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Hornets guard LaMelo Ball out with calf strain

After undergoing additional evaluation, Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has been diagnosed with a left calf strain. The injury occurred late in the fourth quarter of the Hornets game vs. Miami on Nov. 27. Ball, who missed Friday’s game vs. New York due to left calf soreness, is listed as out tonight vs. Atlanta and will be reevaluated two weeks from the date the injury occurred.

Ball has averaged career highs this season in points (31.1) and 3-pointers (4.7), both of which rank second in the NBA, in addition to recording 5.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 18 contests (18 starts). He has appeared in 202 games (182 starts) in five seasons since being selected by the Hornets with the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, and he holds career marks of 21.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.5 steals. Ball was named the 2020-21 Rookie of the Year and was selected as an All-Star in 2021-22, and he is the franchise’s all-time leader in triple-doubles (10).

Hornets hire Charles Lee as new head coach

Charlotte Hornets Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson announced today the team has hired Charles Lee as head coach. Lee, who brings 10 years of experience as an NBA assistant coach, will join the Hornets after concluding the NBA Playoffs with the Boston Celtics, where he has spent the 2023-24 season as the team’s top assistant.

“We are excited to welcome Charles Lee as the head coach of Charlotte Hornets,” said Peterson. “His high character and his ability to connect with players while also instilling a culture of accountability will serve us well as we construct a competitive team built for long-term success. Charles possesses a championship pedigree with a wide range of basketball knowledge and NBA experience, has a tremendous work ethic and is a great communicator. He shares our vision for this organization, and I look forward to partnering with him in building something special here in the Carolinas. I can’t wait for our Hornets community to meet Charles, his wife Lindsey and his beautiful daughters, and feel Charles’ passion for the game and the intensity of his desire to win.”

Prior to his time in Boston, Lee served five seasons (2018-2023) as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks, ascending to associate head coach and helping guide the team to the 2020-21 NBA championship. He started his NBA career as an assistant coach for four seasons (2014-2018) with the Atlanta Hawks. Throughout his 10 NBA seasons, Lee’s teams have accumulated a 510-291 (.637) regular-season record, reached the playoffs nine times, captured seven division titles and earned five Eastern Conference No. 1 seeds. In four of the last six seasons, his teams have finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA.

“The opportunity to be the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets is a dream come true,” said Lee. “I want to thank Rick Schnall, Gabe Plotkin and Jeff Peterson for the trust they are placing in me to lead this team. The Hornets have a talented young core of players and I’m excited about our future and what we can build here. There are few places as passionate about basketball as the Carolinas, and I look forward to coming to Charlotte and getting to work.”

Hornets head coach Steve Clifford to step down at end of season

Charlotte Hornets Head Coach Steve Clifford announced today that he will step down from his role as head coach when his contract expires at the conclusion of the 2023-24 regular season. Clifford will serve as head coach for the team’s seven remaining games and is expected to move into an advisory role with the front office next season. The Hornets will begin their search for a new head coach immediately.

“This is the appropriate time for me to step down,” said Clifford. “I believe this is best for me and the organization. I’m excited about the future of the Hornets – our young core of players, Jeff’s leadership of our basketball operations and Rick and Gabe’s vision for the organization. I want to thank all the Hornets players and staff for their work the past two seasons and our Hornets fans for their continued support of our team.”

“Dating back to our time together in Brooklyn, I have a tremendous amount of appreciation for Coach Cliff, and I understand his decision to step down,” said Hornets Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson. “His basketball knowledge, teaching ability and work ethic are well-respected throughout the NBA. He has had to endure some very difficult circumstances the past two years, and yet our players have continued to compete, work hard and develop. On behalf of the entire Hornets organization, I want to thank Steve for all his efforts, and we look forward to having him remain a part of the organization.

“While Steve will continue to coach the team for the remainder of the season, we will immediately begin the search process for our next head coach. We will look to hire someone that shares our values and vision in developing our young core and creating a culture and identity based on teamwork, accountability and competitiveness. We will conduct a thorough search process to select the best head coach for the Hornets moving forward.”

Clifford was hired on June 24, 2022, marking his second stint with the Hornets. He previously served as head coach from 2013 – 2018, leading the team to two playoff appearances, and his 241 victories as Charlotte’s head coach are the most in franchise history. Clifford also served as head coach of the Orlando Magic for three seasons (2018-21), guiding the team to two playoff berths. He became the 75th coach in NBA history to amass 300 wins. In total, Clifford has more than 25 years of NBA experience as a scout, assistant coach and head coach.

Hornets trade Gordon Hayward to Thunder

The Charlotte Hornets have acquired forward Davis Bertans, guard Tre Mann, guard Vasilije Micic, a 2024 second-round draft pick (Houston Rockets), a 2025 second-round draft pick (Philadelphia 76ers) and cash considerations in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder for forward Gordon Hayward.

Hayward (6-7, 225) has appeared in 809 career games (646 starts) as a member of the Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics and Hornets and averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.02 steals in 31.2 minutes. During the 2023-24 season, he has appeared in 25 games (all starts) and averaged 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.12 steals in 31.9 minutes.

Originally selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Hayward was named a 2017 NBA All-Star during a season in which he averaged 21.9 points and helped lead the Jazz to a 51-win season. During Hayward’s collegiate career, he was named the 2010 Horizon League Player of the Year as he helped lead the Butler Bulldogs to the 2010 NCAA National Championship game.

Bertans, a native of Valmiera, Latvia, is in his eighth NBA season, which includes stops with San Antonio, Washington, Dallas and Oklahoma City. For his career, he has averaged 7.6 points, including a 39.8 percent mark from beyond the arc, and 2.5 rebounds in 447 games (40 starts). Originally selected by the Indiana Pacers in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft, Bertans has appeared in 15 contests this season, notching 2.9 points in 6.1 minutes per game. He played five professional seasons prior to the NBA with KK Partizan (Serbia) and Baskonia (Spain).

Mann, the 18th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, holds career averages of 8.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game across 140 appearances (31 starts) with the Thunder. He has recorded 3.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from 3-point range in 13 outings this season. Mann was a McDonald’s All-American in 2018-19 before playing two seasons for his hometown Florida Gators, where he earned All-SEC First Team honors as a sophomore.

Originally selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft, Micic played nine seasons overseas before joining the Thunder for the 2023-24 campaign. In 30 games this year, Micic has averaged 3.3 points and 2.5 assists in 12.0 minutes per contest. His professional experience includes stints with KK Mega Bemax (Serbia), Bayern Munich (Germany), KK Crvena Zvezda (Serbia), Tofas SC (Turkey), Zalgiris (Lithuania) and Anadolu Efes (Turkey). He is a two-time EuroLeague champion, two-time EuroLeague Final Four MVP and was named the EuroLeague MVP in 2021.

Hornets waive Ish Smith, Frank Ntilikina, James Bouknight

Charlotte Hornets have waived guard James Bouknight, guard Frank Ntilikina and guard Ish Smith.

Bouknight appeared in 79 games in three seasons with the Hornets, averaging 4.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in 11.4 minutes per contest. He posted 3.6 points in 5.8 minutes per game across 14 appearances this season. The Hornets originally selected Bouknight in the first round (11th overall) of the 2021 NBA Draft.

Ntilikina has recorded 4.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game across 321 appearances (65 starts) in his seven-year NBA career. He suited up for five contests with the Hornets this season, logging 8.6 minutes per game. Ntilikina, who was originally selected by the New York Knicks with the eighth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, signed with the Hornets as a free agent on Aug. 5, 2023.

Smith, a 14-year veteran who has played for an NBA-record 13 teams, holds career averages of 7.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game in 805 appearances (172 starts). He notched 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 43 games (five starts) for the Hornets this season. A native of Concord, N.C., Smith signed with the Hornets as a free agent on Oct. 24, 2023.

Hornets trade P.J. Washington to Mavericks for Grant Williams, Seth Curry

The Dallas Mavericks have acquired forward P.J. Washington and two second-round picks in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets for forward Grant Williams, guard Seth Curry and a top-two protected 2027 first-round pick.

Washington (6-7, 230) has appeared in 44 games (17 starts) with the Hornets this season and is averaging 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. In his 17 starts, he averaged 14.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.

The 25-year-old Louisville, Kentucky native recorded 43 points off the bench against Utah on Jan. 27, the most points by a non-starter in a game in Hornets history and the most points by a player off the bench in the NBA this season. He is one of three players in Hornets history to record at least 43 points in a game multiple times (Glen Rice, Kemba Walker). In his debut game with the Hornets, the 6-7 forward set a franchise record for the most points scored in a debut (27) and a league record for most 3-pointers made in a debut in NBA history (7).

Through 304 career games (236 starts), Washington is averaging 13.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. During his time with the Hornets, Washington recorded the fifth-most 3-pointers made (536) and fifth-most blocks (295) in franchise history.

Washington was selected with 12th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets after playing two seasons at the University of Kentucky. During his collegiate career, he was a two-time SEC Player of the Week winner after averaging 15.2 points (.522 FG%, .423 3FG%, .663 FT%), 7.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.2 blocks and 29.3 minutes in 35 games (33 starts) his sophomore season.

Washington will wear No. 25 for the Mavericks.

Williams appeared in 47 games for the Mavericks this season (33 starts) and averaged 8.1 points and 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 26.4 minutes per game while shooting 37.6% from behind the arc. In his first 20 games with Dallas, Williams shot 42.5% from 3-point range and later set a career-high 27 points against Sacramento on Jan. 27. He was acquired by Dallas from Boston on July 12, 2023, in a three-team sign-and-trade. Prior to joining the Mavericks, Willams averaged 6.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists through 288 games (58 starts) over four seasons with Boston.

Seth Curry appeared in 36 games this season (3 starts), averaging 4.4 points and 1.5 rebounds in 12.7 minutes per game while shooting 36.3% from three. Against the Wizard’s on Nov. 15, he recorded 15 points while shooting a 6-of-6, the first time in his career he has been perfect from the field (min. 5 FGA). Curry signed with Dallas on July 14, 2023, his third stint with the team.

Heat trade Kyle Lowry, draft pick to Hornets for Terry Rozier

The Miami Heat have acquired guard Terry Rozier in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets for Kyle Lowry and a protected 2027 first round pick.

Rozier has appeared in 30 games (all starts) with the Hornets this season averaging 23.2 points, 6.6 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 1.07 steals and 35.5 minutes while shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 84.5 percent from the foul line. He is averaging career highs this season in scoring average, assists per game, field goal percentage, field goals made per game and free throws made per game. He has scored in double-figures in every game this season, except one, posting 29 double-digit scoring games, including 21 20-point games, six 30-point contests and one 40-point performance, recording a season-high 42 points and eight assists on December 29 at Phoenix, including eight three-point field goals in the game, becoming just the third player in NBA history to reach each of those minimums while not registering a single turnover. He recorded five 40-point games as a member of the Hornets, the fifth-most in team history and finished with 20 25-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist games, the fourth-most in team history. Rozier led the team in assists a team-high 20 times this season, in points a team-best 13 times, in steals seven times, blocks on four occasions and rebounds once. He has dished out a career-high 13 assists three separate times and currently ranks fifth in fourth quarter scoring average among all players this season.

On January 8 vs. Chicago, he posted 39 points and eight assists, connecting on seven three-point field goals and a career-high 12 free throws to become the first player in NBA history to reach each of those minimums without recording a single turnover. Earlier this season, he averaged 28.0 points and 10.6 assists while shooting 40 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the foul line during a five-game stretch from November 30 through December 11, becoming the first player with at least those averages over any five-game mark in franchise history. Rozier started the season scoring at least 20 points in six-straight games, his longest such streak to begin a season in his career and the second-longest 20-point streak to start a season in Hornets history. Additionally, prior to joining the Hornets, Rozier played four years in Boston, making the postseason each season, including two trips to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Lowry played two and a half seasons in Miami, helping the HEAT to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2022 and the NBA Finals in 2023, appearing in 155 regular season games (142 starts) averaging 11.4 points, 5.8 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.05 steals.

Hornets fall to Nuggets, lose 11th straight game

Per the Charlotte Observer:

With the never-ending game of musical injury chairs in full motion once again, this time courtesy of Terry Rozier’s illness, Steve Clifford relied on his decades of experience Monday night.

It’s probably the best method for the Charlotte Hornets coach to keep his sanity.

“That’s one thing as I’ve gotten older, is I’ve gotten better,” Clifford said. “You have to have a feel for your team, and you have to know you are not going to coach a team that is 17-12 the same way you coach a team that’s 5-23. You can’t, you know?

“And you can still be firm, you can be demanding. But I do think NBA players, they do know what’s right and they know what’s wrong. And how you deal with them, message with them is everything. This is a brutal trip, even if you have everybody.”

But the Hornets don’t and that was very evident after halftime, when the Denver Nuggets mashed their foot on the gas pedal and left Charlotte’s makeshift rotation in the mountain dust. Things unraveled quickly in the third quarter of the Hornets’ 111-93 defeat to the Nuggets at Ball Arena, ensuring the visitors would begin 2024 in the same fashion 2023 ended — adding another number in the wrong column.

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Some key Pelicans players feel at home when playing in Charlotte

Per the New Orleans Times-Picayune:

Friday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets was a homecoming for multiple New Orleans Pelicans players.

Brandon Ingram grew up in Kinston, North Carolina, a working class town in the Eastern part of the state. Trey Murphy is from Durham, North Carolina. Zion Williamson, a South Carolina native, also spent time in Durham; a former Duke player, Williamson played his long season of college basketball there.

The Pelicans, stocked with talent that developed in North Carolina, beat the Hornets 112-107 for their third consecutive win Friday. Williamson scored 21 points and snagged a season-high 11 rebounds as New Orleans improved to 2-0 on its three-game road trip and 15-11 on the season.

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Hornets guard LaMelo Ball leaves game with ankle injury of unknown severity

Per the Charlotte Observer:

Ball went up for a left-handed layup with 2:26 remaining in the second quarter and landed awkwardly as he got tangled up with Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, leaving Ball to crumple to the court in agony. The Hornets’ floor general had to be helped off the floor and went immediately into the locker room, unable to put much weight on his foot as he uncomfortably hopped off.

The main concern for the Hornets (5-10) and their never-ending woes? It’s the same ankle Ball had surgery on in March, the very injury that prevented him from being cleared for full basketball activities until a few weeks before training camp began last month. He’s worn ankle braces for extra support, hoping they would help keep him healthy.

Ball hasn’t made it through a full schedule yet since entering the league in 2020 and appeared in only 36 games last season after injuring his ankles four times. He was on a roll of late, compiling a multitude of impressive stats.

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