RealGM

After the top 5 beauty is in the eye of the beholder so I think teams will draft more for fit (with so little disparity in talent).

I believe our GM sees LaMelo as a franchise player and will build around him through the draft. Pick 11-12 has brought Miles Bridges and PJ Washington, two starters with Miles flashing All-Star potential. Mitch Kupchak can be dangerous in this area of the draft.

I wish I could call him and solicit his top 3 picks in this part of the lottery. But alas, I need your input. Kupchak won't reply to my texts.

LaMelo plays on a team that shares the ball and pushes the pace but can change gears from transition to half court sets. No one player dominates the ball. The Hornets need rim protection in the worst way but Kupchak seems to draft for diversification. You have to be a well-rounded player with a deep toolbox. Hornets could also use some size on the wings.

If you're the Hornets, who do you take at 11?

They really need a center. Sengun could be a really good fit. Just not sure if he has good enough conditioning to play the fast, up tempo style the Hornets like to play. Plus, a good chance Sengun is gone in the fiurst 10 picks.

Which of course leads us to Kai Jones. Can play the or the 5. Jones is better in transition and in a fast, up tempo game, not as good in slow down, half court style. But he can out-run most centers, very good running the floor and finished in transition.

Isaiah Jackson is another big with good quickness, can really run the floor. Jackson is a better rebounder, better rim protector. I feel like Jones can improve in those areas, though. Jackson would need to add some bulk, only 206 lbs is too small to play center and Jones also has much more offensive skill in terms of dribble driving and shooting. Both players are likely to be there at 11. I'd probably say 1) Jones 2) Jackson for my top choices if I'm a Hornets fan.

Hard to pass up Sengun though if he's still there..

Hal14 wrote:They really need a center. Sengun could be a really good fit. Just not sure if he has good enough conditioning to play the fast, up tempo style the Hornets like to play.

Which of course leads us to Kai Jones. Can play the or the 5. Jones is better in transition and in a fast, up tempo game, not as good in slow down, half court style. But he can out-run most centers, very good running the floor and finished in transition.

Isaiah Jackson is another big with good quickness, can really run the floor. Jackson is a better rebounder, better rim protector. I feel like Jones can improve in those areas, though. Jackson would need to add some bulk, only 206 lbs is too small to play center and Jones also has much more offensive skill in terms of dribble driving and shooting. Both players are likely to be there at 11. I'd probably say 1) Jones 2) Jackson for my top choices if I'm a Hornets fan.

Kai Jones is the player I have my eye on. He's not the rim protector as the others but can guard 1-5 and really put the ball on the floor, doesn't just run and finish. He's quite diversified on both ends. I wouldn't be so consumed about single traits like rim protection. I just don't believe single players should bear the burden of specific tasks. You end up fixing one area but not gaining ground in other areas. It doesn't solve all your problems. And I tend to think diverse players are more likely to develop in all areas including weak areas. Miles Bridges could do a little of everything in college. And he's improved at everything on both ends. He's made huge strides handling the ball, moving the ball and helping on defense. Both PJ and Miles have defensive versatility as well so I think Kai Jones has a profile that fits prior Kupchak targets. Kai Jones doesn't need to have a three ball because he's a vertical threat for LaMelo. Any offense beyond that is bonus. He's very raw but the Hornets have a good recent track record of development.

Why draft Jones over Garuba? Garuba's younger, and he's actually an impact defender right now instead of hypothetically an impact defender in the future.

Other than Giddey I could see them going a lot of different directions. BPA.

Charm wrote:Why draft Jones over Garuba? Garuba's younger, and he's actually an impact defender right now instead of hypothetically an impact defender in the future.

Fair question.

Jones is better offensively but Garuba is better defensively.

I think those 2 guys and Roko are all pretty debatable. Will be interesting to see if we see some separation among among these bunches of guys who seem debatable as we get closer to the draft, especially after the combine.

MasterIchiro wrote:

Hal14 wrote:They really need a center. Sengun could be a really good fit. Just not sure if he has good enough conditioning to play the fast, up tempo style the Hornets like to play.

Which of course leads us to Kai Jones. Can play the or the 5. Jones is better in transition and in a fast, up tempo game, not as good in slow down, half court style. But he can out-run most centers, very good running the floor and finished in transition.

Isaiah Jackson is another big with good quickness, can really run the floor. Jackson is a better rebounder, better rim protector. I feel like Jones can improve in those areas, though. Jackson would need to add some bulk, only 206 lbs is too small to play center and Jones also has much more offensive skill in terms of dribble driving and shooting. Both players are likely to be there at 11. I'd probably say 1) Jones 2) Jackson for my top choices if I'm a Hornets fan.

Kai Jones is the player I have my eye on. He's not the rim protector as the others but can guard 1-5 and really put the ball on the floor, doesn't just run and finish. He's quite diversified on both ends. I wouldn't be so consumed about single traits like rim protection. I just don't believe single players should bear the burden of specific tasks. You end up fixing one area but not gaining ground in other areas. It doesn't solve all your problems. And I tend to think diverse players are more likely to develop in all areas including weak areas. Miles Bridges could do a little of everything in college. And he's improved at everything on both ends. He's made huge strides handling the ball, moving the ball and helping on defense. Both PJ and Miles have defensive versatility as well so I think Kai Jones has a profile that fits prior Kupchak targets. Kai Jones doesn't need to have a three ball because he's a vertical threat for LaMelo. Any offense beyond that is bonus. He's very raw but the Hornets have a good recent track record of development.

Yeah, Kai seems like a good fit for you guys. I'm kinda hoping he falls to the Celtics at 16, though..

He's the kind of guy who would be a fit on a lot of teams. Long, athletic 6'11" dude who can run the floor on the break, rim runner, not really a post up guy so isn't gonna clog up the middle, he'll just set some screens, rim run and can also space the floor with 39% shooting from 3 and ability to attack closeouts by dribble driving from perimeter and ability to defend 1-5. Still raw and prone to mistakes but as he gets more experience (only been playing basketball since age 15) he could really be a high impact player, who wall not being very ball-dominant.

Hal14 wrote:

Charm wrote:Why draft Jones over Garuba? Garuba's younger, and he's actually an impact defender right now instead of hypothetically an impact defender in the future.

Fair question.

Jones is better offensively but Garuba is better defensively.

I think those 2 guys and Roko are all pretty debatable. Will be interesting to see if we see some separation among among these bunches of guys who seem debatable as we get closer to the draft, especially after the combine.

Better offensively...at...what? Jones has the edge in raw points per game, but Garuba's obviously playing next to much more talented offensive players, so it makes sense that he takes and makes fewer shots. They're equally questionable shooters; Jones is probably a marginally better finisher, and Garuba's a marginally better passer. Given another year of development (Garuba's a year younger) I think he'd very easily be a double-digit scorer against NCAA competition, in addition to a likely conference (or even national) DPOY. Just a higher caliber of talent than Jones overall.

Garuba-Prkacin is a much tougher comparison because they're completely different architypes. I probably lean slightly Garuba, but could go either way depending on team needs.

Melo needs a vertical lob threat and rim protector. Unite him with his old Spire teammate.

MemphisX wrote:Melo needs a vertical lob threat and rim protector. Unite him with his old Spire teammate.

Neemias Queta fits that description to a tee. One of the most underrated players in this draft, based on where he's going in most mocks I've seen.

I honestly don't think 11th is a reach for him. He's arguably a top 10-12 player in this draft.

For those of us who aren't walking basketball encyclopedias, who is the Spire teammate you're referring to?

You don't draft for fit based on the Hornet's roster. You draft the best non-PG prospect at 11.

Hornets need talent at 2, 3, 4, and 5. And 1 is not even secure depending on LaMelo's trajectory.

Hal14 wrote:For those of us who aren't walking basketball encyclopedias, who is the Spire teammate you're referring to?

Okongwu.

Sengun ,Kai or in the back court Springer

Sengun.

garuba or sengun.
i prefer garuba but his draft stock isn't as high as he is on my personal list so could easily trade down for garuba and 2nd round pick too

hornets have plenty of young talent who are looking to continue to increase their scoring and then they also have hayward. i think a solid rotation big who gets the easy low hanging fruit buckets, sets good picks, and plays elite defense is what they need the most.

If Jalen Johnson slides to 11, you take him, and have MJ speak to the kid 1 on 1

BPA (period).

Other than LaMelo there's no other players you couldn't/wouldn't part with.

It's almost impossible to predict who's taken between 6-10. Whatever might think of him, I think Barnes is about the only name I'm confident absolutely will not fall out the top 10 but there's a bunch of guys with good upside that may be there like Jalen Johnson, Keon Johnson, Moses Moody, Tre Mann, James Bouknight etc etc....but if I'm CHA there's no chance I'm concerned about drafting based on fit (ie/ drafting Kai BECAUSE he's a lob threat - Bridges already is btw but get he's not a big).

Now if they really believe Kai is going to be a star, then go for it. But don't do it because it's nice to have a lob threat lol those guys won't be the hardest to acquire and likely want to play with LaMelo so won't be hard to attract. If they go with a big and don't fluke into Mobley then I'd prefer Sengun and go with skill over athleticism. I don't like how unassertive Jones was, maybe it's Wiggins or Reddish but when I don't see an assertive player in college, I don't find it as likely they suddenly do in the pros against stiffer competition. Sengun would give him another high IQ player but overall I don't like that he lacks perimeter play to open up the court for LaMelo so would likely shy away from that.

Under the assumption the following names fall to them personally I'd favor Bouknight as a smart scorer that will be able to pull some of the defense off LaMelo but also be able to play well off of each other and he's a solid defender or Moody for a lot of the same reasons and he's a good spot up shooter. Mann for me may obviously leave a lot to be desired as a defensive duo but damn they could be fun af with how Tre can bomb from deep that I'd prob go that way just to have some fun and excitement in CHA. If none of them fall through, Springer or Christopher....I'm just taking whoever I believe has the most upside of the bunch and Monk is not player I worry about in that decision lol

Hal14 wrote:

MemphisX wrote:Melo needs a vertical lob threat and rim protector. Unite him with his old Spire teammate.

Neemias Queta fits that description to a tee. One of the most underrated players in this draft, based on where he's going in most mocks I've seen.

I honestly don't think 11th is a reach for him. He's arguably a top 10-12 player in this draft.

For those of us who aren't walking basketball encyclopedias, who is the Spire teammate you're referring to?

I like Queta a lot but I don't know if he's a serious NBA lob threat. I see him as more of an all-arounder at the 5 with good size like a Nurkic.

Sengun will be gone. I'd take whoever is there of Moody/Bouknight/Wagner/Kispert, unless someone surprising drops.

EvanZ wrote:Other than Giddey I could see them going a lot of different directions. BPA.

I kinda think LaMelo and Giddey would be a dope backcourt. Double down on size, BBIQ and versatility