The Hornets don’t want to ask too much of No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller at the start of his rookie season, and the roster depth at the forward spots puts the club in a good position to avoid putting pressure on him in the early going, writes Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer. As Miller notes, with plenty of reliable veterans, he can focus on getting comfortable in his role.
“It definitely gives me a lot of confidence just to come in here and take an open shot on a passed ball from LaMelo Ball or one of our vets out here,” Miller said. “It’s just a confidence thing.”
While Miller may not immediately be a focal point on offense or the player who’s taking on the toughest defensive assignments, he has been a quick study so far in training camp, impressing his Hornets teammates.
“Yeah, I think it’s definitely rare, but his game speaks volumes,” P.J. Washington said. “I’ve been saying this a long time, but he doesn’t do anything (wrong) on the court. I’m very happy the way he’s been working. He’s getting extra shots, he’s doing everything to be successful in this league. And I just can’t wait to see him play.”
Here’s more on the Hornets:
- In his initial comments to reporters as a 76er this week, former Hornets wing Kelly Oubre appeared to take a shot at his old team, as Boone relays. “Honestly, this team wins every year, right?” Oubre said of the Sixers. “The fan base wants them to win more, but I’ve come from teams where they have no hope. Like, zero hope within the whole city. And this is not that at all. … The organization gives its players the platform to do so with everything around us. So, it’s night and day from what I’ve been to, and I’m going to just take advantage of it, soak it all in, and take it day by day.” Oubre spent the past two seasons with the Hornets.
- Second-year big man Mark Williams wasn’t able to play in Summer League or complete his usual offseason workout routine since he spent part of the summer recovering from thumb surgery. Instead, he focused on spending extra time in the weight room, adding roughly 12 pounds without sacrificing speed and lateral movement, Boone writes for The Observer.
- Within the same story, Williams said he’s looking forward to picking the brain of Patrick Ewing, the former star center who has rejoined the Hornets as a coaching consultant. “Obviously, what he can do, what he’s done, and then now to have a legend like that here will be great for me,” Williams said. “He obviously played the five, played against a lot of greats. So, to have him here will be really cool.”
- LaMelo Ball, who signed a five-year, maximum-salary contract extension with the Hornets in July, is embracing his role as a team leader, according to Boone. “(We) see the difference in him from last year and the last couple of years,” veteran guard Terry Rozier said of his teammate.
Mr. Oubre may want to check the history of the 76ers. They haven’t won a championship since 1983. So I don’t know WTF he’s talking about.
The Bobcats/Hornets are the only team in nba history who have been tanking for 38 years. That’s what he’s talking about.
.
And the Hornets have never been relevant but go off.
And who exactly forced him to sign with the Hornets, again? Yeah. Hard to have sympathy for a guy who should’ve known what to expect.
To be fair, they did look like they were on the way up when he signed.
Of course, Oubre can’t help teams win, but that’s a different matter.
That’s true. But it’s not like it was ALL the team’s fault, either. When your best player misses a lot of time, other guys get suspended for off-the-court actions, etc, there’s not much you can do. Yes, the organization is a mess generally speaking, but there’s some bad luck mixed in there too.
Either way, it’s just a bad look for a player to take a cheap shot at his old team when he had to settle for a one-year min deal after a very weak market for his services. And who knows how this Sixers season may ultimately play out. He could be eating those words before long lol.
I don’t disagree, I’m just trying to both be fair and play devil’s advocate.
It would be funny if that happened. Kelley Oubre is a curse! Lmao.
Oubre is a curse. He claims to not play for winners but Warriors were in the bubble when he played there. He sat on the bench and didn’t help at all for them to win in the bubble.
The best to describe him is lazy. He has all the talent in the world but rarely pushes himself. Plays little defense and on offense runs to the corner and just waits for a pass.
Phoenix was the bubble year, not GS. He played for the Warriors in 2020-2021. That was the winningest team, record-wise, he’s ever played for.
On that, agreed. He’s a score-only player. Also, him “running to the corner” is funny, given that his career 3pt% from anywhere else is actually higher than his corner 3 percentage.
Forgive arc, knowledge is not his strong suit
Human rain delay only suit is trolling. has never brought anything insightful to the rumor board.
i should have said play in. Oubre was one of the reason they didn’t advance because he was as always a no show.
Obrue had one of his best yrs with Warriors. Played 31 mins a gm. In 55 gms. Started 50 of them. It’s true he’s not a D guy. He is who he is. Still growing up imo. You should be thankful of his yr in GS.
The Sixers have at least had playoff victories this decade.
“The fan base wants them to win more, but I’ve come from teams where they have no hope.”
This sentence is important, lol.
If everyone stays healthy, the Hornets could finally make some real noise this season.
With their point guard rotation of LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier, and plus their solid wing depth featuring the likes of Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Gordon Hayward, and Cody Martin, and then with their rotation of front court guys including Kai Jones, PJ Washington, Nick Richards, and Mark Williams this Hornets team should have a very solid 2 deep rotation at each position.
Then, they will also have some young guys that need time to develop and mature like James Bouknight, Nick Smith Jr., and Leaky Black. All three will likely be fighting for playing time at the end of the bench, but they each are talented players that could eventually help this team down the stretch.
Honestly, I’d like to see the Hornets end up using some of their younger guys they don’t have minutes for in a trade along with some of their draft capital at the deadline to help bolster their roster. If the Hornets are in contention at the trade deadline, Bouknight, Nick Smith Jr., and a future first round pick should definitely be enough to get them a veteran piece.
There are quite a few interesting young teams that just might be ready to take their next step.towards being real contenders, and itll.be fun this season to see who is able to rise to the challenge.
Is this satire
Defense is still a huge issue until they prove otherwise.
An organization that continues to head in the wrong direction.
LaMelo doesn’t make anybody on the floor better. Just gets his stats. 2nd best player is a wife beater in Miles Bridges. Rozier and Hayward have aged and declined.
Brandon Miller brings little defensively. Below average rebounding and rim protection. Just a three-point jacker.
Mark Williams is a throwback center with developing skills. He remains a project, and even if he develops his game is best suited for the NBA that was 10 years ago.
A complete mess.
Looks like you forgot to sign outta your burner there Barry
Williams is 21yrs old. He just put on 12 pounds of muscle. You’d think a few guys in NBA could do that.???? Should do that.
He’s in good hands with Patrick.
Sixers needed offense off the bench. Obrue at the minimum. Is an excellent move. And he’s right about Hornets.
No Hornets fan should feel offended…
It’s just the truth of the matter… There’s no hope for the Hornets…
I believe the hornets are in way yo be a playoff team, but they need a lot of discipline.
I believe the hornets are in way yo be a playoff team, but they need a lot of discipline. Consist and mental grow they have talent for a men’s league but play like a child’s.