Another game, another brutal loss for the Charlotte Hornets, who got blown out by Sacramento in a performance that felt all too familiar. The team was hanging around until the fourth quarter before completely collapsing, and the question remains—why does this keep happening? We break down the biggest issues, including LaMelo Ball’s continued struggles against physical defenses, his worst three-point shooting season yet, and what this all means for the future of the franchise.

With the Hornets now piling up ugly losses, Doug Branson and Walker Mehl debate whether LaMelo is being unfairly judged because of the lack of talent around him or if the book is out on how to shut him down. Meanwhile, Miles Bridges continues to be the only player elevating his game in adversity, but does that actually mean anything for the Hornets’ long-term future? And with the draft approaching, could Charlotte make a bold move to trade back into the top seven?

Plus, we check in on former Hornets like Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward—are their new teams regretting those trades? We also take a look at the bigger picture: what should the Hornets prioritize in team building if LaMelo isn’t capable of carrying the franchise alone?

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

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

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