Nick Richards Traded to Suns | Mark Williams 31p-13r! | ENOUGH with the Core Four nonsense

Locked On Hornets - Daily Podcast On The Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets are shaking things up, making an early splash before the trade deadline by sending Nick Richards to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Josh Okogie and three second-round picks. Doug and Walker break down the trade, analyzing what Okogie brings to the Hornets and how this deal reflects the front office's asset collection strategy. Could they have gotten more if they had waited, or was this the right time to strike?

On the court, the Hornets finally secure a win on their West Coast road trip, defeating the Utah Jazz 117-112. Mark Williams was the star of the night, posting a dominant 31-point, 13-rebound performance, including a heroic fourth quarter. With all members of the so-called "Core Four" scoring at least 20 points, the team showed flashes of its potential—but does this group truly have the makings of a core, or are the Hornets still searching for their identity?

Join us as we discuss why Jeff Peterson's calculated moves might set the stage for bigger deals, the emergence of backup center Moussa Diabaté, and LaMelo Ball’s growth as a leader on and off the court. Plus, is this just the beginning of a busy trade season for Charlotte?

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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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