.

[yosemiteben]

He isn’t even doing close to full basketball drills, not banging in the post, just trying to get his legs under him, and he breaks.

Where did you see the details of what he was doing? Because this feels like you just getting upset with literally no actual knowledge about the thing that you are saying is upsetting you.

This front office is grating on my nerves early. Had Clingan on the front porch, ready to come in the front door, but Peterson insisted on his pet. They HAD to know the extent of uncertainty on Mark…and STILL did that. Now this chatter of being some other team’s salary b’+@# again with the Knicks…possibly even shipping out Richards? With THIS uncertainty?

Were you unhappy with us getting picks and a useful player for free over the summer? How can you possibly be upset about that?

Mark tweaking his foot when he's back on the floor training (something I believe you recently said he was far away from doing) is not evidence that we made a mistake drafting Salaun. Using a top 10 pick to draft for fit is a mistake, and I'm glad our FO got the guy they wanted instead of sacrificing upside because of a short term injury.

No wonder the training staff has both Melo and Miller using ankle braces early.

How are you turning this into a negative?

[Bassman]

He isn’t even doing close to full basketball drills, not banging in the post, just trying to get his legs under him, and he breaks.

Where did you see the details of what he was doing? Because this feels like you just getting upset with literally no actual knowledge about the thing that you are saying is upsetting you.

This front office is grating on my nerves early. Had Clingan on the front porch, ready to come in the front door, but Peterson insisted on his pet. They HAD to know the extent of uncertainty on Mark…and STILL did that. Now this chatter of being some other team’s salary b’+@# again with the Knicks…possibly even shipping out Richards? With THIS uncertainty?

Were you unhappy with us getting picks and a useful player for free over the summer? How can you possibly be upset about that?

Mark tweaking his foot when he's back on the floor training (something I believe you recently said he was far away from doing) is not evidence that we made a mistake drafting Salaun. Using a top 10 pick to draft for fit is a mistake, and I'm glad our FO got the guy they wanted instead of sacrificing upside because of a short term injury.

No wonder the training staff has both Melo and Miller using ankle braces early.

How are you turning this into a negative?

Williams was training, which isn’t the same as playing physical competitive banging basketball with other bigs pounding on you. That’s my point. He’s been running, shooting, some drills, etc. They have no idea how his back will react to physical contact and demanding play. My complaint is that they KNEW this level of uncertainty about their only quality center and didn’t make the smart decision to backstop that scenario with drafting opportunities.

My blip about the ankle braces was more of a quip alluding to the new staff using over preparation given our legacy of injuries. It’s not a bad thing, and I hope Melo uses these all season.

[yosemiteben]

If the staff thought Salaun had a higher ceiling than any available center draft option, would you still have preferred that they pass on their preferred prospect to fill a positional need?

Feels like the primary source of your frustration is not believing in Salaun, but that seems extremely premature at this point.

[Bassman]

If the staff thought Salaun had a higher ceiling than any available center draft option, would you still have preferred that they pass on their preferred prospect to fill a positional need?

Feels like the primary source of your frustration is not believing in Salaun, but that seems extremely premature at this point.

I get it, and yes even though I liked him as a long range prospect I felt he was more worthy late lottery. Mostly, I believe the FO knew Williams return to being a starting center was suspect but they took their long term reach anyway, despite having strong center options available at 6, or even trading back. JMO, but I think it’s about to bite us in the ass for this season.

Rant over, I promise. Let’s see if I’m right.

[Diop]

I’m still not sold that Clingan will amount to much. So I’m not angry at the draft choice at all.

I’m a little nervous about our centre situation, but not panicking yet.

[MPM]

I’m still not sold that Clingan will amount to much. So I’m not angry at the draft choice at all.

I’m a little nervous about our centre situation, but not panicking yet.

This.

[LofJ]

Agreed, Clingan had injury issues himself in college. I don't get the anger directed at the team for passing on him.

[HornetJail]

it would be one thing if Clingan was some can't miss prospect that we passed on because of fit. He wasn't and we don't really even know if he's good yet because he literally has not yet played a game. Kind of weird to be that fired up about it right now. This draft was an ocean of meh prospects. i have my doubts we picked the BPA but we'll see in a couple years.

[Bassman]

Last comment on this, as I think some are missing my point.

There were good centers available at 6 or in a trade back scenario. The front office placed too much hope in Williams returning despite their direct knowledge he was not ready to be depended on. They chose a stretch of a prospect over strengthening our center position and possibly acquiring more assets.

Williams still unproven to be ready to play, and now has a new injury problem. Their decisions keep our center position a weakness.

[GiggitySmalls]

I don't care what we know or don't know about clingan. We do know he's a national champion main defensive player. Salmon is 3 years away from being 3 years away. He dribbles like Bambi and with his size can't finish at the rim, and we are hoping he develops a 3 ball. He's a wasted pick. We will be lucky if he develops to what pj was when he was at his worst. Hornets fans have every right to be mad at the pick. They should be beyond mad. It was atrocious. Players like him should ve drafted around 25 to the 2nd round as a draft and stash. Not a 6th pick. But measurements or something and motor boner.

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[fatlever]

It's the fluffiest day of the year. Everyone's great. Everyone's holding hands talking about adding muscle and adding three-point range and being healthy and playing defense and buying into the coach and Mark Williams back has no pain and lamelo is going to play defense miles Bridges is going to be a complimentary player and Brandon Miller is going to take a leap Seth Curry and Grant Williams are just happy to be in Charlotte and Coach Lee is bringing all kinds of new energy and our rookie is looking fantastic and lamelo and Kemba Walker are buddies now

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[fatlever]

In all seriousness my key takeaways from today are

- Mark Williams says his back injury is completely healed and he has no pain in his back. The foot injury occurred while doing basketball drills, which is a good sign that he was participating. He says that it's minor and should only limit him for 2 weeks. Mark put on some weight this summer, intentionally I believe, adding some muscle which is also a good sign that his back injury isn't limiting him

- Miles Bridges thinks Lamelo and Miller will be the two go to scorers and sees himself as a complementary player. This was both surprising and not surprising. I'm happy to see that Miles understands this is his best role as a jack of all trades adapting to each game, whether that be focusing on defense rebounding or providing offensive spark on nights where either Lamelo or Miller are out or struggling.

- miller has been working on mid-range and Corner threes as a focus

- Lamelo, is wearing his ankle brace. Understands Improvement needed on defensive side. Melo and Kemba have been spending time together and developing a good relationship.

- Lee understands a big Focus needs to be on the defensive end where the team needs to learn how to put together complete games of defensive effort not just a few possessions.

[HornetJail]

In all seriousness my key takeaways from today are

- Mark Williams says his back injury is completely healed and he has no pain in his back. The foot injury occurred while doing basketball drills, which is a good sign that he was participating. He says that it's minor and should only limit him for 2 weeks. Mark put on some weight this summer, intentionally I believe, adding some muscle which is also a good sign that his back injury isn't limiting him

- Miles Bridges thinks Lamelo and Miller will be the two go to scorers and sees himself as a complementary player. This was both surprising and not surprising. I'm happy to see that Miles understands this is his best role as a jack of all trades adapting to each game, whether that be focusing on defense rebounding or providing offensive spark on nights where either Lamelo or Miller are out or struggling.

- miller has been working on mid-range and Corner threes as a focus

- Lamelo, is wearing his ankle brace. Understands Improvement needed on defensive side. Melo and Kemba have been spending time together and developing a good relationship.

- Lee understands a big Focus needs to be on the defensive end where the team needs to learn how to put together complete games of defensive effort not just a few possessions.

if even half these things actually carry over to the NBA season, this team is going to be completely unrecognizable from the Cliff era. Love it.

Good to hear Mark has been working out this summer so he definitely wasn't totally limited all year.

Bridges being a complementary player like he was under JB, and being one of three scorers led to our best regular season in a long time. We know he's capable of it.

wtf was our previous training staff doing if they couldn't convince Melo to wear an ankle brace lol

[Robot Rock]

He says that it's minor and should only limit him for 2 weeks.

We'll see you next October, Mark.

[fatlever]

https://www.sporcle.com/games/justmurr5/every-charlotte-hornets-player-to-average-20-ppg
easiest ever. completed in 80 seconds... and i type with one finger on one hand lol.

[remi_222]

Is Moussa Diabate in the training camp ?

[HornetJail]

https://www.sporcle.com/games/justmurr5/every-charlotte-hornets-player-to-average-20-ppg
easiest ever. completed in 80 seconds... and i type with one finger on one hand lol.

i had all of them except 1 in about 30-40 seconds and then never got the last one

Spoiler:

you could've given me 15 minutes, I wouldn't have ever guessed Kendall Gill

[CuseMayne]

For some reason I feel like we may regret not keeping one of Thor or Poku...

[Goodecharlotte]

I would of persevered with Poku, I just thought there was something to work with, not like Thor the God of blunder.