Walker and Doug discuss the latest posts from Kai Jones. What do they mean for his future? Doug brings some “what if” moments from Michael Scotto’s interview with Baron Davis. What would have happened had the Charlotte Hornets drafted some one else? Maybe even Steve Francis?
Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧
Become an official member of the Locked On Hornets Sicko Brigade and get Hornets news, rumors and pictures of Byron Mullens sent directly to your phone via Subtext (14 Day Free Trial):
Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧
Get Doug’s gamenotes, special articles and a podcast on Hornets history at the Every Hornets Boxscore substack: everyhornetsboxscore.com
Get more Walker on Wes and Walker 12-3pm on WFNZ 92.7 FM
📲 Follow Locked On Hornets on Twitter
Locked On Hornets
Walker Mehl
Doug Branson
📺 Follow Locked On NBA:
📢 Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
Ibotta
Right now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code locked when you register. Just go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code LOCKED.
Birddogs
Go to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONNBA or enter promo code LOCKEDONNBA for a free white tech hat with any purchase. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you.
FanDuel
Make Every Moment More. Right now, when you bet on a Super Bowl Winner, you can GET BONUS BETS EVERY TIME THEY WIN IN THE REGULAR SEASON! FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
#Hornets #LaMelo #LaMeloBall
Unfortunately we have another Kai Jones Update to get to then we can live in Nostalgia and talk about Baron Davis as Well as Steve Francis how does he make His way in the show we'll discuss it Next on lockdown Hornets you were locked On hornets part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day in America We live It's locked on horn it's part of the Lockdown podcast Network it's your team Every day thanks for making us your First listen we're free we're available Anywhere you get your podcast and that Does include YouTube today's episode is Brought to you by Jace medical Empower Yourself when you purchase a Jace case That sounds cool providing you with a Personal supply of five antibiotics that Treat 50 plus infections get yours today At jacemedical.com that's J-a-s-e Jacemedical.com that's Doug Branson you Can find him on his sub stack every Hornetsboxcort.com you can also find Them on his Twitter handle dougbranson Loh and you can follow us by the way on Twitter at lockdown Hornets I'm on Twitter at Walker mail listen to me on Sports radio 92 7 WFNZ every weekday From 12 to 3 P.M because we wanted to go Back so badly and talk about this Kai Jones situation we thought we'd lead off The next show with it the problem is
That we have content to get 2 with Kai Jones yes there is actually an update There's not just the weird Twitter stuff That's going on whether there was a Video or whether there's just all the Emojis that he's tweeting out that would Be you know especially with the Emojis And the active Twitter that's fine this Is where it gets a little problematic Here Doug so there are screenshots Circulating of some Instagram Interactions that he's had with fans That are being mean to him on social Media so there's one person that tweets Or posts a message to him on Instagram And it says Nick Richards is greater Than sign than you three greater San Than signs three emphasizes it Kai Jones Replies I'm more assertive with the ball Than him I can read myself I can read Myself did he miss a comma in there we Saw Pat Mahomes miss a comma that was a Whole thing when he was talking about Aaron Rodgers injury so who knows but Nick Richards is greater than you he Responds I'm more assertive with the Ball than him I can read myself another Person Writes to Nick writes to Kai Jones Mark Williams getting your bum bleep off the Roster somebody else and then Kai Jones Wrote back to him show me a video of Mark pulling up going left and hitting It anywhere man in college somewhere
Show one again show me a video of Mark Pulling up going left and hitting it Anywhere man in college somewhere show One Look the other Kai Jones that stuff that We talked about Don't know how what whatever range you Were on right wherever you were on the Scale however problematic it was a lot Of that was to his doing that was Problematic to him specifically and if Anybody did worry about him it was Because of him and we can still be Worried about him but now you're going After teammates on social media when People come at you on social media and There are a lot of people who might know This Doug I might know this there are People that will come at you on social Media and say some not nice things but Now he's throwing some shade towards his Teammates and teammates that play the Same position whatever what do you make Those comments from Kai Jones on Instagram So I don't I don't think these two Social media incidents are all that Disconnected the the erratic uh odd Behavior that he did totally agree Instagram lives and and this going back And forth with people because one of the Things that I noted on on my subtext When I had like my initial thoughts on Kai Jones uh those Instagram live videos
That are I think now deleted I don't Think they're they're you know actually Up to view anymore but in those he was Doing a similar thing responding to People who were jumping on those lives Just to hate just to be negative and he Was responding directly to those people And I said in my initial thoughts and I Think I may have said this yesterday as Well that's what worries me the most When you let that kind of toxic sludge Into your life and you feel it's Necessary to respond to it publicly and Not just ignore it I think that is a Signal of something that might be Damaging to to Kai Jones personally and Then it leads to maybe what we've saw in These uh posts that you just mentioned There going after other players now you Know what's interesting is that if he Had done this If he had commented on a veteran player That didn't grow up in all this social Media I think that would really be a Problem and a veteran player that had Like credentials if he was Dylan Brooks Going after LeBron James or something That would be an extreme problem I Wonder I just wonder if you know because You saw Mark Williams post the we put it To like a 50 Cent response a 50 Cent Meme there yeah so like with these Younger players that have all grown up Into social media it's been a part of
Their lives before they became Basketball Stars you know how much of This is uh what would they say in Wrestling like kfabe how much of this is Real how much how much is Mark Williams Legitimately going you know WTF what are You doing what are you talking about me Before Nick Rich is like get your name Out of my mouth or something like that How much are they doing that or how much Of this is like hahaha we're all making Fun of each other I don't know I I would Lean towards it's probably not a great Thing for any of your players to be Criticizing any of your other players Publicly but I just wonder that with you Know all these guys growing up in social Media and ribbing each other in and out Of the locker room if it was normal Behavior for everybody else in the League then maybe I could subscribe to That latter part of your theory but it's Not my theory to be clear that's not my Theory I'm just I'm just throwing things Out there this is bumming me out okay I Don't know if this is bumming you out Walker this is this whole conversation These whole all of these things are Bumming me out because I was excited When they drafted Kai Jones I've been Excited about his potential his play on The court has bummed me out a little bit Over the past couple of Seasons because I've been like I don't know if this
Guy's gonna figure it out on the court And now you've got all this off the Court stuff and it's looking less and Less like his future in Charlotte is Going to really turn itself around and It's bumming me out so that's not my Theory I'm just throwing out things in The hope that all of this can spin into Something positive but I have you know That's all sick that's all sicko hope Okay yeah I think I think to see Kai Jones now like what let's ask what the Team is going to be more tolerant of Probably not a lot of this you know that The team is on this considering it's Been going on for the last couple of Weeks the type of behavior he's Exhibited on social media whether you Deem that harmful or not the team is Absolutely aware of it so when the team Is aware of it what are they going to be More tolerant of are they going to be More tolerant with the fact that Kai Jones is doing this and he's not calling Out teammates and they just need to Figure out what his problem is okay But now he's going after other guys now He's going after A Mark Williams Andy Nick Richards in Ways that you don't see a lot of other Players do even in the social media age Which honestly you know even with a Dennis Smith Jr who commented on that Video back when we talked about the kai
Jones thing the first time here we are Discussing how Dennis Smith Jr is a Veteran and a leader and he 110 was but guess what Dennis Smith Jr Grew up in the social media age it's not Like he's a veteran that is sitting There saying well well back in my day we Would have Twitter no they did have Twitter back in your day yeah like even Gordon Hayward hey Gordon Hayward yeah a Little bit older but he knows what Social media is and has for a long time Since like what I mean Facebook Transitioning into his second third year Of of promoting it uses it to promote His chess uses it to promote his chest Prowess yes or a hundred percent like so You don't you don't see this you just Don't see this and for good reason but Why why why is it okay for your Teammates to call call them out and Seemingly not so good-natured seemingly We don't know But that's what it looks like and I'm Holding on I'm holding on to the slim Hope I'm just holding on to the slim Hope that this is all just you know that There's all some good explanation for All this but it doesn't look good walker I mean I will admit that and you Mentioned dsj commenting on on the Instagram lives and dsj was a player That they didn't make a priority in the Off season this this team continues to
Not prioritize veteran leadership in the Locker room and they just cross their Fingers and hope that some of their Young players will just suddenly mature And suddenly become those locker room Leaders but it doesn't work like that Especially when you miss the playoffs Year after year after year it doesn't Work like that the playoffs seasoned Veterans I mean that's what makes Grizzle veterans grizzled veterans is That they go through these trials and Tribulations together as a team and the Hornets haven't been good enough to to Find a trial to find a tribulation to Deal with and so when you find a player Like that and then you let him go Immediately that does represent Toughness it does represent focusing on The right things it does represent Veteran leadership and you let that guy Go to Brooklyn for nothing Then you know that I think that's a Problem the other the the final thing That I would say On this is that this is actually Important for Kai Jones and the Charlotte Hornets because he is the Third string Center you're one ankle Tweak you are one back strain you're one Minor injury away from needing Kai Jones To play minutes he had to play minutes Last season serious minutes you know Games that mattered he had to play them
Because this Hornet's Center rotation Has never been that deep and so this was An important off season for Kai Jones And so far it looks like whatever if They're personal problems I don't know What's going on Uh but whatever's happening is not Positive for Kai Jones and by virtue of That not positive for the Charlotte Hornets so and and I'll end on this as Well let's start with whatever's going On with Kai Jones I hope everything Works out the best for Kai whatever that Is yes I hope whatever it is it's the Best example of allowing Kai to be Successful in the league here's the Reality with the Charlotte Hornets just Like you said he's the third string Center and he's a twisted ankle away That's a glass half full approach I Guess as far as it's concerned to Kai to Allow him to get on the court well if You take the glass half empty we can Phrase it as Kai Jones is the third String Center and the Charlotte Hornets Are probably not going to put up with a Lot of this stuff from the third string Center and what's interesting is that Are they going to put up with it or are They not going to put up with it so much That he's not on the roster in a month That you don't find a trade partner it How maybe you find a trade partner That's willing to take on Kai whatever
But there's a real possibility that he Just gets cut like I think there's a Shot here because Kai hasn't shown Enough in fact that brings up an Interesting you know what if James Naji Situation if this is happening when You're trying to figure out what happens With nausea or whatever that would have Been interesting but now you're probably You're already set like he's gonna stay In Barcelona and now you don't have him As the third string Center but they got Somebody already Doug and if you want Somebody to just play defense in a sound Way naji's got you there I you know Kai's not helping a ton offensively so Unfortunately for him the guy's crazy Gifted hopefully he figures it out and There's a pathway for him to be Successful as much as possible How much does a ticket from Barcelona to Charlotte cost I mean come on direct Flight let's go yeah I'm sure Mitch cup Check in the Charlotte Hornets can cover It all right let's move on coming up Next on the lockdown Hornets podcast Don't go to sleep on the Hornets just Yet here we are talking about the Current let's talk about the past ooh Baron Davis he's showing us it's much It's much better to talk about the past Am I right folks yeah it went much Better especially when it when it Involves Baron Davis we'll get to that
In just a moment but not before we bring Up Jace medical this episode it's Brought to you by Jace medical everyone Should be empowered to care for Themselves and their loved ones during The unexpected that's why Jace medical Offers the Jace case the Jace case Provides five life-saving antibiotics For emergency use and gives you a peace Of mind so that you are not just hoping That you have access to medication in an Emergency Chase medical makes sure you Have the medication in hand Jace medical Is simple they handle everything from The online evaluation to licensed Pharmacy medication deliver and ongoing Consultation and care don't get caught Unprepared save more than 360 dollars by Getting these life-saving antibiotics With Jace medical plus an additional 20 Off by using Code locked on a checkout On jacemedical.com that's J-a-s-e Jace medical.com promo code Locked on Baron Davis conversation Coming up next All right Doug so we had a Baron Davis Interview I believe Michael Scotto is The one that conducted the interview if I'm not mistaken yeah And uh there was some interesting stuff In there you really opened up Baron of Course was somebody that we saw in a Promotional video promoting the double Pin stripes and the early Arts era of
The Charlotte Hornets he and lamello Were just shooting I think they might Have been playing horse in that video Where they were promoting those jerseys So very cool to see one of our favorite Point guards from the past and Absolutely our favorite point guard of The present what was something that Stood out to you in this interview Michael Scotto and Baron Davis had Because there's actually a lot to get to There is there's a great quote because He did spend some time with lamelo ball He gave his thoughts on lamelo ball I Want to save that for tomorrow I want to Give that it's due I want to I want to Showcase that so we'll get to those Comments tomorrow what's more Interesting as we bathe in the Nostalgia Of the 35th Anniversary that we are Celebrating five years after the after We all celebrated the 30th Anniversary We are bathing in Nostalgia here because It's nicer it is a nicer that is a hot Tub compared to the cold shower that is Some of the current conversation around The the Charlotte Hornets Yes it burns our skin to talk about it Let's get into the hot tub time machine With Baron Davis who gives us a great Draft night story so we're going all the Way back to 1999 and we're going to Party like it's 1999 and here's Baron Davis on that draft night quote I
Thought I was going to go number two I Believe the trades happening at number Two weren't going down I was all up in My agent's office all the way until the Draft so I kind of knew where everyone Was going in the draft Paul Silas rest In peace I remember eavesdropping on a Call with Arne telum and Paul was like Well bleep it he can go overseas I'm Still going to draft him and I was like I'm not going to be in Charlotte and he Was like that's fine I'm still drafting Your bleep you don't have to come if you Don't want to but I'm drafting you if You're at number three I'm taking you That was one of the best moves of my Life to be coached by Silas and have Another father figure and role model I Never saw what that looked like as a Father and a coach at that level it was A blessing to go to the Hornets and to Live in Charlotte unquote Paul Silas the Goat yeah very cool I mean this is why We love Paul Silas there are endless Stories we hear something about him Constantly even on the all the smoke Podcast and Stephen Jackson will provide Some Bobcats era stories so that's also Very cool here we get with Baron Davis We get to see him share some of this and Baron is involved in the media decent Amount like we get to see him on Dan Le Batard show he's not you know hidden Somewhere in a corner where nobody sees
Him and we wonder hey what exactly did Happen to Baron but we don't get a lot Of this and if they do talk to Baron if People do talk to Baron Davis then he Doesn't share a ton of stories from the Charlotte era it's a lot about the We Believe team the eight-seeded Golden State Warriors beating the number one Seed in the Dirk Nowitzki LED Dallas Mavericks so you might see some of those Stories from Baron as he got a little Bit later in his career very cool to see This and it goes to show just how Awesome Paul Silas was somebody that did Not put up with any nonsense including If you were trying to dictate where you Were wiggle your way out that's right he Was trying to wiggle his way out of Charlotte And and that was during the years when Charlotte was like a legitimate Franchise you could sort of understand Players trying to navigate their way out Which was a cool thing to see by the way That Charlotte got the number two Overall pick in this pass draft and Thankfully you didn't see a lot of that You didn't see players at least we Didn't hear about you know players Trying to wiggle their way out of the Number two overall selection it seemed Like everyone was vying uh to get to That place uh but Baron didn't want to Go to Charlotte and and you know Paul
Science did the right thing and stood And I wish more teams would do that in This situation a couple of things Interesting about that had he not stood Up and said no we're going to draft your Bleep here are the players that would Have been in contention to go number Three overall number four overall was Lamar Odom number five overall was Jonathan Bender number six overall was Wally zerbiak fine player but certainly Not you know All-Star caliber Baron Davis although I think Wally did get one All-Star he got like one yeah he got one Strange All-Star appearance Rip Hamilton Was seven Andre Miller eight Sean Marion The prize at number nine but I don't Think he would have been in contention To jump all the way up to three so a lot Of what ifs there Bobcats Legend Corey Mcgetty went 13th overall by the way in That draft but Baron Davis third overall Pick that was the right move and and Paul Silas stood up and said you know We're going to take that guy so well There's one very wrong answer but if you Look at the top ten top ten very good Like here we are talking about Wally Zerbiak a one-time All-Star and somewhat Deserving of this election Rip Hamilton Should have gone above Wally for sure But Rip Hamilton Andre Miller Sean Marion Jason Terry was number 10. so More than likely the Hornets would have
Been okay but still Baron Davis is the Pick there even if you go a redraft now If you would have gone with Jonathan Bender that's the one miss and I know All too well about Jonathan Bender Because the Indiana Pacers fell in love With him and they traded up to go get Him after the Toronto Raptors drafted Him freak athlete just an amazing high School basketball player even then like 99 pretty early for a high school Basketball player to be drafted you know Kevin Garnett of course it's not like it Was unprecedented but it was still Pretty damn early and they loved bender And just never figured it out that was a Veteran team with the Pacers you would Go to the finals with Indiana that next Year that was the wrong selection Baron Davis was the right one but if you miss Out on him and don't draft Bender then There are a lot of fun what gifts like Lamar Odom really good player love Lamar Odom ahead of his time Wally Rip Hamilton a champion Andre Miller played In the league for a gazillion years Sean Marion Mike I Hall of Famer close to it If you will so yeah man like very Interesting Draft when you go back and Examine it and here's another thing That's interesting The Hornets have a lottery pick in the 90s and you have a head coach that Stands up and says I don't care if you
Don't want to be here I don't care if if You know we we should maybe trade this Big we're going to make this big we're Going to pick you and if you don't want To play here fine because there's Another draft in the 90s where the Hornets had a lottery Pick and there Were some Whispers it depends on who you Believe if you believe some folks who Thought Kobe Bryant didn't want to play In Charlotte or if you believe Kobe that Says that Dave Cowan's the head coach at The time told him that they didn't need Him you know whoever you want to believe That situation fell apart and the Hornets ultimately traded Kobe Bryant to The Los Angeles Lakers and and brought Back the package that they brought back But you have Paul Silas in this Situation doing a little bit of the Opposite and he wasn't he was an Assistant coach for Cowan's that year After the Kobe draft but he did join the Team a year later and he he was friends With Dave Cowans so you wonder you know If Paul Silas looked at Kobe's Ascension Because I looked this up this is amazing Kobe rookie season the stats really Weren't there seven points per game Almost eight points per game that's Really it he played in 71 games to the Lakers in the rookie season only started Six games and yet he was an All-Star Selection in his second season in 97-98
That's crazy to me I mean he had a Decent season but your your All-Star Selection is based on really your Previous season I mean that just shows You like where the popularity for Kobe Bryant was the stats weren't their Walker but I'm sure the flashes were I'm Sure Paul Silas looked back at that Draft or that Kobe draft and went yeah The Hornets probably should have just Held their ground and made the pick and You wonder if that influenced Paul Silas To say no Baron I don't care if you want To go play overseas if you want to sit I Don't care we're drafting you well yeah And and also you have the whole you know The Lakers always wanted Kobe Charlotte Might not have wanted Kobe badly enough And they were willing to get some Veterans on that Squad they were ready To compete because remember they would Go on to have their two best seasons in Franchise history those two years that They played Without Kobe like they were Ready to win now and I think the Lakers They just wanted Kobe Charlotte and them They agreed all right we're gonna draft Them for you and then you give us what You have over there to help us win right Now so that's what happened there Um and yeah and and with uh with Baron Davis coming over you know still so much Fun to see how how he was going to be Able to be the athletic point guard that
We all fell in love with and you don't See that a lot now and you're you're Right like I don't know if it happens Behind closed doors where players are Trying to navigate where they go but we Haven't seen that play out in the public Eye and yeah Paul Silas said yeah it Doesn't matter he put it he put a squash On that immediately like nope it doesn't It it wasn't even a story for you know Except for this right except for him Revealing this to Michael Scotto all These years later but it might have been A story for five minutes and then Paul Silas said well too bad when we're gonna Play the this thing out well and the Hornets were a little bit in the cat Bird sea because they lucked into that Dick and they you know they had a squad I mean that Squad with Baron would go on To win 49 games and they had an all-nba Player and Eddie Jones on that team and Baron didn't start a single game his Rookie season because they had David Wesley veteran and they had Eddie Jones Who was doing a lot of ball handling and And a lot of the offensive uh workload As well and so he played all 82 games in That season Baron Davis played all 82 Games in every single season that he was A member of the Charlotte Hornets that's Nuts number one number two he wasn't a Big factor on that team and so I think That's you know Paul Silas was in a
Position of strength and he utilized it And that's what made Paul Silas Paul Silas what it whether it was a locker Room and and Tyrus Thomas uh whenever You know he was in a position of Strength Paul Silas liked to use it and But one wonders you know what would have Happened if Baron Davis would have been Able to maybe make some Maneuvers to get To number two because sitting at number Two Walker Was Steve franchise all right let's talk About it coming up in the next segment On the lockdown Hornets podcast Don't go to sleep on the Hornets just Yet you thought we were done talking About 2000's early 2000s point guards no We were not we are still going to Continue that conversation in the next Segment but now before we talk about FanDuel this episode's brought to you by FanDuel and you can get ready for the NFL season with Incredible offers from FanDuel America's number one sports book Right now new customers can bet five Dollars and get 200 in bonus bets Guaranteed plus all customers who bet Five dollars will get 100 off NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV now Is the best time to join FanDuel the app Is easy to use and you can bet on Everything from spreads to player props And even more than that visit Fanduel.com lockdown get uh and then you
Can kick off the NFL season with an Offer you will not want to miss FanDuel The official partner of the NFL one more Segment to go lockdown Hornets Okay so before we get to this what if Because I I still want to get into the Hot tub time machine I just want to stay There like you can't pull me out I know Medically it's not safe to stay in a hot Tub for this long I'm feeling a little Woozy I'm feeling dizzy uh but I want to Stay in it just a little bit longer to Talk about this what if that Baron Davis Provides us with uh Steve Francis Possibly going to Charlotte in 1999 but Before we do that I just thought about This with the kai Jones stuff that we Talked about in the first segment with Everything that the Hornets and fans Have gone through with James booknight I I mean can that draft class get any Worse like what I can't is this while We're talking about this 1999 draft I Don't know how it could get any worse I Don't know that I can think of a worse Draft class at this point and that has To sit with Mitch cup check in this Current front office It does yeah it definitely does this is Out of left field you're right we are Going back to this Kai Jones I'm Bothered by it I'm bummed out I'm Telling you I'm trying to fight these Feelings I've got I've got negative
Feelings I've got positive feelings on This Hot Tub Time Machine I'm conflicted Man So was there any second round pick Saving Grace for Mitch cup check that He's had like in years past I'm looking It up trying to remember because I know We had the uh what was it Scotty Lewis Pick that Charlotte had Um but he's not somebody that ever Worked out because the injury which is Really unfortunate yeah I mean I guess They they moved up to have a couple Picks in the first round yeah Scotty Lewis that's it it's got that so right Not even the second round Saving Grace That Mitch cupcake has had in previous Drafts like a Devonte like a Jayla McDaniels that you just keep turning Into different assets even if they don't Stay on your team Cody Martin with the Second contract yeah that one's the bad One that one that's the one that Miss Cupcak missed out on you know pretty Much all the way through at least as it Stands right now I'm really glad that I Took that I think I don't know how long I took off from the show maybe a year Maybe two years but I'm glad that that Was one of the years that draft I was I Was working the uh locked on NBA's NBA Draft coverage at the time I think I did Do a like from the airport from like the Dallas airport I think yeah we talked
About it so don't drag that tape out Because I may have had some positive Things to say about the tech but if I Had been a lot more no I remember your Tags Doug you were a bigger fan now the Tape it you know I think you were a big Jalen Johnson fan which that hasn't Worked out either you know I like Jalen Johnson too but um no it's not like you Were in love with the draft of James Book Knight and Kai you were you weren't Killing it but you weren't in love with It Good good um well anyway okay fine if I Was right then go ahead and drag the Tape out and that's right um but I think If you give me long enough I probably Would Fell in love with guys you know that's What I do around draft time I give out Roses I probably would have fallen in Love with James book Knight at some Point so I'm really glad that I wasn't Around at that time because I probably Would have been big wrong on that draft To be fair I fell in love with Zaire Williams and while it looked decent the First year it's not looking good right Now love to meet some Zaire because I Always thought that was a tough it was Not a deep draft uh you know you get Past five or really six you get past six Giddy Wagner's been good at eight uh but Yeah that's a tough draft yeah not like
99 99 was a deep draft if you look at That top 10 it's hard to miss unless you Go with Jonathan Bender like the Pacers Did but the Hornets did not miss by Sticking with Baron Davis and neither Did Vancouver slash Houston who Eventually ended up with Steve Francis Steve franchise coming out of Maryland How does he relate to this conversation Here Doug oh man poor Vancouver no one Wanted to be a Grizzly no one wanted to Be a Vancouver Grizzly but in this same Interview Baron Muses on a Steve Francis what if Because he says Steve Francis didn't Want to go to Vancouver either and was Trying to wiggle his way out of the Number two pick and ultimately did got a Trade to Houston but he says uh Steve Francis wasn't going to Vancouver me and Steve were talking every day and I was Like why don't you just say you want to Go to Charlotte so what do you think About that Walker what if Baron goes to Maybe Baron goes to Houston or whatever Who makes that trade and Steve Francis Lands in Charlotte do you think that Would have changed things in 1999-2000. Um I mean the thing is when Baron Davis Is drafted it's not like he stays a long Time here because the team moves to New Orleans so I guess long-term Ramifications I don't know how much that Changes at all Steve was a really good
Player and he was a good player right Off the bat got to the foul line a lot Like we all know Steve is you know the Problem with him is that his career was So short because of injuries that he Would suffer a little bit later on what Also was kind of viewed as this player That wasn't winning a whole lot of ball Games but the fun exciting point guard That would just dunk on you and be in The dunk contest like Baron was to be Honest I don't know how different it Would have been I think Baron's Personality maybe the way that he was Able to play with teammates and team Chemistry probably benefited from Baron Being on this team but Steve Francis Could have had that same thing I I just I look at this trade Doug so Vancouver Selects Steve Francis number two overall And then they trade him immediately to The Houston Rock as part of the Three-team trade with Tony massenberg Which Hornets fans might know and then You look at all the other players that Would be drafted because of all of the Picks that exchanged hands I'm just Gonna throw out all of the players Involved in this draft Tony massenberg Antoine Carr Michael Dickerson Othello Harrington Brent price Marcus Banks Don McLean not the singer Matt Barnes Lee Mayberry maktar nji Roderick Rhodes Michael Smith that's the list goodness
Gracious that is a lot of mediocrity Exchanging hands when Matt Barnes is the Next best player in that exchange Outside of Steve Francis that's how you Know that is a trade of nothingness that Houston eventually won because then they Helped turn that into Tracy McGrady who Comes over and plays with Yao Ming Um with the Houston Rockets Uh Steve Francis I think would have been Interesting on that 1999 team because I Think that Steve Francis would have had The potential to out duel David Wesley For the point guard spot and then you're Injecting even more offense into a team That was really fun to watch with Eddie Jones does Eddie Jones get the all NBA Because he you know doesn't he he might Not be the the sole I mean he was like a 20-point per game scorer and he took a Lot of shots for that team so might have Denied Eddie Jones an all-nba bid or it Might have supercharged both players and Uh you know Steve Francis got a bigger Role in his rookie season ultimately I Think if you look at just the first five Years because that's he may have SP Steve may have been there longer in Houston but you know Baron Davis time And Charlotte slash New Orleans was About five years if you look at five Year comparisons Baron Davis ends up Being the better more consistent Three-point shooter and certainly the
Better playmaker and maybe just overall Score Steve Francis might might get the Nod a little bit but Baron Davis over The long term I think it was the better Move for Charlotte to take Baron Davis But I think when you just look at that 99 a 2000 season I mean they won without Baron because Baron was a a decent Player Off the Bench but was not a real Factor on that team without him they won 49 games so if if Steve Francis gives You his rookie year numbers And maybe even better with because he Was going to play on a better team You know what could have happened who Knows yeah and had injuries too in that 2002 season you're talking about him Starting the All-Star game but only Playing 55 games of the foot injury had Some bad migraines that he also Experienced and then would fizzle out a Little bit Steve Francis is one of the Classics hey do you remember Steve Francis being a stud back in the day but Then eventually you know starts to drift Off into this Oblivion where we don't Talk about him nearly as much so um but Very good as soon as he stepped into the League it just didn't last very long Right and so I think the what if you Really have to confine to 1999 2000 Could they have won the the vaunted 50 Games again uh could that could they Have made a little bit more noise in
That 99 2000 playoffs Um that that would have been fun but I Don't think long term I agree with you It doesn't change anything because in 1999 in fact uh maybe less than 30 days After that draft We have the moment that the Hornets left For New Orleans it happened in 1999 Didn't happen and you know it officially Happened in 2002 but it really happened In 1999 because that's when at the end Of July the the talks between Michael Jordan and George Shinn broke down and George Shen sold a minority stake of the Charlotte Hornets to Ray Wooldridge who From the moment that he stepped in to The Charlotte Coliseum had one foot out Of it and was making relationships and Making uh you know talking to Louisville And talking to Memphis but really wanted To get this team to New Orleans yeah That was the moment that Charlotte lost That team so that happened and Steve Francis wasn't going to change that yeah No he was not nobody was I don't think Not uh not at that time all right That'll do it for lockdown Hornets Thanks for making us your first listen Make your second listen game to game NBA Every moment every top performance every Result uh with the season being I think One month away from preseason for the Charlotte horn it's yesterday no more Bad news everyone I just wish that
Somebody needs to just go and DM Everyone else I don't know who's going To take that role if it's going to be Lamelo or who's the new leader I don't Know someone needs to just DM everyone Get everyone on a group chat and say Everyone chill the bleep out and let's Get to training camp without any more Reminders it's like Willie P at WFNZ Saying to Terry as he's getting off of The podium after the season he's saying Hey you know have a great off-season he Said yeah thanks don't nobody get no Trouble And you know yeah yikes that's not what Happened all right thanks for making us Your first listen catch us anywhere you Get your podcast we'll be back with you Tomorrow Thank you
Living in Charlotte North Carolina
Events, Life, Sports, Weather, News
Whether it’s the picture-perfect skyline you’ll see on your drive in or the vibrant culture you’ll encounter once you move to Charlotte, this city makes for an ideal lifestyle. While other major metros can seem like they’re just trying to put on a show, Charlotte truly is chill and friendly, with a pace of life that feels comfortable and relaxed.
The youngest residents will love the entertainment options like Carowinds and Discovery Place, while adults can’t get enough of a wide variety of dining and cultural choices. If you’re an outdoor lover, you can enjoy recreational opportunities at the US National Whitewater Center and Lake Wylie. And if you’re a history buff, there are museums ranging from the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art to the Charlotte Ballet.
Sports fans can root for their team at the Spectrum Center and Bank of America Stadium. Or they can watch a performance at the Charlotte Symphony or visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Charlotte also has a burgeoning music scene, including venues for jazz, blues, and country.
Craft beer lovers can sample brews at spots like Olde Mecklenburg Brewery and Heist Brewery. And the food scene is diverse and incredibly yummy, from the Asian street carts in uptown to the authentic Italian restaurants in the city’s historic districts.