So on. TikTok, a fan of the heat Check, sent me a message with the following question, why aren't we talking about the Charlotte Hornets as a dysfunctional team. That's a good question, you know what, I guess because they're not relevant in any way from a contending standpoint. But still in terms of dysfunction function, what's your function? It's right up there? How come where's Miles Bridges? Does anyone know what his timeline is? Is there a timeline? Is
there a timeline with the Hornets and Miles Bridges? Am I out of the loop because I feel like I don't know what's going on there? I have no idea. Is he he was supposed to get the max contract. I don't think they've rescinded his offer. Who knows, But listen, when you've got your centerpiece outside of Lamello ball, your other centerpiece star going down for domestic violence against all
kinds of folks, that's strike one. That's absolutely chaos. That was one of the things that was talked about most a summer league is like, what's gonna happen with Miles Bridges? Like what's Charlotte gonna do? And up until a few days ago, there was pretty much no news about him. Right now we learn that his domestic violence case has been pushed back from September twenty ninth to October seventh.
That is the third time, folks, that has been postponed. Presumably, nothing's going to happen concerning his future until all of this is finalized. But I tell you what, it's a big time storm cloud over a franchise. We know that Sports Illustrated reported the Bridge's status to possibly rejoin the Charlotte Hornets before the start of the season, very much in doubt, obviously, like yeah, okay, captain obvious, there you are.
Great reporting, and as his whole career in the NBA as a whole, I mean, did you see the photos? Fucking obviously the kind of risk that you face when you're not facing one but three felony counts, including two felony child abuse charges. So that's just one thing facing the Charlotte Hornets. The best thing I think about all of the issues in drama and chaos surrounding these NBA teams is they all have their own brand of fucked up. Like there's not like an overarching theme this year each one.
I mean it's just kind of like dealer's choice. We've got we've got isms, we've got abuse, we've got sexual misconduct, we have vulgar language like Adam Levine sexting. I imagine that's gotta be one reason why no one's talking about the Hornets very much. Horn it's also other questions that they have to deal with. First, do we have clarity on why Kenny Atkinson decided to say no to the deal was in writing, the ink was drying, and he decided last minute to pull a switch THROO does anyone
know why? Truthfully? Like what really happened? Because I liked it? Know he chose to remain an assistant rather than take a head coaching job. Who does that? As Brian Windhorst would say, why would he do that? Very weird? What did he see? What came out? Maybe it was Miles Bridges, who knows. I need clarification. It's very very rare that an NBA franchise is left at the altar by a potential head coach. Another question looming, where is Gordon Hayward.
What's happening with him? He was this huge part of the off season rumor mill and just nothing. He was supposed to go to Brooklyn, maybe maybe Utah for picks, apparently staying put in Charlotte and Yward. He's a good player, always injured, and which is why being ruled out for the first preseason game is hardly surprising, but also problematic.
Knee injury again acting up and if you're a Hornets fan, for the amount of money that they've paid him, that's got to be concerning coming out of the late offseason, when you're supposed to be at your healthiest. The fact that you're getting a late scratch coming off of a glorified scrimmage. I would put that in the category of rout row third. At one point, I didn't even remember who the head coach of the Hornets is at this very moment, think to yourself, do not google this. Who's
the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets right now? Yeah? Who is he? Venture? Guests? Is he young? Is he old? Has he ever coached before? These are all questions that I couldn't remember. It's Steve Clifford. Steve Clifford. If you're saying to yourself, wait, didn't he already coach the Charlotte Hornets, Yes he did, Folks, he also coached the Orlando Magic.
He's partying like his twenty sixteen all over again, second time around for good old cliff who probably shouldn't have been the fall guy for the Orlando Magic because truthfully, as bad as he is and was, he still figured out a way to make Vussovich look serviceable enough where the Chicago Bulls paid four first round picks for him, so he was doing something right. He didn't make him look like as much of a defensive liability as he
is in Chicago. They gutted the Magic like the fishing tournament director on TikTok who sliced open those fish only to find lead weights in their bellies. Like it was like that, right Clifford coached. In case you want a little history of lesson, he coached the Hornets from twenty thirteen to twenty and eighteen. He knows Mike, he knows this organization that at that point was his very first head coaching job, and yet still he chose to come
back after being fired. Isn't this kind of like being dumped by your high school girlfriend who leaves you for another guy, and then then she dumps him just for the chance to date Kenny Atkinson. And then when Kenny Atkinson bolts, she comes back and he's like, it's always been me and you, you know, like, hey, baby, whatch you doing wid on the late night tip? It's ever. I can't stop thinking about all those good times that me and you had back in Chuck's Notes twenty fourteen,
what Steve Clifford came home to Charlotte? What does it mean? Probably a lot of lamellow ball, probably not much Gordon Hayward. Probably a lot of Kelly Oubray chucking. But honestly, that could have been any coach except for Kenny Atkinson. He would have not let that stand. No shot. Jalen Duran. Jalen Duran, No Aylan Duran's a Detroit piston. Mark Williams looking around thinking, what have we gotten ourselves into? The Charlotte Hornets, folks, You're right, they should be in the
bucket of most dysfunctional organizations. I am sorry I didn't bring them up. They don't exactly come top of mind.