Charlotte Hornets news and notes for the start of August – At The Hive

It’s hard out on these blogging streets in August and September. Nothing happens. Or almost nothing. Little things have happened that are related to the Charlotte Hornets that we haven’t talked about on At the Hive yet. Let’s run through a few real quick.

Gordon Hayward is retiring

Hayward’s contract expired this summer after the Hornets offloaded him to the Thunder in exchange for various players. The Thunder barely used him, and he was ineffective when he played. He seemed like a decent minimum level target for a contending team, but either he or the league decided that wasn’t going to happen.

Thus ends a career of a good player marred by various injuries and inordinately long recovery times coming back from them. Best wishes in retirement, Gordon.

Charlotte Hornets players took in a Charlotte FC game Wednesday Night

I can’t find the clip to share, but at one point the broadcast of the Charlotte FC vs Cruz Azul game showed Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, KJ Simpson along with former Hornet Bryce McGowens (and maybe Dennis Smith Jr.). It’s nice to see the group staying tight off the floor and embracing the city of Charlotte.

Hornets players are playing in the olympics

There are two current Hornets and various former Hornets representing their countries at the Olympic games. Vasilije Micic is coming off the bench for Serbia and has scored in double figures in each of their two games so far. Newly acquired Josh Green is coming off the bench for Australia and isn’t do as well. He has yet to score on five shot attempts through two games.

Elsewhere, former Hornets Nic Batum and Willy Hernangomez are starting for France and Spain respectively, and both tend to play better for their countries than they played here. JT Thor is representing a South Sudan team that’s making a good name for themselves in this Olympic cycle.

Longtime arena PA announcer Big Pat passed away

Big Pat was a staple at Spectrum Center and brought an element of joy to the game with his “no no no…traveling’s the call” and emphatic, echoing “3!” calls. He leaves extraordinarily large shoes to fill, and Hornets games won’t be the same without him.