Hornets' Miles Bridges: Expected to be available for camp
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Coach Steve Clifford said Monday that Bridges (wrist) is expected to be ready in time for training camp, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.
This isn't a huge surprise, as Bridges' right wrist issue is considered minor. In fact, the Hornets were probably being extra cautious because they had nothing to play for at the end of the season. Bridges is set to hit the open market as a free agent and should garner plenty of interest. In 71 appearances in 2023-24, Bridges averaged 21.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 three-pointers and 0.9 steals in 37.5 minutes.
Curry said Monday during his exit interview that he's dealing with a Grade 3 right ankle sprain and hopes to begin basketball activities in a couple of weeks, Sam Perley of the Hornets' official site reports.
Curry suffered the injury at the beginning of March and was shut down for the rest of the season. Lingering ankle issues plagued the sharpshooter all season, and he finished with just 43 appearances (four starts), averaging 5.3 points -- his lowest mark since 2014-15 when he appeared in just two games. Curry has one non-guaranteed year remaining on his current contract.
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Hornets' Nick Richards: Expected to be ready for camp
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Coach Steve Clifford said Monday that he anticipates Richards (foot) will be ready for training camp, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Richards missed the season finale due to right plantar fascia discomfort, but the center is considered day-to-day. The Hornets are expected to have a healthy Mark Williams back in the lineup to open the 2024-25 season, but Richards will be penciled in as the primary backup. Richards made 67 appearances this season with averages of 9.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 26.3 minutes.
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Hornets' LaMelo Ball: Expected to be ready for camp
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Coach Steve Clifford said Monday that he expects Ball (ankle) to be ready in time for training camp, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.
This will be a relief for Charlotte fans, as Ball's ankle robbed him of the majority of his 2023-24 season. He made only 22 appearances, averaging 23.9 points, 8.0 assists, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 three-pointers and 1.8 steals in 32.3 minutes. Ball told reporters that his ankle is feeling better, and he's looking forward to having the full offseason to prepare for 2024-25.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: Likely ready for training camp
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Coach Steve Clifford said Monday that he expects Williams (back) to be ready for the start of training camp, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Williams had a disastrous 2023-24 campaign, as his back injury limited him to only 19 appearances. He's expected to have a clean bill of health entering the 2024-25 season, however, and could be poised to bounce back. He finished the regular season with averages of 12.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocks, so the upside is there.
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Hornets' Brandon Miller: Will be ready for camp
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Coach Steve Clifford said Monday that Miller (wrist) will be ready for training camp, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.
This isn't a surprise, as the Hornets were presumably being extra cautious with all of their players towards the end of the regular season. Miller had a standout rookie campaign, compiling averages of 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.5 three-pointers across 74 appearances while shooting 44.0 percent from the field.
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Hornets' Marques Bolden: Swats four shots vs. Cleveland
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Bolden produced 14 points (7-10 FG, 0-1 3Pt), eight rebounds, two assists, four blocks and one steal over 30 minutes during Sunday's 120-110 victory over the Cavaliers.
Bolden got the start for the Hornets' regular-season finale, and he took advantage of the opportunity by recording career highs in points and blocks. He was a DNP for most of the season but played in seven of Charlotte's last eight games. Bolden will be with the Hornets for the 2024-25 season after signing a two-year, two-way contract with the team in March 2024.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Leading scorer off bench Sunday
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Smith recorded 24 points (9-20 FG, 6-11 3Pt), six rebounds, three assists and one steal across 33 minutes during Sunday's 120-110 win over the Cavaliers.
Smith was the leading scorer in the Hornets' regular-season finale Sunday. His 24 points and six made threes were both career highs as he saw extended playing time with Charlotte sitting multiple rotational players. Over the last two games of the season, Smith averaged 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists over 31.0 minutes per contest.
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Hornets' JT Thor: Career night vs. Cleveland
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Thor notched 20 points (8-11 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 1-2 FT), nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals in 41 minutes during Sunday's 120-110 victory over the Cavaliers.
Thor got his third start of the season in the Hornets' regular-season finale. He took advantage by scoring a career-high 20 points and was one rebound shy of registering the first double-double of his career. Thor finishes his third season with Charlotte averaging 3.2 points and 2.3 rebounds over 12.4 minutes per game.
Thor will start at power forward in Sunday's season finale versus the Cavaliers.
With the Hornets sitting most of their regular rotation, Thor will get an opportunity to shine. He has averaged 7.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists across 27.6 minutes in two starts this season.
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Hornets' Bryce McGowens: Starting Sunday
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McGowens is in the starting lineup for Sunday's regular-season finale against Cleveland.
McGowens will log his first start since Feb. 4, with his previous 13 starts on the year yielding 8.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists on 47.4 percent shooting. The second-year guard will get another opportunity to showcase his athleticism and shot-making ability in Charlotte's 82nd game.
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Hornets' Grant Williams: Will miss season finale
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Williams (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Cavaliers, Sam Perley of the Hornets' official site reports.
Williams will miss back-to-back games due to an ankle injury to end his 2023-24 campaign. After a slow start with the Mavericks, Williams was shipped to Charlotte at the deadline and was a consistent producer. He made 29 appearances (10 starts) for the Hornets and averaged 13.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals-plus-blocks in 30.6 minutes per game. Williams is still under contract for three more seasons.
Hornets' Davis Bertans: Out for regular-season finale
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Bertans (Achilles) won't play Sunday versus Cleveland, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Bertans had suited up in 24 consecutive contests for Charlotte, but he'll miss the season finale with left Achilles soreness. Largely an afterthought for Oklahoma City to begin the season, Bertans was a regular part of head coach Steve Clifford's rotation after coming over to Charlotte in a Feb. 8 trade. Over 28 appearances with the Hornets, Bertans averaged 8.8 points, 2.4 three-pointers, 1.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.8 steals in 20.8 minutes while shooting 39.4 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from downtown. His contract contains a $16 million early termination option for 2024-25, but don't expect Bertans to forgo that salary, given that he would be hard pressed to garner that kind of money as a free agent this summer.
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Hornets' Vasilije Micic: Will play limited minutes
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Coach Steve Clifford said Micic will start but play limited minutes during Sunday's game against the Cavaliers, Sam Perley of the Hornets' official site reports.
While the rest of Charlotte's starters -- outside of Tre Mann -- will sit out the regular-season finale, Micic will start but play limited minutes. Micic has struggled over his last three appearances, but overall, he shined after moving into the starting lineup in early March. Over 20 straight starts, Micic has averaged 12.3 points, 6.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 0.9 steals in 30.6 minutes per game.
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Hornets' Nick Richards: Won't play Sunday
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Richards (foot) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Cleveland, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Richards will end up missing the season finale due to right plantar fascia discomfort. With Mark Williams limited to just 19 appearances in 2023-24 due to a back injury, Richards ended up making 51 starts on the campaign. Though Richards averaged 9.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 26.3 minutes over 67 total appearances while shooting 69.1 percent from the field, he's expected to return to a bench role in 2024-25 if Williams enjoys better health.
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Hornets' Miles Bridges: Won't play Sunday
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Bridges (wrist) has been ruled out for Sunday's regular-season finale versus Cleveland, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Bridges' season -- and potentially his tenure in Charlotte -- come to an end while he sits out the finale with a right wrist contusion. After serving the final 10 games of a suspension to open the campaign, Bridges proceeded to play in all but two of Charlotte's next 71 contests, averaging 21.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 three-pointers and 0.9 steals in 37.5 minutes.
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Hornets' Brandon Miller: Out for season finale
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Miller (wrist) won't play Sunday versus Cleveland, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Miller's stellar rookie campaign comes to an end, with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft finishing with averages of 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 three-pointers and 2.4 assists across 74 appearances. His production rose to another level down the stretch, as he averaged 18.5 points on 43.2 percent shooting from the field after the All-Star break.
