[TripleDoubleScoutParticipant]

 Well, here we go again. It looks like we are a playoff team as of December 2015. The East is so weird this year, with lots of parity, which is kind of fun. The problem with us being a playoff team this year? We have ZERO chance of winning a championship now or in the future as currently constructed. Actually, that’s an understatement: we really have a less than zero chance. I was so sure we would have an outside chance to get Ben Simmons, the only transcendent star out of a weak-to-average draft with solid prospects. A couple of funny things happened though. Our new Jeremys, Lin and Lamb. One has reminded us that he has a pulse and the other showed us he actually had one all along. Kemba Walker, who I continue to be a big critic of, has slightly improved so far, just not in the areas he needs to. They have contributed with team MVP Batum to a winning record. Did I mention our best player is out with injury until at least late January? Combine these with the fact that Steve Clifford NBA No-Man’s Land, a mystical reality free of negative scrutiny, but also no limelight or accolades (although if we finish top 5 in the East, Clifford should get a strong look for COY, if not outright). There are stormclouds a comin’ though, but if Jordan and Co. wake up, daylight will peak through faster than I expect. One cloud is Jefferson’s contract. He clearly is at the start of his career decline. He is a great locker room/team guy, which is why I wouldn’t cut his pay too much, but unfortunately the Hornets may have to play hardball with him because he is sadly our only low post threat. If that situation goes sour, all bets are off for next season onward. MKG, a really good player, is our best player. If I have to explain to you why that is a bad thing…

Now, I dont mean to rain on anybody’s parade. I am happy for my team’s players’ success so far. They are really a good group of dudes. But as a fan, I have no interest in being the Jazz East, perpetually fighting for the last playoff spots, or receiving the last lottery picks. I am not a teenaged, wide eyed fan anymore, always paying way too much attention to the flavor of the month. I’ve been through that phase. I’m bout them ‘Chips now. The only way a team like the Hornets can do that is through the very top of the draft first, then Free Agency, not the other way around. For those who don’t quite get it, consider this: as of right now, the historically bad winless Sixers have a higher probability of being good in 2018 (that’s just 2 years folks) than my Hornets. Yeah… 

 

 

 

 

 

[TripleDoubleScoutParticipant]

 I don’t know why guys, but my thread screwed up and deleted parts upon posting the part about Clifford. I was saying that my team is in the NBA No-Man’s Land, and that Clifford should win or come close to COY. He is the NBA’s best kept secret.

[TripleDoubleScoutParticipant]

 I don’t know why guys, but my thread screwed up and deleted parts upon posting the part about Clifford. I was saying that my team is in the NBA No-Man’s Land, and that Clifford should win or come close to COY. He is the NBA’s best kept secret.

[PatrickMurphyParticipant]

You are probably sick of hearing it, but selecting Kaminsky over Boston’s draft pick offer really kills the team’s chances of hitting it big with an upside draft pick. I know the fanbase requires results now, but the flexibility of future picks would have given the Hornets a stronger future, even if for other trades rather than drafted players themselves.

Stay strong!

 

 

[PatrickMurphyParticipant]

You are probably sick of hearing it, but selecting Kaminsky over Boston’s draft pick offer really kills the team’s chances of hitting it big with an upside draft pick. I know the fanbase requires results now, but the flexibility of future picks would have given the Hornets a stronger future, even if for other trades rather than drafted players themselves.

Stay strong!

 

 

[ZouldiersParticipant]

 You also have to worry about Batum though. He’s on an expiring contract as well and with the way he’s playing right now, he could demand a max for next season and I’m sure some teams would try to lure him away from you guys. Good luck keeping him though.

[ZouldiersParticipant]

 You also have to worry about Batum though. He’s on an expiring contract as well and with the way he’s playing right now, he could demand a max for next season and I’m sure some teams would try to lure him away from you guys. Good luck keeping him though.

[bickbackbeboolParticipant]

 I have grown very weary of the franchise’s decisions. It seems like most of their pics are to fill seats. They are either too low in the lottery for a really good pick, or they are high up in a low talent draft. That New Orleans getting the number 1 pick over us was a straight up conspiracy. Davis wanted to be in Charlotte, but Stern prevented that to ensure that the NBA owned franchise got a nice little cornerstone.

But regardless of our luck of getting good picks combined with our below average drafting, we seem to have a terrible time developing talent. I dread the thought of getting Kaminskey over Winslow, but I feel like Winslow is in better hands with the Heat. Charlotte would have not developed him or played him the way the Heat do. Imo it is a major flaw in the organization. 

 

 

 

[bickbackbeboolParticipant]

 I have grown very weary of the franchise’s decisions. It seems like most of their pics are to fill seats. They are either too low in the lottery for a really good pick, or they are high up in a low talent draft. That New Orleans getting the number 1 pick over us was a straight up conspiracy. Davis wanted to be in Charlotte, but Stern prevented that to ensure that the NBA owned franchise got a nice little cornerstone.

But regardless of our luck of getting good picks combined with our below average drafting, we seem to have a terrible time developing talent. I dread the thought of getting Kaminskey over Winslow, but I feel like Winslow is in better hands with the Heat. Charlotte would have not developed him or played him the way the Heat do. Imo it is a major flaw in the organization. 

 

 

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

 i saw some stats yesterday about the hornets dispersement of plays this season.

20% comes from spot ups.

9% post ups.

10% transition.

18% pn’r ball handler.

even everywhere else.

 

 

 

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

 i saw some stats yesterday about the hornets dispersement of plays this season.

20% comes from spot ups.

9% post ups.

10% transition.

18% pn’r ball handler.

even everywhere else.

 

 

 

 

[mgreener_34Participant]

 I think you shouldn’t have compared your team to the Jazz, who have potentially a top 10 Center, Power Forward, and Small Forward…The Jazz’s future looks so much brighter than the Hornets unfortunately. 

The biggest problems I see in the Hornets are:

1.) They are perpetually in win now mode. This is understandable if you are in a big market that can attract big name players, but the Hornets will never be that team, and will always have to over pay. This means they need to get their top tier talent from the draft or trades and fill in the rest with good FA-roleplayers, but…

2.) The Hornets are one of the worst drafting teams in the entire NBA. Not only do they continue to draft low ceiling "NBA ready" players like Zeller and Kaminski, but they also only draft players who went to big schools, and trade the players who have any semblense of upside. I mean, since they became the Bobcats, they traded Wright (great back-up big, would have made signing Big Al redundant), traded Noah Vonleh who has some potential, drafted and then traded Tobias Harris who would give them that scoring punch they need (Ironically, they got Corey Maggette in that deal), traded Jared Dudley who is a good role-player, and have continued to draft and trade guys who could have been good later on. 

Not having any faith in the prospects you draft shows bad management, and then you see their top 10 picks…

#3 Adam Morrison

#9 DJ Augustine

#5 Raymond Felton

#4 Cody Zeller

#2 MKG

#9 Kemba Walker

#9 Frank Kaminski

That is just horrific, and the passing up of Justice Winslow or Turner this year for Frank is just icing on the cake. All those guys mentioned above were low ceiling players, and the only thing you’re going to win with that group is the #1 recruiting class in college, but even then Kentucky might still beat that out. None of those guys (except MKG), had all-star potential before or after draft day, so it’s just a head scratcher that they took them. 

I don’t think the future is that bad though. I like the Kemba/Lamb tandom, and think that once you guys get rid of Big Al and start playing more uptempo than the team will start to come together a little bit. You won’t win championships but I could see a team of:

Kemba-Lin

Batum- Lamb

MKG

Zeller-Williams

Kaminski

being able to consistently win 45 games a year, and have terrific ball movement and shooting. I think if you were to add a high impact PF into that starting lineup and move Zeller to the bench that team could be very potent. Someone like Horford, Taj, Sully, or Young would be awesome for you guys. 

Baby steps, not every team gets to have Kyrie, LeBron, and Love

 

[mgreener_34Participant]

 I think you shouldn’t have compared your team to the Jazz, who have potentially a top 10 Center, Power Forward, and Small Forward…The Jazz’s future looks so much brighter than the Hornets unfortunately. 

The biggest problems I see in the Hornets are:

1.) They are perpetually in win now mode. This is understandable if you are in a big market that can attract big name players, but the Hornets will never be that team, and will always have to over pay. This means they need to get their top tier talent from the draft or trades and fill in the rest with good FA-roleplayers, but…

2.) The Hornets are one of the worst drafting teams in the entire NBA. Not only do they continue to draft low ceiling "NBA ready" players like Zeller and Kaminski, but they also only draft players who went to big schools, and trade the players who have any semblense of upside. I mean, since they became the Bobcats, they traded Wright (great back-up big, would have made signing Big Al redundant), traded Noah Vonleh who has some potential, drafted and then traded Tobias Harris who would give them that scoring punch they need (Ironically, they got Corey Maggette in that deal), traded Jared Dudley who is a good role-player, and have continued to draft and trade guys who could have been good later on. 

Not having any faith in the prospects you draft shows bad management, and then you see their top 10 picks…

#3 Adam Morrison

#9 DJ Augustine

#5 Raymond Felton

#4 Cody Zeller

#2 MKG

#9 Kemba Walker

#9 Frank Kaminski

That is just horrific, and the passing up of Justice Winslow or Turner this year for Frank is just icing on the cake. All those guys mentioned above were low ceiling players, and the only thing you’re going to win with that group is the #1 recruiting class in college, but even then Kentucky might still beat that out. None of those guys (except MKG), had all-star potential before or after draft day, so it’s just a head scratcher that they took them. 

I don’t think the future is that bad though. I like the Kemba/Lamb tandom, and think that once you guys get rid of Big Al and start playing more uptempo than the team will start to come together a little bit. You won’t win championships but I could see a team of:

Kemba-Lin

Batum- Lamb

MKG

Zeller-Williams

Kaminski

being able to consistently win 45 games a year, and have terrific ball movement and shooting. I think if you were to add a high impact PF into that starting lineup and move Zeller to the bench that team could be very potent. Someone like Horford, Taj, Sully, or Young would be awesome for you guys. 

Baby steps, not every team gets to have Kyrie, LeBron, and Love

 

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 In terms of putting out a competetive product…. They are gritty…. They have talent inside & outside…. I thought they gave up on Vonleh too soon…. but Batum was a good get…. Lamb looks strong…..

 I def was puzzled by the 2015 Draft pick….. nothing against Frank the Tank….. I just thought Myles Turner & Winslow were stronger choices….. I never just gpo on the "NBA Reference" & look at numbers & then spout off…. Unless you put your eyeballs on a guy…. those Stats – especially when you only have a small sample size (like 15 games)……….     

How do the Charlotte fans feel about Frank Kaminsky? 

 

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 In terms of putting out a competetive product…. They are gritty…. They have talent inside & outside…. I thought they gave up on Vonleh too soon…. but Batum was a good get…. Lamb looks strong…..

 I def was puzzled by the 2015 Draft pick….. nothing against Frank the Tank….. I just thought Myles Turner & Winslow were stronger choices….. I never just gpo on the "NBA Reference" & look at numbers & then spout off…. Unless you put your eyeballs on a guy…. those Stats – especially when you only have a small sample size (like 15 games)……….     

How do the Charlotte fans feel about Frank Kaminsky? 

 

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