The Hornets trade Nick Richards to Phoenix, bringing in Josh Okogie and future assets. Plus, the Hornets win a nail-biter against Utah—are the pieces finally coming together, or is "Core Four" getting way ahead of where the Hornets are?
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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