On Air
The Wes & Walker Show broadcasted live from the Spectrum Center today, for the 10th annual Military Care Event, as the Hornets were putting together 3,500 care packages for active service men and women. The event took place before the Hornets returned back home, as they host the Orlando Magic tomorrow, before hitting the road later in the week.
The NFL Scouting Combine is winding down, as we get closer to the start of a new league year and the 2024 NFL Draft. Of course, the Panthers don't currently own a first-round pick, after trading it away to Chicago last year, when they traded up to #1 to draft Bryce Young. While some coaches opt not to speak during their time in Indy, Canales made sure to get behind the podium, to talk about what his staff has worked on since being put together, and what they are looking for and hoping to achieve in the Draft, despite having limited draft capital.
It wasn't too long ago that the NAB world was impressed by the trade deadline that Hornets GM Mitch Kupchak put together, trading away Gordon Hayward and PJ Washington, and in return revamping their bench, and adding more draft capital to their future arsenal. Shortly after the trade deadline, the Hornets announced that Mitch Kupchak would be moving into an advisory role within the organization, and they began their search for a new GM. That search concluded earlier today, as Charlotte announced they were hiring Nets assistant GM Jeff Peterson, as their new President of Basketball Operations.
The 2024 MLS season got underway last week, and Charlotte FC kicked off their third season, with a 1-0 home win over NYFC. It was the first win for the club in a season opener, and it turned heads around MLS, after The Crown entered the season with little expectations, despite coming off a playoff appearance last season. Charlotte moved on Christian Lattanzio after he oversaw a team that left many points on the pitch and struggled to hold leads late in matches. They brought in Dean Smith, and his impact was apparent in the opener, with FC more organized from start to finish.
The NFL world will be focused on Indianapolis next week, for the annual NFL Draft Scouting Combine, with the Super Bowl now two weeks in the rearview mirror. While it's an important week for the college athletes in attendance looking to impress the various scouts, GMs, and head coaches, the week will also be filled with many closed-door conversations ahead of free agency, which starts in March, once the new league year begins.
On Saturday night, Charlotte FC will kick off their third season of play in the MLS, when they host NYCFC, at Bank of America Stadium. The Crown will look to build off last season, which saw the club make a deep run in the Leagues Cup, which spurned a hot finish to the regular season, as Charlotte qualified for the MLS postseason in just their second season. For that to happen though, they'll have to overcome a lot of changes that took place this off-season, as Christian Lattanzaio wasn't brought back as the head coach, and Karol Swiderski, one of Charlotte's designated players left for another club.
The NBA doesn't return to action until Thursday, but after the weekend the league just experienced, it's still dominating the headlines, no matter the sports medium. After almost a year of vowing to produce a better product during the annual All-Star weekend, the NBA witnessed another lifeless dunk contest, and a record-setting All-Star Game, as the East scored over 200 points, and both teams put on a glorified three-point shooting contest for 48 minutes.
When the calendar turns to March, it'll be a sign that the new league year is close, and free agency will soon be upon us. In the coming days, many teams around the NFL will begin to designate certain players for the franchise tag, in hopes of reaching a long-term deal as the off-season moves along. A position that will dominate the free agency period, will be the wide receiver position, with many stars potentially being available on the open market.
With March a few weeks away, college basketball takes center stage in the state of North Carolina, as we close down the ACC regular season. With Duke and North Carolina at the top of the standings, it feels like old times in the league, even though it's not getting the respect nationally.
With football season officially over, many sports fans are gearing their attention toward the NBA, NHL, and college basketball, or are waiting for the start of the baseball season. Lost in all the other sports, is the start of the MLS season, which gets underway next weekend, with Charlotte FC starting their third season of MLS play.