RealGM Basketball Wiretap

21 November 2024

• LaMelo Ball Fined $100K For Using Derogatory Language In Postgame Interview

  Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball was fined $100,000 for using derogatory language during a postgame interview. Ball made an offensive comment following the Hornets victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, November 16.

  In an on-court interview, the Charlotte star was asked about the Hornets getting a stop on the final possession to defeat the Bucks. Ball replied, "We loaded up - no homo. That's what we wanted, put a hand up and then live with the results."

• Miles Bridges Out At Least Two Weeks With Bone Bruise In Right Knee

  Miles Bridges has been diagnosed with a bone bruise in his right knee. The injury occurred after Bridges hyperextended his right knee late in the fourth quarter of the team's win on Wednesday night against the Detroit Pistons.

  Bridges will be reevaluated in two weeks.

  In eight games this season, Bridges is averaging 14.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 30.5 minutes.

• Nick Richards Out At Least Two Weeks With Rib Cartilage Fracture

  Nick Richards will miss at least the next two weeks with a rib cartilage fracture underneath his clavicle.

  The Hornets did not give a firm update on Richards' return, except that he will be re-evaluated every other week.

  Richards will miss at least the next seven games.

  The Hornets are already playing without center Mark Williams, who has yet to appear this season.

• Hornets Exercise 25-26 Options On Brandon Miller, Nick Smith Jr., Mark Williams

  The Charlotte Hornets have exercised their third-year team options on guards Brandon Miller and Nick Smith Jr., in addition to exercising its fourth-year team option on center Mark Williams.

  Miller, the second overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, has appeared in 75 games (69 starts) for his career, recording 17.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 31.9 minutes per contest. He connected on 184 3-pointers last season, the fourth-most by a rookie in NBA history behind only Keegan Murray (206), Donovan Mitchell (187) and Damian Lillard (185). He became the 11th rookie in NBA history to average 15.0 points and 2.0 3-pointers per game, and among this group, only Stephen Curry (.437) shot a higher percentage from 3 than Miller (.373). Miller was a Rookie of the Year finalist, an All-Rookie First Team selection, a three-time Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honoree and a Rising Stars participant, in addition to being named to the USA Select Team in the summer.

  Smith Jr. led all rookies in 3-point percentage (.432) last season and has tallied 5.9 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists across 51 outings for his career. He poured in career highs in points (24), field goals (nine) and 3-pointers (six) while matching his personal best with six rebounds in a win at Cleveland (April 14) last season, and he erupted for 17 points and five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter vs. Denver (Dec. 23). His five 3s were the most in a quarter by a Hornets rookie since at least 1996-97. Smith Jr. was originally selected by the Hornets in the first round (27^th overall) of the 2023 NBA Draft.

  Williams has registered 10.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 62 appearances (36 starts) for his career. He made 18 straight field goals from Nov. 4-8 last season, the longest streak in franchise history, and he netted a career-high 27 points at Indiana (Nov. 4). Williams collected 21 points and a career-high 24 rebounds, including a franchise-record 15 offensive boards, at Washington (Nov. 10). The Hornets selected Williams in the first round (15^th overall) of the 2022 NBA Draft.

• Brandon Miller Out At Least One Week With Left Glute Strain

  Charlotte Hornets wing Brandon Miller will miss at least one week due to a left glute strain. Miller was injured in the first half of the Hornets opening night victory over the Houston Rockets.

  The second-year wing was spotted trying to loosen up his leg/hip/back at several points in the first half. Eventually, the Hornets ruled Miller out for the rest of the game at halftime.

  Charlotte is counting on Miller to be a big part of their team this season. With LaMelo Ball returning to full health, the Hornets see Miller and Ball forming a star duo in Charlotte.

• Brandon Miller Left Game Early Due To Hip Soreness

  Charlotte Hornets second-year wing Brandon Miller got his season off to a good start with a thunderous dunk. Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long for Miller, as he exited the Hornets victory early due to left hip soreness.

  Miller was spotted stretching and trying to loosen up his hip at several points in the first half. Unfortunately, he was unable to return and was ruled out for the night shortly after playing just 11 minutes.

  Miller will undergo further testing on Thursday to determine the extent of the injury. Charlotte was already without starters Mark Williams and Josh Green, but managed to pull off the opening night upset at the Houston Rockets.

• Mark Williams Out For Season Opener With Foot Injury

  Mark Williams will miss the Charlotte Hornets' season opener against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday due to a foot injury.

  Williams, who was recently out of a walking boot, is rehabbing a strained tendon in his left foot.

  Williams averaged 12.7 points and 9.7 rebounds last season.

• Hornets Claim Jared Rhoden Off Waivers, Will Convert To Two-Way

  The Charlotte Hornets have claimed Jared Rhoden off waivers and is expected to be signed to a Two-Way deal.

  Rhoden appeared in 17 games last season with the Detroit Pistons, averaging 4.9 points and 1.9 rebounds in 14.4 minutes.

  Rhoden appeared in three preseason games with the Toronto Raptors, averaging 2.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in 5.9 minutes.

• Mark Williams Out Of Walking Boot, To Be Reevaluated Before Season

  Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams is out of a walking boot and progressing in his rehab from a strained tendon in his left foot. The Hornets said they will reevaluate Williams ahead of the start of the regular season.

  Williams has played in only 62 total games in his first two NBA seasons. In his rookie season, the Hornets center missed several games due to spraining his left ankle, as well as a right thumb dislocation. Last season, Williams played in only 19 games. He was shut down in early-December due to a lower back injury.

  Charlotte is counting on Williams to be their starting center this season. Having the 7-footer back should also help the Hornets improve defensively.

• Hornets Waive Duane Washington Jr.

  The Charlotte Hornets have waived Duane Washington Jr. Washington appeared in two preseason games with the Hornets.

  Washington has appeared in 79 games across two NBA seasons with Indiana and Phoenix, averaging 9.1 PPG, 1.5 RPG and 1.9 APG.