Rod did an outstanding job covering the Hornets. Sad to see this happen. Hope to see him covering another NBA team soon. Via @MarcJSpears on X

What happened: McClatchy cut eight Charlotte Observer posts last week, including Boone's Hornets beat role. The move landed 10 days short of his five-year anniversary at the paper. Marc Spears praised Boone's work and said he hopes Boone

Why it matters: Charlotte loses daily beat continuity going into the 2026-27 season. A thinner local corps means fewer daily eyes on roster moves and camp battles.

What to watch: Watch who the Observer taps for the Hornets beat entering camp.

Sources