Which prospect in the Hornets range (pick 11) best complements LaMelo?

[OhCanada1091]

This pick is very important for Charlotte. They need to draft a player that can impact the game in a positive manner and grow at the same rate as Lamelo. I think unless someone slips to them the pick in that range should be Garuba. It gives them a player that will sell out defensively every possession, he guarded PG to Center one on one, not occasional Switch's like Draymond Green. He won't demand touches and with all those high usage guards in Charlotte along with Hayward they really don't need more creators. They need a defensive playmaker.

[Hal14]

This pick is very important for Charlotte. They need to draft a player that can impact the game in a positive manner and grow at the same rate as Lamelo. I think unless someone slips to them the pick in that range should be Garuba. It gives them a player that will sell out defensively every possession, he guarded PG to Center one on one, not occasional Switch's like Draymond Green. He won't demand touches and with all those high usage guards in Charlotte along with Hayward they really don't need more creators. They need a defensive playmaker.

2 other guys who seem to possibly fit that description are James Robinson-Earl and Franz Wagner. How would you compare those 3?

Both have them appear to be just as good (or at least pretty darn close) to Garuba in terms of defense, defensive versatility, defense instincts, defensive positioning, defensive tenacity but Wagner and Robinson-Earl seem to be more developed offensively..

Wagner is more of a combo-forward, compared Garuba and Robinson-Earl who are both natural 4 / small ball 5 man. All 3 seem like solid picks in the mid-1st round. 3 of the best defenders in the draft. Robinson-Earl though seems like he demands touches on offense more than the other 2....Wagner and Garuba are much better passers..

[CP War Hawks]

Just do BPA. Target Holmes in FA. Picks 7-13 is going to be so turbulent somebody is gonna fall that you rated higher. Halliburton is an example.

[MasterIchiro]

My thing is BPA 6-12 is flat. They share the same tier. So you go by fit, not necessarily position but style.

[BlazersBroncos]

Sengun will be gone.

Target Holmes in FA and take BPA at 11.

[Hal14]

Sengun will be gone.

Target Holmes in FA and take BPA at 11.

I'm not so sure Sengun will be gone.

IMO the only 6 guys we know with absolute certainty will be gone in the first 10 picks:

Mobley, Cunningham, Green, Suggs, Kuminga, Barnes

That's it. Those 6 will be gone in the top 10, without question.

Assuming those 6 are gone and everyone else is available (because it's hard to know for sure who else will be gone in the top 10 besides those aforementioned 6), these are my top 5 guys in terms of BPA after those 6 (minus any PGs like Mitchell, Springer, Giddey and Butler because PG is the only position they definitely don't need since they have ball)

1) Sengun
2) Prkacin (imagine the chemistry him and Ball could develop?)
3) Garuba (they have scorers, this could be their defensive identity, bringing toughness and hustle)
4) Jalen Johnson (I could also picture some crazy highlight reel plays with him and Ball)
5) Kai Jones

[Dat2U]

Either Baylor guard. Davion Mitchell or Jared Butler as a secondary ballhandler and knock down shooter. Franz Wagner as 3 & D forward.

[Roger Murdock]

They are a team with a bunch of Ok players but no stars. They need to roll dice with highest upside guy.

[Roger Murdock]

^ Apologies I meant to say no potential stars outside Melo

[Hal14]

A Lamelo / Bouknight backcourt could be pretty fun to watch..

[EvanZ]

Moody

[MasterIchiro]

A Lamelo / Bouknight backcourt could be pretty fun to watch..

Warming up to it. Bouknight is a bucket getter, has good length and plays with a determined scorer's mentality. He'd relieve pressure off LaMelo. Drafting him would give the Hornets options trading Rozier, Monk or Graham and turning surplus backcourt talent into a big.

[Hal14]

A Lamelo / Bouknight backcourt could be pretty fun to watch..

Warming up to it. Bouknight is a bucket getter, has good length and plays with a determined scorer's mentality. He'd relieve pressure off LaMelo. Drafting him would give the Hornets options trading Rozier, Monk or Graham and turning surplus backcourt talent into a big.

Yeah I can see Lamelo with his elite passing ability really like playing with a lethal scorer like Bouknight and he would make Bouknight's life easier with his scoring and Bouknight would love playing with such an elite passer to help set him up.

Both of them are pretty much the same age too, a couple of young guards who both play fast and with high energy and are super talented and who's games compliment each other a lot rather than overlap. They could keep them together and develop them together for awhile.

[LofJ]

I always hope for some lottery luck this time of year. It almost never happens, but it did last year so I have my fingers crossed. I want to pair LaMelo with Jalen Green and have the best young backcourt in the league.

[MasterIchiro]

A Lamelo / Bouknight backcourt could be pretty fun to watch..

Warming up to it. Bouknight is a bucket getter, has good length and plays with a determined scorer's mentality. He'd relieve pressure off LaMelo. Drafting him would give the Hornets options trading Rozier, Monk or Graham and turning surplus backcourt talent into a big.

Yeah I can see Lamelo with his elite passing ability really like playing with a lethal scorer like Bouknight and he would make Bouknight's life easier with his scoring and Bouknight would love playing with such an elite passer to help set him up.

Both of them are pretty much the same age too, a couple of young guards who both play fast and with high energy and are super talented and who's games compliment each other a lot rather than overlap. They could keep them together and develop them together for awhile.

It's official. Hornets have a unicorn backcourt of LaMelo - Bouknight. And to top it off they traded into the first round gain for my guy Kai. Both are perfect fits for LaMelo and I just LOVE my GM!