This topic contains 14 replies, has 14 voices, and was last updated by AvatarAvatar mowesten 7 years, 11 months ago.

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  • #68898
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    The Goat
    Participant

     How do you fix the Hornets? They are in cap hell and the worst position there is in basketball – too good to win a high lottery pick and too bad to win a playoff game. 

    Some of their guys have talent. Some of the vets can contribute even if they are overpaid and past their best. But they have some terrible can ntracts in their books and they just seem like they are waiting forever to strike with finding a superstar from what always seems to be around the 8th -12th pick in the draft. 

     

    If they were a 4-5 seed, I actually wouldn’t mind the Tony Parker pick up. I can see him and Nic Batum playing effectively together in a bench unit. Bacon was a good draft pick late. Add Kaminsky and that’s 4 guys I’d be happy to have off the bench. 

     

    This leaves Kemba and Miles Bridges even as an untested rookie as the guys I’d look to carry the team as starters. Id like to see a fit MKG be effective but he has to be the only non shooter. 

    Monk has talent and Williams has improved but I don’t think theyre the right fit. Then what do you do about the other hideous contracts? MJ really should not have any input in roster moves. nbsp;

     

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  • #1122129
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    BasterdInABasket
    Participant

    6 of their last 8 draft picks have been between #9-#12 that’s the definition of besketball purgatory.

    Their only picks higher were at 2 and 4 where they got MKG and Cody Zeller.. Two misses there (nice players but not the guys that ended up being top 5 worthy. 

    And when you’re Charlotte and nobody wants to play for you because you’re Charlotte and don’t have a strong track record of player development or winning you can’t miss on top picks. Bridges seems like the Vonleh pick, though his floor is higher than Vonleh, potential to be a great player with his athleticism.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • #1122131
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    celtics1982
    Participant

     Almost seemed like it was time to rebuild, but they seemed to double down instead. So its time to try something crazy. Yet they’ll probably resign Walker and hope to make the playoffs. I just don’t get what there end game is. You trade Howard to free up money this year, but add like 17 million next year. You then spend that money on Tony Parker. Call me confused, but those are the types of moves a contender does, not a team that hopes to just make the playoffs. Litterally zero direction for the future.

    I do really like Monk and Bridges. Those two could be really good, but it won’t matter if management can’t figure things out. They give out 10 to 15 million per year contracts like water and those are the worst ones. I’d put every single player not named Bridges or Monk on the block. Just keep making trades and picking up draft picks. Go trade Walker to Denver for Faried, a young player or two, and a couple draft picks. Crazy stuff like that. You have like 3 years till the cap clears.

     

     

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  • #1122140
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    cohenbc1
    Participant

     One thing this team has is some shooting. You’ve got Kemba (38% from 3), Lamb (37%), Marvin Williams (41%) and Kaminsky (38%). Batum shot poorly last year but is an adequate career shooter at 36% from 3, and when healthy he’s one of the craftiest offensive players in the league.

    So here’s the plan: Let Coach Borrego install a Spurs-style motion offense and get these guys as many good looks as possible. Play uptempo and take the first good shot you get. Basically try to become Warriors-lite with Kemba and Lamb as a poor man’s Splash Bros. and Batum as a poor man’s Draymond (on offense I mean … on defense he is a dead junkie in the gutter’s Draymond). There’s not much room on a team like this for a defense-only wing like MKG, so trade him and his expiring contract for a more skilled guy … someone like Fournier or Bazemore.

    Obviously they will be nothing like the Warriors, but maybe in the East unleashing these shooters gets you to 42 wins or something, and in the playoffs. Hopefully you have some building blocks in Monk and Bridges.

    Hey, it’s a start. I’m not sure completely rebuilding is a good plan for a team in a non-glamour market, with no winning culture, that will always be third fiddle behind the local college teams.

     

     

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  • #1122141
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    BigChamp12
    Participant

     There is no fix… This team is going nowhere fast. Batum has a terrible contract that is probably not moveable.  They have only decent talent outside of Kemba. MKG is just an average player. Trade Kemba for some picks and maybe a good young piece. Develop the young guys and see what you have in a few years. I really have no clue what MJ is doing. Never have.

    Possible trade Idea: Trade Batum for Chandler Parsons. Memphis gets a guy that may be able to help them on the wing with Kyle Anderson and Charlotte gets a fresh face that mayrevive his career and will coe off the books before Batum’s contract. I’m sure MJ wont trade Batum however.

     

     

     

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  • #1122142
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    Andv1 Waiting
    Participant

    Personally I would do the following:

    Fire the scouting staff and hire a staff that has a really really high I.Q and help the front office make better decisions…..

    For example:

    MKG over Bradley Beal

    Frank Kaminsky over Booker(This was my pick for the worst pick)

    Cody zeller over C.J mcollum,Steven Adams and Giannis.

    Malik Monk over Donovan Mitchell and Kuzma..

     

    The only pick they have really hit on is Kemba and maybe Bridge that is it…

    But me personally if I was Mitch K this is what I would personally do:

    Give this team 1 more year then hit full reset if they don’t at least make ECF or semis…Trade everyone except maybe Miles bridges(as you don’t know what he is at next level yet).

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • #1122143
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    laughin2dabanks
    Participant

     To me they are in a bad situation but it can be fixed over time. Monk, Bacon, Bridges are the prospects they should keep for the future since they all have talent and can fit some type of role for the team in the future. Lamb also is someone I would keep for the future (I really like lamb) but he is on the last year of his contract and he is probably one of the only players on the team with trade value beside Kemba, so I can see them trading him to get some type of value for him since the Hornets cap situation is ugly and he could possibly get more money in free agency if he has a good year. Kaminsky also is on the last year of his contract and I would trade him for some type of pic or prospect with upside. Some type of combination of Lamb/Kaminsky/2nd rd picks should get you a prospect with upside or a future late first round pick from a contender who need bench help. Williams/Biyombo really won’t be able to be moved until next season when they’re on the last year of their contract unless the Hornets take back a longer or bigger contract which they shouldn’t do. Kemba is the centerpiece of the franchise and franchise all time great, he brings value to the franchise through the fanbase since he is the one that sell the tickets for the team. They cannot trade Kemba unless you get something GREAT in return not just a draft pick and a role player, but I believe other teams undervalue him due to team record, market and he is on an expiring contract so he could possibly walk in free agency. Hornets want to keep Kemba and I think he wants to stay. Batum/Zeller contracts are pretty much non moveable until probably the last year of contract

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • #1122150
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    HobbyOG
    Participant

     Fire the whole scouting department..They have to draft better and hire coaches that can develop young talent..look at this shh over the last five years. 

    2013-2015 they drafted  3 consective bigs..#4 Cody Zeller, #9Noah Vonlah and #9Frank the tank over guys like Devin Booker, Rodney Hood, Zach Lavine, Greek freak etc…How many Bigs do you need???

    Finally decided to draft a SG last year in Malik Monk. 

    Countless of other bad picks before this, Sean May, Adam Morrison, Brandon Wright, etc. 

     

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  • #1122154
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    2quick4u
    Participant

    Big problems need big solutions, and Charlotte has a big one.

    Hornets need a total revolution and Charlotte is the perfect place to start, as North Carolina was the 1st state to vote in favor of independence from the British crown.

    It’s time for it, they’ve been waisting time for too long going without a plan, without a direction and without a purpose, always staying in the middle of nowhere and unable to re-build something meaningful.

    also, in 1795 North Carolina inaugurated the 1st public university in the Unated States.

    They need to bring back that purpose and that pride that runs through the veins of that land, and it happens that North Carolina also was the land where the myth of the best basketball player that has ever stepped a court began, and this myth, Michael Jordan, is willing to re-born with that franchise.

    Charlotte needs to take advantage of that unique situation they have with MJ, of course not using him as a GM, which is not his place, but as a recruiter, as an image and as a world embassor of basketball.

    1. No one wants to go to Charlotte because is not appealing, so make Chalotte the most appealing place for a basketball player, make them want to go to North Carolina just like most high school players want to go there to play for Duke or North Carolina; that actually should be their identity, the state of North Carolina represented by the best basketball player ever as the promise land, as the land of basketball, as the place where those college stars that played in that state want to go back, because they feel that call and feel that North Carolina is the place to be if you play and live basketball.

    2. To achieve so, the next move is crucial and again, would set a precedent in NBA history: change the franchise name to integrate the whole state, call the franchise the "North Carolina (   )". Change that "hornets" for something that represent the whole state and has a powerful meaning.

    as mentioned, the identity of the team should be filled by NBA players that played college in the state, obviously not the whole roster but some of them and especially if possible, the franchise player, to get the state involved and have a thick identity.

    3. Next move: now you have new name&logo, change the uniform.

    Again, you might not be the most appealing place to be "for the moment", but make an impact already, wear the best and coolest uniforms in the league. The league uniforms are made by Nike and you have MJ; make a deal to have an "especial edition", an NBA uniform with the brand Jordan. Sign the best and most creative designers out there and get the best uniform in the league, and get rid of that ugly purple color…the "buzz city" uniform colors are interesting, maybe use them.  Have MJ showing the world (ala steve jobs) the new name and unique uniform, with a message of the "new era" and new direction of the franchise sent to the world.

    4. Then start with the moves:

    I would 1st get rid of Kemba, Batum, Kidd and Zeller if possible.

    . Try a Batum for J.Parker(sign&trade)+Henson+Zeller.

    Bucks get another long and versatile player that will help in exchange of Henson whom doesn’t have space there anymore and Parker whom seems want to leave, and "North Carolina" gets 3 players that get back home, especially a great young asset like Parker for the future.

    . Change Kemba for a 1st rd pick or if not possible, maybe a trade with the Suns could work, getting TJ Warren (NC State) in exchange. Warren has a great contract for his production and could be a great 6th man for the next years.

    . Kidd and Zeller would be more difficult to move, but try as hard as possible in exchange of expiring contracts or maybe for interesting "home" players like Aminu (Wake Forest).

    .Sign some "homeboys" to fill roster like S.Curry (he’ll be used in future as "recruiter") or T.Pinson, also bring for cheap Okafor.

    Then i’d try to exchange the best rookies they have, that is, Monk and Bridges or at least Monk, for a young asset from the state or the highest pick possible in next draft. Harry Giles would be the target, someone that not only played in the state but was born there; SAC has Bagley, Cauley-Stein and Labissiere and as good as Giles has looked in summer league, he might not have many minutes with those players. Try a trade Monk&Bridges for Giles&Jackson (N.Carolina).

    5. Lose as many games as possible while you develope your young players, and get a top 5 pick in next draft. Then Draft the youtube sensation, Zion Williamson (Duke) and get ready to sell tickets and jerseys, although maybe not many wins, yet. Zion already has some sight of the "promise land" on him.

    6. With all the "new marketing machinery" going on, and with all the new expectation created, go for Kyrie Irving next year. Give him all the money and sign him a huge shoes deal with Jordan brand. The addition of Kyrie could bring another star.

    7. After 2020 or 2021 season, the GSW dinasty will be done, so it could be the moment to get Steph Curry. Use his brother to recuit him. Curry would still be 32, so him and Kyrie together could be nasty, add Zion, Parker, a rim protector and a deep and committed bench and you have a team to compete for glory.

    It might be a dream but that’s what dreams are for…

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • #1122156
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    cominup7
    Participant

     Call me crazy but I actually think Borrego can squeeze a top 4 seed out of this bunch in a wide open East.

    Walker-Lamb-Batum-Williams-Zeller + a bench of Willy, Bridges, Monk, TP, and Kaminksy is a decent team w/a lot of players with potential to outperform expectations

    MJ is never going to sign off on a rebuild but they have to get rid of some dead weight at minimum so with that being said, why not trade MKG to Houston for Ryan Anderson…

     MKG can bring some of the defense they lost with Ariza/Luc and he’ll probably opt out to become a free agent in 2019. Anderson adds another shooter to CHA roster and he also expires next summer I believe

     

     

     

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  • #1122167
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    The Goat
    Participant

     Parker signed there for Batum. I doubt you move either of them in the next two years without ruining good will, which is about all the franchise has. Can you imagine the only free agent signing they’ve been able to muster in a long time, a busted Tony Parker, is backstabbed? You may as well tell the league free agents aren’t welcome.
    I did forget to mention Lamb and Willy Hernangomez earlier, and they also have some talent, I agree. I am really looking at ways to move guys like Zeller, Biyombo, and Williams without attaching draft picks or Walker. I don’t think there is a way, although there may be a considerably overpaid and/or under utilised player elsewhere (eg. like Chandler Parsons but not actually Chandler Parsons) that they could flip someone for and hope to turn productive. Tyson Chandler? Yeah, possibly Ryan Anderson. Gorgui Dieng? Faried? Is Schroeder gettable for bad contracts if you attach a bunch of second rounders?

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  • #1122175
    festar35festar35
    festar35
    Participant

    They have to make call on Kemba by the trade deadline, as much as it might suck for them I think a trade is the best way. I’m not doing that trade for a salary dump either, I’m doing it for young talent + draft pick to a team that believes he can be a key piece.
    (Just an example: Kemba Walker for Darren Collison, Aaron Holiday & 2019 1st Round Pick)

    Give a lot of time to Malik Monk, Dwayne Bacon and Miles Bridges. I’d just let Monk go out and play his game, his skill set in today’s NBA is capable of 20ppg+ give him every opportunity to learn best how to do it.

    Losing, getting picks/young talent and waiting on your contracts to expire is going to be the best option.

    2020 off-season they will have a tonne of cap space.

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  • #1122196
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    Taylor Gang Mike
    Participant

     Blow it up and build around Bacon, Monk and Bridges 

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  • #1122202
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    Andrew1984
    Participant

     The only thing that could really re-energize the fan base and bring some hope to the franchise is landing Zion Williamson, who went to high school 75 miles from Charlotte. He’d bring a combination of star power and physicality that they haven’t had since LJ/Zo. 

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  • #1122265
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    mowesten
    Participant

     The fish always rots at the head.

    And it’s safe to say the Hornets thing is completely rotten.

     

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