On today's show, we start with the breaking news that the Charlotte Hornets have waived guard Nick Smith Jr. While the move was widely expected due to a crowded backcourt, we take a moment to look back on his tenure. We acknowledge that he was a consummate professional who was given a fair opportunity to prove himself, but ultimately became a victim of the team's shift toward a veteran-heavy guard rotation.

This decision officially closes the book on what we consider to be one of the worst cases of franchise malpractice of the Michael Jordan/Mitch Kupchak era: the 2022 draft-day trade of Jalen Duren. We revisit the details of that infamous move, where the Hornets traded the 13th overall pick for a future late first-rounder (which became Smith) in a blatant effort to save money. We explain why the flawed process behind that trade was even more frustrating than other draft misses from that time. Finally, with only one roster spot left to trim, we look ahead and debate which veteran guard, Pat Connaughton or Spencer Dinwiddie, will be the next and final cut before the season begins.

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