July 19, 2023 • 20 mins
Miles Bridges and Hornets GM Mitch Kupchak met with the media Tuesday to answer questions after Bridges signed his qualifying offer and more than a year removed from his last NBA action.
In today's HHC you'll hear from both Bridges and Kupchak, and the panel discusses what the roster, rotation and record might look like this season.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to the Hornets High Cast, present it by Charlotte
I ear Nosen Throat Associates, the official I ear nosen
throat Care provider of the Charlotte Hornets. Here's your host,
Sam Farber.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Welcome to another edition of the Hornets I've cast, your
Hornets podcast with all the notes, quotes, and daily buzz
around your favorite NBA team. I'm Sam Farber and it
is a pleasure and a privileged to you with us
here once again on the Hornets I've Cast brought to
you by Santa Charlotte I ear Nose and Throat Associates,
the official I ear Nosen throat Care provider of the
Charlotte Hornets. It's a very busy edition of the HHC.
(00:37):
Most notably, press conference was held yesterday at Spectrum Center,
Hornets forward Miles Bridges and Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchek
speaking to the public for the first time after Miles
Bridge is signed with the club. We will let you
hear from both of those individuals, talk about some of
the ramifications for the roster and some of our thoughts
on what this means for the future of the team
(00:59):
on the court. Helping me on all of these topics.
He's my producer on the Hornet Radio Network as well
as the producer of this fine podcast, Rob Longo.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Hello, Sam, happy to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Good to have you back here as always, and a
warm welcome as well to Sam Purley, senior writer for
Hornets dot Com. Sam, thanks for joining us.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Of course, thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Let's start things off with the press conference. As I
mentioned first time, Miles Bridges and Mitch Kupchek speaking publicly
after he signed his qualifying offer. I want to just
let you hear their opening statements before we dive any
further into this, and we'll begin with the opening statement
from someone fans and followers of the situation have been
(01:36):
wanting to hear from for well over a year now.
They've finally got a chance to. Here is Miles Bridge's
opening statement.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
I just want to thank everybody for coming out here.
You know, first of all, I want to apologize to
everybody for you know, the pain and embarrassment that I
caused everyone, you know, but especially my family. This this
year away, I've used it to prioritized just going to
therapy and becoming the best person I can be. You know,
(02:05):
someone at my family and everybody here can be proud of.
I want to thank the Hornets organization and the NBA
for giving me a second chance. You know a lot
of people don't get a second chance, and I want
to use this second chance just to just to prove
to everybody that I'm the same kid that you drafted
five years ago. You know, I'm just happy to be
back and I can't wait to get this year started.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
So there you have it.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
That's Miles Bridges opening statement to the media at yesterday's
press conference. Here now is Hornet's general manager Mitch Kupchik
and his opening statement.
Speaker 6 (02:38):
As you know, about ten days ago, Miles Bridges signed
a qualifying offer to return to play for the show
atte Hornets. Their decision to extend the qualifying offer took
a lot of time to sort through, a lot of
measured thought with ownership people in their organization. At the
(03:00):
end of the day, we relied on the process. You
know in Los Angeles, number one, right, the legal process
had to play out. Back in November, the district attorney
in Los Angeles and Miles pleaded write no contest to
domestic abuse, and there was conditions and it's my understanding
(03:20):
since November, Miles has been complying with the conditions that
the district attorney in Los Angeles laid out also in
the fall, and the NBA conducted or began to conduct
an investigation of what took place, and that process took
many months. Once again, the NBA is very thorough. We
(03:42):
were involved in the process. Obviously, we got feedback from
the NBA, but really didn't know what the NBA was
going to decide until they decided, which was about the
end of the season, and they decided to suspend Miles
for thirty games twenty games already served a ten games
suspension for the upcoming season, and also allowed him to
(04:05):
continue with his career. So based on those two bodies
and their investigation, our relationship with Miles that goes back
over five years. Talking to Miles this past year, whether
it was ownership, myself or our coach, knowing Miles as
we know him, him showing remorse and accountability and indicating
(04:31):
to us that this would never happen again. And I
believe Miles when he says that. As an organization, we
made a decision to extend the qualifying offer about three
weeks ago, and Miles signed that offer two weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
There you have at the opening statements from yesterday's media
session with general manager Mitch Cupcheck and of course Miles Bridges.
We're gonna let the statements from Miles and from Mitch
stand on their own for everyone listening. Fyid and the
higher press availability is available right now on the Hornets
team website. Feel free listen for yourself. Essentially, every member
of the Charlotte media had the opportunity to ask Miles
(05:10):
and ask Mitch whatever they wanted. Briefly some of the
themes that were touched on. Mitch talked about how the
decision making process was throwed, the decision was not come
too lightly or easily, and certainly acknowledged that there would
be a variety of opinions out there. Miles spoke with
sincerity about using the time to work on himself in therapy.
He talked about reflecting on the work he had done
in the community prior to all of this, and how
(05:32):
moving forward, he said he felt he could do more
and wants to do more. Ultimately, at the end of
the legal process, the NBA's investigation and the Hornet's deliberations
with their ownership structure, current and future. According to Mitch Cupcheck,
Miles is going to get that second chance, and ultimately
it comes down to what he does with it on
and off the court. Again. The full media availability with
(05:53):
Miles Bridges and Mitch Kupcheck available now on the Hornet's website.
Please check it out. Coming up next here, I promise
I'm going to let Sam and Rob talk. We're gonna
look at the Hornets roster now that Miles Bridges has
signed the qualifying offer. What does the lineup look like?
How might it compare to a recent over five hundred
season here in Charlotte. We'll talk about that next right
here on the Hornets iove Cast, Sam Farbara, Rob Longo,
(06:19):
Sam Hurley here with you on the AHC the Hornets
iode Cast, brought to you by Sena. So the Miles
Bridges press conference has been concluded. He has been reintroduced
to the Charlotte media, and now it's time to look
at the roster and what things look like for the
team as it's currently constructed. Got to keep in mind PJ.
Washington a restricted free agent, so we're not going to
(06:40):
assume he is in or out. Just put him to
the side for the moment here as it's currently constructed.
From my vantage point, I think the starting five once
the suspension of Miles Bridge is over, probably looks like
Lamello Ball, Terry Rogier, Gordon Hayward, Miles Bridges and Mark Williams.
And the starting group and off the bench you would
assume Brandon Miller, Cody Martin, Nick Richards all when healthy,
(07:02):
are in that first group out there, and then there's
probably room for another player. Maybe it's James book Knight,
maybe it's Nick Smith, some guard to take some point
guard minutes and some scoring opportunities for the team. What
are your guys' thoughts here on how this roster now
coalesces with hopefully not on Wood, a healthy group, but
(07:22):
also some of the new editions or in the case
of Miles Bridge, is this re addition to the roster.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Yeah, it's certainly from a basketball standpoint, you could feel
his absence last year on top of the injuries. I
think there was no question that him not being on
the team last year, compiled with all the injuries, made
for obviously a very tough season for the Hornets. But
it will be interesting to see, you know, he spoke
about this in the press conference that you know he's
been working out, but there is a difference between working
(07:48):
out and staying in shape on your own and then
getting back an NBA game shape. I mean, he's going
to go. I don't know what it'll end up being.
Seventeen eighteen months without playing an NBA game. So I
do believe that he has been working out. You see
him working out and stuff, But I think there will
be a little bit of a reacclimation process for Miles.
Getting back into an NBA game shape is just a
natural thing, so hopefully he can get up to speed quickly.
(08:09):
I think maybe, you know, having some sort of clarity
and certainty on how this is going to play out,
at least from a immediate standpoint, maybe that can kind
of move forward a little bit and focus on continue
to better himself as a person first and foremost, but
also as a basketball player. But yeah, I mean, just
from again, from a basketball standpoint, you know, we saw
what he did not this past season, but the season before,
(08:30):
and he was a borderline all star twenty point per
game score, rebound, or facilitator. I thought he made really
really big steps in his all around game that year
and with his versatility. He can play the four, he
can play the three. He'd even see him play some
small ball center here and there. I mean, he's a
guy that you can kind of plug into a lot
of different places, and his skill set is really really
good and he can do a lot of different things.
So I think it's obviously only going to help the
(08:51):
Hornets from a basketball standpoint having him back in the
lineup and allow a lot more options from with different
lineups that the Hornets obviously did not have the advantage
of having last season.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
No, not by a long shot, and the injuries were
a huge part of that. The inconsistency of the roster
I think had ultimately the biggest impact on the record,
and some of that is Miles Bridge's absence, but a
lot of it was also just injuries everywhere else. I
think if that was the only absence, everyone else plays
seventy seventy five games, team's probably gonna fall short of
(09:25):
five hundred, but not have one of the four worst
records in the NBA. And so there's an opportunity here
for Charlotte. We'll see how things with the remainder of
free agency plays out, but if healthy, I think this
team is far more reflective of the twenty one to
twenty two season where they won forty three games than
any other point since Miles Bridges was drafted. In terms
(09:47):
of the level of talent, I don't even think you
can make an assumption that Miles Bridges has to start
every game, just the way that the depth of this
team has come together here over the last couple of seasons.
The caveat for it all is they got to be healthy.
But if they're healthy, there are some serious arguments to
be made for a variety of starting fives here for
(10:08):
the Hornets.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Well, and you take a look at it and you
go back to those two seasons prior to ago when
it was a forty three win team, and you're getting
back the leading scorer from that team, and Miles Bridges
with twenty points per game, and you're also getting reliability
as well. We talk a lot about the injuries, but
in that season for Miles, he played in eighty games
and started eighty of those games. So again, it's a
guy that is reliable, he stays healthy. That's a big
(10:30):
caveat that he talked about just in general, because it
seemed like last year with all of the injuries. It
was if one person got hurt, it was somehow again
I've never seen it before, but it was almost like
a domino effect. It was just one after the other,
and if one person got healthy, then another person went
out of the lineup. So just run injury luck in
that regard. But when you bring a guy like Miles
back into fold, you talked about it, this team is
(10:51):
already better than that team two seasons ago. I think,
just based off of the depth piece. Because you add
a guy like Brandon Miller, who is a number two
overall pick, you have some of that young talent that
you now stockpiled. It's just them trying to turn the corner.
But base of what we saw from Summer League, Brandon
Miller's a guy you can plug and play right away.
I mean he's a guy that can come in, he
can spread the floor being at second unit. If he
(11:11):
comes off the bench, then you have a guy now
in the starting lineupla Miles Bridges. So again this brings
up a lot of different options for Steve Clifford in
terms of rotations, starting lineups, where you even want to
play Miles, because like Sam Brelli talked about three four
or five is basically where you can play him if
you want to go really really small out there, depending
on matchups. But this just only adds to the depth
of the team and makes the team better.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
The injury stuff that you talked about there, Rob, it
can't be overstated. Because twenty one to twenty two the
teams wins forty three games, it had seven players appear
in at least sixty five games. This past season they
win twenty seven times three players appeared in sixty five
or more. The forty three win team had four starters
(11:51):
start in seventy plus games. That's as consistent as you're
likely to find in the NBA for a starting group.
This last year, one player started in seventy or more games.
So I'm not saying it has to be quite as
healthy as the twenty one to twenty two season to
have success, but certainly if the team can keep this
group together, which retains a lot of the parts. I mean,
(12:13):
you look back at that twenty one twenty two season,
basically that starting five is available for you, except you
sub in Mark Williams for Mason Plumbley. Plumbley a more
developed player for much further along in his offensive game,
but we saw the instant impact Mark Williams had defensively
on the roster just in the few games he started
in the second half of last season. So I think
there's a very real chance here that the Hornets turn
(12:33):
things around very rapidly, just by having a healthier group
out there and having all of these options available. Ted
coach Steve Clifford. What might it mean in terms of wins?
We'll talk about that next here on the Hornets.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
I've cast.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Sam Farber, Sam Purley, and Rob Longo here with you
on the HHC. We are back in Charlotte after Summer League.
It's good to have everyone around the same table again.
Sam Purley, you were out there in Las Vegas, and
one thing you like to do, whether you're in Vegas
or not from time to time is text me things
to try and get a rise out of me. And
you succeeded while you were in Las Vegas. I'm not
sure where you saw this, if this was put out
(13:10):
for the general public or not, but basically, the win
total lines for most NBA teams have been for the
most part announced for the upcoming season, and you sent
me one you saw for the Hornets. I suspect just
to try and get a rise out.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
Of me one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Yeah, yeah, it worked. Thirty one point five thirty one
and a half wins was the win total for Charlotte.
I quite frankly, was astounded at that. I basically put
in a Google search for Hornets thirty one point five
to find where this line had been put up, and
there were only a handful of teams that were even
(13:44):
or below the Hornets on that one. I'm not sure
if it was the same one you were looking at
or not, but either way, those teams were Houston, which
is still in the midst of a rebuild. They do
have a couple significant signings in free agency, so that
one I kind of understand. If people were to put
them even or ahead of the horn I kind of
get it. We'll see how those parts mesh together, but
I get the argument. At least San Antonio, Detroit, Washington
(14:06):
the other teams that were even or below the Hornets.
No one else was. There's some teams that the lines
aren't out yet because they have significant free agency moves
or possible trades still to allocate for. But overall, I
just find the thirty one and a half number kind
of disrespectful. I look at this roster late we talked
about last segment, and see basically everything available to them
(14:28):
that was there in twenty one twenty two when they
won forty three games and were on the precipice of
the playoffs. Now it's all back together, except the really
young pieces that had exceptional seasons that year are older
and more experienced, primarily LaMelo Ball. And to me, if
you assume they're healthy, and if you're assuming every team
out there suffers may injuries the Hornets did last year,
then no one's gonna win forty games. But if you
(14:48):
assume the Hornets are healthy, I see no way thirty
one and a half is a realistic benchmark for Hornets wins.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
Yes, in full disclosure. Usually after games or after dinner
in Vegas, I go straight out to my room, just
put on the TV, maybe do a little work on sometimes,
you know, to create my own entertainment out there. I'll
just kind of read something and kind of fire it
off to you and just kind of get you all
discombobulated a little bit. So, and I know Rob enjoys
it as well. But touching on the you know, projected wins,
(15:16):
you know, it's a lot of things I'm sure factors
into it. Although it's not exactly the same team as
it was two years ago the forty three win, there
are a lot of the same core pieces, and you
did mention that the Hornets did have a really really
good run of health that year, whereas last year was
like the complete opposite. Maybe hopefully it's closer to what
it was two years ago than it was last year
coming up this year, But yeah, I think a lot
(15:37):
of it's just going to come down to internal development too.
You've got to have a lot of these guys take
the next steps. You need Mark Williams take another step,
need Brandon Miller to kind of come in and make
an immediate impact. Is it James and Kai taking the
next steps? Is it JT Thor taking a step? Is
it a lot of the guys that maybe had down
years last year because the injuries took a toll on everybody,
and the responsibilities that they have kind of taking on
(15:59):
a little bit less excelling, a little bit more in
sort of reduced roles, like where Terry doesn't have to
carry the offense on a night in, night out basis
because so many guys aren't there. So there's so many
things that play into these totals and guestimations and things
like that. But I think if all goes well and
the Hornets have a normal not catastrophic gear from injuries,
(16:19):
I mean, guys are going to miss time. It's just natural.
I don't see any reason why they aren't north of
forty wins back to where they were a couple of
years ago, and right in the conversation come March, come
early April four, hopefully one of those final play in
slash playoff spots.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Rob Longo, I think when you look back at that
team two years ago, the only foundational pieces that are
for certain not on this roster because they're on someone
else's are Mason Plumley and Jalen McDaniel's significant players. Certainly
guys we're very big fans of here, but when you
look at how they're being replaced. Mark Williams coming off
a rookie season where he showed a lot, I don't
(16:55):
think that's a one to one comparison to Mason Plumley,
because even though they play the same position, do it
very differently. But from what we saw in the early returns,
a lot to like from Mark Williams, so I think
at worst that's a wash. At best, he makes the
kind of jump Sam Purley is talking about, and the
team just continues to thrive from there. And the other one.
With as much love and respect we have for Jalen
McDaniel's game, I think he's going to do great things
(17:17):
moving forward. You added the number two pick in the draft.
If you don't think the number two pick in the
draft is going to have a significant impact, then I
think we're in the wrong business. So I think just
based off that forty three win team, the two most
significant players that are not back from it as of
this point. Of course, more free agency still to come,
(17:37):
more things that can happen, but at this point, you
replaced your center with someone who have he played the
entire season, with the stats he had, is probably an
All Rookie team member, and the number two overall pick
slides into at the very least a rotation spot. It
seems like I think this team on paper, can, should be,
could be better than the one that won forty three games.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Oh yeah, absolutely, I mean yeah, you hit it right
on the head there. I can't think of any other
argument that wouldn't say otherwise, it's hard to say that
that's not the case. So I don't know where this
thirty one and a half number came from. I mean, heck,
if everybody's healthy, of course, knock on wood, they might
clear that number by the end of February beginning of March.
That's not out of the question by any means. So
I don't know where this thirty one and a half
(18:19):
came from. I would like to see what those win
totals are from two seasons ago, to see how that
stacked up compared to what the quote unquote experts in
the desert said for that team that ended up winning
forty three games that I don't think a lot of
people really expected. But yeah, I mean, there's just an
opportunity for this team to just really fly above those expectations.
And I know that the team's going to take that
stuff personally, and they're gonna want to relish in that
(18:41):
underdog role. They've set it time and time again. And
you're getting guys that have another year of experience under
the belt. You got LaMelo Ball who is going to
be a year older, a year wiser, a year more mature.
You got other guys coming in there too. Like you said,
Mark Williams going to take a big leap, hopefully in
his second season, even guys like JT. Thor that weren't
even a big integral part of that team to seasons ago.
Maybe he takes another big lead this year as well.
(19:02):
So there's endless possibilities for this team. Thirty one and
a half definitely definitely low. We all think that's Lunachris,
so'll do with that what you will.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
I'm convinced healthy, there's no way that number ends up
being relevant. Hopefully, Like you said, the team clears it
quick and early. In the process of this season, which
is fast approaching, we anticipate there being more press conference
slash free agents related news to come here that will
of course cover on the Hornets iove cast and the
weeks that come. We'll have schedules announced before you know it, preseason,
(19:30):
and then it'll be October we'll be rolling into a
brand new campaign of Hornets basketball. For now, wish you
to the best in your summer vacations, hopefully taking some
time off stam.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Early, Yeah, a little bit. It's a vacation. Well, you
don't get one, you're changing that this is sort of
the time there's still be as you know, a little
bit of you know, news related things kind of popping
up here and there. But it feels like one summer
league ends. This is like the real offseason kind of
begins too. So I think it'll be good to kind of,
you know, we'll obviously still have our pulls on everything,
but yeah, I'm going to try and get a little
(20:02):
R and R and kind of recharge the batteries a
little bit. For sure. In the coming weeks and months.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
We'll always stay close enough to the mics that we
can cover whatever news that breaks right here on the
Hornets Ibecast. Sam Purley, Rob Loongo, thanks as always for
being here on this edition of the AHC Pleasure.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
As always, of course, thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Thanks most of all to all of you for tuning in.
For everyone here, I'm Sam Farber saying it's been a
pleasure and a privilege having you along. We'll talk to
you next time right here on the Hornets Ibcast.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Thank you for listening to the Hornets Hypecast, brought to
you by SENTA, the official I here nos and throatcare
provider of the Charlotte Hornets. For more coverage, visit hornets
dot com.
Welcome to the Hornets High Cast, present it by Charlotte
I ear Nosen Throat Associates, the official I ear nosen
throat Care provider of the Charlotte Hornets. Here's your host,
Sam Farber.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Welcome to another edition of the Hornets I've cast, your
Hornets podcast with all the notes, quotes, and daily buzz
around your favorite NBA team. I'm Sam Farber and it
is a pleasure and a privileged to you with us
here once again on the Hornets I've Cast brought to
you by Santa Charlotte I ear Nose and Throat Associates,
the official I ear Nosen throat Care provider of the
Charlotte Hornets. It's a very busy edition of the HHC.
(00:37):
Most notably, press conference was held yesterday at Spectrum Center,
Hornets forward Miles Bridges and Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchek
speaking to the public for the first time after Miles
Bridge is signed with the club. We will let you
hear from both of those individuals, talk about some of
the ramifications for the roster and some of our thoughts
on what this means for the future of the team
(00:59):
on the court. Helping me on all of these topics.
He's my producer on the Hornet Radio Network as well
as the producer of this fine podcast, Rob Longo.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Hello, Sam, happy to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Good to have you back here as always, and a
warm welcome as well to Sam Purley, senior writer for
Hornets dot Com. Sam, thanks for joining us.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Of course, thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Let's start things off with the press conference. As I
mentioned first time, Miles Bridges and Mitch Kupchek speaking publicly
after he signed his qualifying offer. I want to just
let you hear their opening statements before we dive any
further into this, and we'll begin with the opening statement
from someone fans and followers of the situation have been
(01:36):
wanting to hear from for well over a year now.
They've finally got a chance to. Here is Miles Bridge's
opening statement.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
I just want to thank everybody for coming out here.
You know, first of all, I want to apologize to
everybody for you know, the pain and embarrassment that I
caused everyone, you know, but especially my family. This this
year away, I've used it to prioritized just going to
therapy and becoming the best person I can be. You know,
(02:05):
someone at my family and everybody here can be proud of.
I want to thank the Hornets organization and the NBA
for giving me a second chance. You know a lot
of people don't get a second chance, and I want
to use this second chance just to just to prove
to everybody that I'm the same kid that you drafted
five years ago. You know, I'm just happy to be
back and I can't wait to get this year started.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
So there you have it.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
That's Miles Bridges opening statement to the media at yesterday's
press conference. Here now is Hornet's general manager Mitch Kupchik
and his opening statement.
Speaker 6 (02:38):
As you know, about ten days ago, Miles Bridges signed
a qualifying offer to return to play for the show
atte Hornets. Their decision to extend the qualifying offer took
a lot of time to sort through, a lot of
measured thought with ownership people in their organization. At the
(03:00):
end of the day, we relied on the process. You
know in Los Angeles, number one, right, the legal process
had to play out. Back in November, the district attorney
in Los Angeles and Miles pleaded write no contest to
domestic abuse, and there was conditions and it's my understanding
(03:20):
since November, Miles has been complying with the conditions that
the district attorney in Los Angeles laid out also in
the fall, and the NBA conducted or began to conduct
an investigation of what took place, and that process took
many months. Once again, the NBA is very thorough. We
(03:42):
were involved in the process. Obviously, we got feedback from
the NBA, but really didn't know what the NBA was
going to decide until they decided, which was about the
end of the season, and they decided to suspend Miles
for thirty games twenty games already served a ten games
suspension for the upcoming season, and also allowed him to
(04:05):
continue with his career. So based on those two bodies
and their investigation, our relationship with Miles that goes back
over five years. Talking to Miles this past year, whether
it was ownership, myself or our coach, knowing Miles as
we know him, him showing remorse and accountability and indicating
(04:31):
to us that this would never happen again. And I
believe Miles when he says that. As an organization, we
made a decision to extend the qualifying offer about three
weeks ago, and Miles signed that offer two weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
There you have at the opening statements from yesterday's media
session with general manager Mitch Cupcheck and of course Miles Bridges.
We're gonna let the statements from Miles and from Mitch
stand on their own for everyone listening. Fyid and the
higher press availability is available right now on the Hornets
team website. Feel free listen for yourself. Essentially, every member
of the Charlotte media had the opportunity to ask Miles
(05:10):
and ask Mitch whatever they wanted. Briefly some of the
themes that were touched on. Mitch talked about how the
decision making process was throwed, the decision was not come
too lightly or easily, and certainly acknowledged that there would
be a variety of opinions out there. Miles spoke with
sincerity about using the time to work on himself in therapy.
He talked about reflecting on the work he had done
in the community prior to all of this, and how
(05:32):
moving forward, he said he felt he could do more
and wants to do more. Ultimately, at the end of
the legal process, the NBA's investigation and the Hornet's deliberations
with their ownership structure, current and future. According to Mitch Cupcheck,
Miles is going to get that second chance, and ultimately
it comes down to what he does with it on
and off the court. Again. The full media availability with
(05:53):
Miles Bridges and Mitch Kupcheck available now on the Hornet's website.
Please check it out. Coming up next here, I promise
I'm going to let Sam and Rob talk. We're gonna
look at the Hornets roster now that Miles Bridges has
signed the qualifying offer. What does the lineup look like?
How might it compare to a recent over five hundred
season here in Charlotte. We'll talk about that next right
here on the Hornets iove Cast, Sam Farbara, Rob Longo,
(06:19):
Sam Hurley here with you on the AHC the Hornets
iode Cast, brought to you by Sena. So the Miles
Bridges press conference has been concluded. He has been reintroduced
to the Charlotte media, and now it's time to look
at the roster and what things look like for the
team as it's currently constructed. Got to keep in mind PJ.
Washington a restricted free agent, so we're not going to
(06:40):
assume he is in or out. Just put him to
the side for the moment here as it's currently constructed.
From my vantage point, I think the starting five once
the suspension of Miles Bridge is over, probably looks like
Lamello Ball, Terry Rogier, Gordon Hayward, Miles Bridges and Mark Williams.
And the starting group and off the bench you would
assume Brandon Miller, Cody Martin, Nick Richards all when healthy,
(07:02):
are in that first group out there, and then there's
probably room for another player. Maybe it's James book Knight,
maybe it's Nick Smith, some guard to take some point
guard minutes and some scoring opportunities for the team. What
are your guys' thoughts here on how this roster now
coalesces with hopefully not on Wood, a healthy group, but
(07:22):
also some of the new editions or in the case
of Miles Bridge, is this re addition to the roster.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Yeah, it's certainly from a basketball standpoint, you could feel
his absence last year on top of the injuries. I
think there was no question that him not being on
the team last year, compiled with all the injuries, made
for obviously a very tough season for the Hornets. But
it will be interesting to see, you know, he spoke
about this in the press conference that you know he's
been working out, but there is a difference between working
(07:48):
out and staying in shape on your own and then
getting back an NBA game shape. I mean, he's going
to go. I don't know what it'll end up being.
Seventeen eighteen months without playing an NBA game. So I
do believe that he has been working out. You see
him working out and stuff, But I think there will
be a little bit of a reacclimation process for Miles.
Getting back into an NBA game shape is just a
natural thing, so hopefully he can get up to speed quickly.
(08:09):
I think maybe, you know, having some sort of clarity
and certainty on how this is going to play out,
at least from a immediate standpoint, maybe that can kind
of move forward a little bit and focus on continue
to better himself as a person first and foremost, but
also as a basketball player. But yeah, I mean, just
from again, from a basketball standpoint, you know, we saw
what he did not this past season, but the season before,
(08:30):
and he was a borderline all star twenty point per
game score, rebound, or facilitator. I thought he made really
really big steps in his all around game that year
and with his versatility. He can play the four, he
can play the three. He'd even see him play some
small ball center here and there. I mean, he's a
guy that you can kind of plug into a lot
of different places, and his skill set is really really
good and he can do a lot of different things.
So I think it's obviously only going to help the
(08:51):
Hornets from a basketball standpoint having him back in the
lineup and allow a lot more options from with different
lineups that the Hornets obviously did not have the advantage
of having last season.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
No, not by a long shot, and the injuries were
a huge part of that. The inconsistency of the roster
I think had ultimately the biggest impact on the record,
and some of that is Miles Bridge's absence, but a
lot of it was also just injuries everywhere else. I
think if that was the only absence, everyone else plays
seventy seventy five games, team's probably gonna fall short of
(09:25):
five hundred, but not have one of the four worst
records in the NBA. And so there's an opportunity here
for Charlotte. We'll see how things with the remainder of
free agency plays out, but if healthy, I think this
team is far more reflective of the twenty one to
twenty two season where they won forty three games than
any other point since Miles Bridges was drafted. In terms
(09:47):
of the level of talent, I don't even think you
can make an assumption that Miles Bridges has to start
every game, just the way that the depth of this
team has come together here over the last couple of seasons.
The caveat for it all is they got to be healthy.
But if they're healthy, there are some serious arguments to
be made for a variety of starting fives here for
(10:08):
the Hornets.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Well, and you take a look at it and you
go back to those two seasons prior to ago when
it was a forty three win team, and you're getting
back the leading scorer from that team, and Miles Bridges
with twenty points per game, and you're also getting reliability
as well. We talk a lot about the injuries, but
in that season for Miles, he played in eighty games
and started eighty of those games. So again, it's a
guy that is reliable, he stays healthy. That's a big
(10:30):
caveat that he talked about just in general, because it
seemed like last year with all of the injuries. It
was if one person got hurt, it was somehow again
I've never seen it before, but it was almost like
a domino effect. It was just one after the other,
and if one person got healthy, then another person went
out of the lineup. So just run injury luck in
that regard. But when you bring a guy like Miles
back into fold, you talked about it, this team is
(10:51):
already better than that team two seasons ago. I think,
just based off of the depth piece. Because you add
a guy like Brandon Miller, who is a number two
overall pick, you have some of that young talent that
you now stockpiled. It's just them trying to turn the corner.
But base of what we saw from Summer League, Brandon
Miller's a guy you can plug and play right away.
I mean he's a guy that can come in, he
can spread the floor being at second unit. If he
(11:11):
comes off the bench, then you have a guy now
in the starting lineupla Miles Bridges. So again this brings
up a lot of different options for Steve Clifford in
terms of rotations, starting lineups, where you even want to
play Miles, because like Sam Brelli talked about three four
or five is basically where you can play him if
you want to go really really small out there, depending
on matchups. But this just only adds to the depth
of the team and makes the team better.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
The injury stuff that you talked about there, Rob, it
can't be overstated. Because twenty one to twenty two the
teams wins forty three games, it had seven players appear
in at least sixty five games. This past season they
win twenty seven times three players appeared in sixty five
or more. The forty three win team had four starters
(11:51):
start in seventy plus games. That's as consistent as you're
likely to find in the NBA for a starting group.
This last year, one player started in seventy or more games.
So I'm not saying it has to be quite as
healthy as the twenty one to twenty two season to
have success, but certainly if the team can keep this
group together, which retains a lot of the parts. I mean,
(12:13):
you look back at that twenty one twenty two season,
basically that starting five is available for you, except you
sub in Mark Williams for Mason Plumbley. Plumbley a more
developed player for much further along in his offensive game,
but we saw the instant impact Mark Williams had defensively
on the roster just in the few games he started
in the second half of last season. So I think
there's a very real chance here that the Hornets turn
(12:33):
things around very rapidly, just by having a healthier group
out there and having all of these options available. Ted
coach Steve Clifford. What might it mean in terms of wins?
We'll talk about that next here on the Hornets.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
I've cast.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Sam Farber, Sam Purley, and Rob Longo here with you
on the HHC. We are back in Charlotte after Summer League.
It's good to have everyone around the same table again.
Sam Purley, you were out there in Las Vegas, and
one thing you like to do, whether you're in Vegas
or not from time to time is text me things
to try and get a rise out of me. And
you succeeded while you were in Las Vegas. I'm not
sure where you saw this, if this was put out
(13:10):
for the general public or not, but basically, the win
total lines for most NBA teams have been for the
most part announced for the upcoming season, and you sent
me one you saw for the Hornets. I suspect just
to try and get a rise out.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
Of me one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Yeah, yeah, it worked. Thirty one point five thirty one
and a half wins was the win total for Charlotte.
I quite frankly, was astounded at that. I basically put
in a Google search for Hornets thirty one point five
to find where this line had been put up, and
there were only a handful of teams that were even
(13:44):
or below the Hornets on that one. I'm not sure
if it was the same one you were looking at
or not, but either way, those teams were Houston, which
is still in the midst of a rebuild. They do
have a couple significant signings in free agency, so that
one I kind of understand. If people were to put
them even or ahead of the horn I kind of
get it. We'll see how those parts mesh together, but
I get the argument. At least San Antonio, Detroit, Washington
(14:06):
the other teams that were even or below the Hornets.
No one else was. There's some teams that the lines
aren't out yet because they have significant free agency moves
or possible trades still to allocate for. But overall, I
just find the thirty one and a half number kind
of disrespectful. I look at this roster late we talked
about last segment, and see basically everything available to them
(14:28):
that was there in twenty one twenty two when they
won forty three games and were on the precipice of
the playoffs. Now it's all back together, except the really
young pieces that had exceptional seasons that year are older
and more experienced, primarily LaMelo Ball. And to me, if
you assume they're healthy, and if you're assuming every team
out there suffers may injuries the Hornets did last year,
then no one's gonna win forty games. But if you
(14:48):
assume the Hornets are healthy, I see no way thirty
one and a half is a realistic benchmark for Hornets wins.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
Yes, in full disclosure. Usually after games or after dinner
in Vegas, I go straight out to my room, just
put on the TV, maybe do a little work on sometimes,
you know, to create my own entertainment out there. I'll
just kind of read something and kind of fire it
off to you and just kind of get you all
discombobulated a little bit. So, and I know Rob enjoys
it as well. But touching on the you know, projected wins,
(15:16):
you know, it's a lot of things I'm sure factors
into it. Although it's not exactly the same team as
it was two years ago the forty three win, there
are a lot of the same core pieces, and you
did mention that the Hornets did have a really really
good run of health that year, whereas last year was
like the complete opposite. Maybe hopefully it's closer to what
it was two years ago than it was last year
coming up this year, But yeah, I think a lot
(15:37):
of it's just going to come down to internal development too.
You've got to have a lot of these guys take
the next steps. You need Mark Williams take another step,
need Brandon Miller to kind of come in and make
an immediate impact. Is it James and Kai taking the
next steps? Is it JT Thor taking a step? Is
it a lot of the guys that maybe had down
years last year because the injuries took a toll on everybody,
and the responsibilities that they have kind of taking on
(15:59):
a little bit less excelling, a little bit more in
sort of reduced roles, like where Terry doesn't have to
carry the offense on a night in, night out basis
because so many guys aren't there. So there's so many
things that play into these totals and guestimations and things
like that. But I think if all goes well and
the Hornets have a normal not catastrophic gear from injuries,
(16:19):
I mean, guys are going to miss time. It's just natural.
I don't see any reason why they aren't north of
forty wins back to where they were a couple of
years ago, and right in the conversation come March, come
early April four, hopefully one of those final play in
slash playoff spots.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Rob Longo, I think when you look back at that
team two years ago, the only foundational pieces that are
for certain not on this roster because they're on someone
else's are Mason Plumley and Jalen McDaniel's significant players. Certainly
guys we're very big fans of here, but when you
look at how they're being replaced. Mark Williams coming off
a rookie season where he showed a lot, I don't
(16:55):
think that's a one to one comparison to Mason Plumley,
because even though they play the same position, do it
very differently. But from what we saw in the early returns,
a lot to like from Mark Williams, so I think
at worst that's a wash. At best, he makes the
kind of jump Sam Purley is talking about, and the
team just continues to thrive from there. And the other one.
With as much love and respect we have for Jalen
McDaniel's game, I think he's going to do great things
(17:17):
moving forward. You added the number two pick in the draft.
If you don't think the number two pick in the
draft is going to have a significant impact, then I
think we're in the wrong business. So I think just
based off that forty three win team, the two most
significant players that are not back from it as of
this point. Of course, more free agency still to come,
(17:37):
more things that can happen, but at this point, you
replaced your center with someone who have he played the
entire season, with the stats he had, is probably an
All Rookie team member, and the number two overall pick
slides into at the very least a rotation spot. It
seems like I think this team on paper, can, should be,
could be better than the one that won forty three games.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Oh yeah, absolutely, I mean yeah, you hit it right
on the head there. I can't think of any other
argument that wouldn't say otherwise, it's hard to say that
that's not the case. So I don't know where this
thirty one and a half number came from. I mean, heck,
if everybody's healthy, of course, knock on wood, they might
clear that number by the end of February beginning of March.
That's not out of the question by any means. So
I don't know where this thirty one and a half
(18:19):
came from. I would like to see what those win
totals are from two seasons ago, to see how that
stacked up compared to what the quote unquote experts in
the desert said for that team that ended up winning
forty three games that I don't think a lot of
people really expected. But yeah, I mean, there's just an
opportunity for this team to just really fly above those expectations.
And I know that the team's going to take that
stuff personally, and they're gonna want to relish in that
(18:41):
underdog role. They've set it time and time again. And
you're getting guys that have another year of experience under
the belt. You got LaMelo Ball who is going to
be a year older, a year wiser, a year more mature.
You got other guys coming in there too. Like you said,
Mark Williams going to take a big leap, hopefully in
his second season, even guys like JT. Thor that weren't
even a big integral part of that team to seasons ago.
Maybe he takes another big lead this year as well.
(19:02):
So there's endless possibilities for this team. Thirty one and
a half definitely definitely low. We all think that's Lunachris,
so'll do with that what you will.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
I'm convinced healthy, there's no way that number ends up
being relevant. Hopefully, Like you said, the team clears it
quick and early. In the process of this season, which
is fast approaching, we anticipate there being more press conference
slash free agents related news to come here that will
of course cover on the Hornets iove cast and the
weeks that come. We'll have schedules announced before you know it, preseason,
(19:30):
and then it'll be October we'll be rolling into a
brand new campaign of Hornets basketball. For now, wish you
to the best in your summer vacations, hopefully taking some
time off stam.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Early, Yeah, a little bit. It's a vacation. Well, you
don't get one, you're changing that this is sort of
the time there's still be as you know, a little
bit of you know, news related things kind of popping
up here and there. But it feels like one summer
league ends. This is like the real offseason kind of
begins too. So I think it'll be good to kind of,
you know, we'll obviously still have our pulls on everything,
but yeah, I'm going to try and get a little
(20:02):
R and R and kind of recharge the batteries a
little bit. For sure. In the coming weeks and months.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
We'll always stay close enough to the mics that we
can cover whatever news that breaks right here on the
Hornets Ibecast. Sam Purley, Rob Loongo, thanks as always for
being here on this edition of the AHC Pleasure.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
As always, of course, thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Thanks most of all to all of you for tuning in.
For everyone here, I'm Sam Farber saying it's been a
pleasure and a privilege having you along. We'll talk to
you next time right here on the Hornets Ibcast.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Thank you for listening to the Hornets Hypecast, brought to
you by SENTA, the official I here nos and throatcare
provider of the Charlotte Hornets. For more coverage, visit hornets
dot com.
Hosts And Creators
Sam Farber
Rob Longo
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