It's a long video (40+ minutes) from a month or so ago but it's a deep breakdown of one of Salaun's best playoff games. Sam Vecenie is the best at these.

A lot of hornet content creators and fans have said that they think the organization is tanking in 2024 because of the Tidjane selection. Here’s 7 reasons why I don’t think the hornets are and shouldn’t tank.

1. Our core players need to have experience with the playoffs.

2. The hornets have a good chance at making the playoffs. The east is very weak, and there’s 5 teams alone I’m confident the hornets are better than ( wizards, pistons, bulls, raptors, nets ). This alone would put us at a 10th seed

3. Flagg is a great prospect, but we aren’t guaranteed to get the #1 pick even if we do tank ( shown this year when we dropped to 6 )

4. Before the injuries, the hornets should last year at the deadline showed they were capable of winning games with miller and miles when they surrounded them with nba caliber players. They went on a 5 game win streak and were competitive with some playoff teams, but loss due to a lack of offensive fire power. We’ve seen our core show the ability to win games, the main factor is health.

5. The Tidjane pick doesn’t mean miles is gone. Tidjane will likely take 1-2 years before he plays impactful minutes here. The plan in the future most likely is to have slide miles down to the 3 and move Tidjane to the 4 when he’s ready.

6. Miles is likely coming back. Reports are saying that miles and the honest have mutual interest on getting a deal done. Miles doesn’t seem to have too many suitors. The biggest threat was Detriot and it’s rumored they want to take on salaries rather than big name free agents.

7. Potential year 2 leap from Brandon miller. Mjller most of the season was without Lamelo, and was the first option most of the season. Despite this he averaged 17 points per game with very little help pre deadline. He showed he can get to his spots and score efficiently even against top defenses as a rookie. With lamelo creating more open shots for him, a potential all star leap next season isn’t too far fetched

Extra note: I believe mark and lamelo will figure out their injury issues. Mark has said he’s feeling better and by the hornets passing on clingan, I’m sure they feel good about his health. Charles’s Lee and his new staff will help as much as they can to help Lamelo with his injury issues.

If LaMelo stays healthy all of next seasons, he should still be our #1 guy. I think Brandon Miller will be a great player, but LaMelo proved very early he had superstar potential.

The run LaMelo had last season right before his injury showed he can be the top scorer while still getting assists. He was basically a triple double threat every night.

If he can stay healthy I don't see why he can't make an All NBA team next season. Thoughts?

Love this stuff. Could be an inside joke between him and the FO from their meeting. Could be something TJ likes to say. Either way, there’s a cool avenue there for a nickname. Any suggestions?

Interestingly enough, Survivor’s 1982 single would end up BACK in the French top 200 charts both in 2011 and 2012. Wouldn’t be surprised if it was played before a lot of his basketball games as a kid. Hell, it’s the same lineup introduction song my middle school used.

If you’re in the large majority of us that don’t know his game well, I strongly encourage you to check out Sam Vecinie’s breakdown here: https://youtu.be/kpGyquTjAWg?si=2Rx_an06VOlUN5ngQ

This is the draft pick you make if you have confidence in your coaching staff. What are y’all’s thoughts about the newest Hornet?

Courtesy of Locked on Hornets Podcast (highly recommend them). Not sure if Doug made this or someone else.

I'm cautiously optimistic on this kid. The edit is so fire that I'm a bit more hype though lol.

We fans always do this, we convince ourselves to like things our gut initially says is wrong. I did that with Bryce Young because I liked Stroud. So maybe I'm just doing that again with this post...convincing myself to like it...but after a night to sleep on it here's my incompetent rationale...

1. This says a lot about the organization than just the player. I think it's tank city next year.

2. Youngest guy in the draft, largest upside. They are taking the correct view to truly build through the draft and not MJ this thing for the play in.

3. It says they are going to be patient and give the FO and coaching staff time to develop players.

4. Cliffords vote of confidence says a lot. There are the old rumors that he liked Mitchell over Monk or whatever. He's not a good coach but he doesn't bs about young players. He said that about Miller in preseason and was right.

5. This dude is signaling a culture change. The best thing about him is the effort. He and Miller give a shit. Frankly our locker room needs that...looking at you Lamelo.

6. His physical profile is elite. Great size, frame, going to grow into it more.

7. Can already dribble, pass, and shoot. Granted he may not be great yet. He's a line driver. But he was 34% on catch and shoot threes. That's what he will do if he plays beyond the G League in year one. And attack close outs.

8. He's not as much a theoretical player as other guys in his mold in the class. He's a better shooter than Castle, Matas, Holland. He's raw, but the shooting isn't a hail Mary like those guys.

9. The defense will probably translate soon, because of his elite effort and size. He gets lost on assignments and rotations but I think it's inexperience and not IQ...

10. BC he's a great cutter and help defender. That shows he has IQ, but needs reps.

11. I love the theoretical length of him and Mark in the front court. Plus a jumbo line up of Lamelo and Miller is just fun.

12. I think Miles is gone. This dude needs minutes. I think he's a g leaguer this year. But maybe post trade deadline he gets called up and gets some burn.

He's going to be fun to watch because he's like a kid too big for his body. His effort alone is worth the risk. That's the one thing Peterson said like 11 times. He love the competitiveness.

I gotta a really good feeling about this kid!

I know nothing about Jalen but the raptors just traded him to the kings. Looked at his past teams and seen he played for the hornets longer than any other team. So maybe it's more telling here to find out. It's nice to see he played with monk before

Title. Keep this list in mind as the draft wears on, esp. for whoever we take round 2. I'd be shocked if whoever we end up with in Rd 1 isn't on this list. Prospects are ordered roughly by projected draft slot according to HoopsHype:

Rd 1

Reed Sheppard Kentucky PG Fr

Stephon Castle UConn SG Fr

Matas Buzelis G League Ignite SF 2004

Dalton Knecht Tennessee SF Sr

Ron Holland G League Ignite SF 2005

Ja'Kobe Walter Baylor SG Fr

Rd 2

Dillon Jones Weber St. SF Jr

Ajay Mitchell UC Santa Barbara PG Jr

Cam Spencer UConn SG Sr

Trentyn Flowers Adelaide 36ers SF 2005

Blake Hinson Pittsburgh SF Sr

Proj. Undrafted/Summer League/G-League Talent

DJ Burns North Carolina St PF Sr

Branden Carlson Utah C Sr

Kevin Cross Tulane PF Sr

Marcus Domask Illinois SG Sr

Jesse Edwards West Virginia C Sr

Quinn Ellis Trento PG 2003

Tristan Enaruna Cleveland St SF Sr

DJ Horne North Carolina St PG Sr

DJ Jeffries Mississippi St SF Sr

David Jones Memphis SF Sr

Malevy Leons Bradley PF Sr

Josh Oduro Providence PF Sr

Drew Pember UNC Asheville PF Sr

Jaylin Williams Auburn PF Sr

Jahmir Young Maryland PG Sr