Officially Waived: The Kai Jones Thread

Post #101 » by **fatlever** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 4:17 am

mitch got his ajinca. 2023 g-league all-star.

GiggitySmalls · Post #102 » by **GiggitySmalls** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 4:26 am

This is great move by Mitch. We basically had a 2nd lottery pick.

geraldwallace · Post #103 » by **geraldwallace** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 4:52 am

fatlever wrote:mitch got his ajinca. 2023 g-league all-star.

Fatlever just not giving any love to the Hornets draft

KingCat · Post #104 » by **KingCat** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 4:55 am

JB's player development has been pretty good so far, buy Kai is gonna be his ultimate test. I don't wanna sound like a maniac by saying he has a superstar ceiling, but this is a 6'11 mobile big that has shown some solid bball skills despite only playing for like 4 years. Its been a long time since someone with this much potential has been in a Hornets jersey. Our long term future relies on how well we can develop Jones imo. I think we will already be a perennial playoff teamwith Miles/Bouk/Lamelo core, but Kai can raise that ceiling to a very high level I have a good feeling about him, a great feeling about our young core in general.

We have already come a long way from those 36-46 Kemba years.

Post #105 » by **BigSlam** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 4:58 am

I think he's either going to end up being a KG "lite" or an Anthony Randolph "what could have been".

I don't think there will be any middle ground.

But that's what a swing for the fences should be.

And the swing cost us a mid-late future 1st (maybe even just 2 x 2nd round picks). We didn't even take a swing that cost us a top 10 or top 5 pick.

That's awesome IMO.

MPM · Post #106 » by **MPM** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:34 pm

NBADraft Instant Analysis on Kai (B+):

"Jones is this year's annual bouncy, high-ceiling, low-floor big man prospect out of Texas. He played in a crowded front court these past two years and didn't have the same kinds of opportunities to showcase his skills compared to some other first-round picks, but Jones has as much upside as anyone in this draft. He plays with extremely high effort on both ends, and he flashes an intriguing face-up game for someone with his athleticism and length (9-2.5 standing reach). Jones has a way to go, but if he can even scratch his ceiling, his game could eventually resemble John Collins or Jaren Jackson Jr. Charlotte traded into this spot and Jones will have ample opportunities to showcase his skills for the frontcourt-challenged Hornets. EDIT: Bumping up his score just a little bit because of that incredible suit."

JMAC3 · Post #107 » by **JMAC3** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:37 pm

I think he ends up being a stretch 5 at 6-11 and elite athleticism. I think there is a small chance he really develops and becomes a guy who can play on the perimeter some, but I am not holding my breath on that one.

Overall I love the pick, thought it would have been a decent pick at 11.

Thought if we traded back with OKC it would of been a great pick.

To trade a heavily protected first for him to go along with Bouknight, I mean come on this has to be an A+

Post #108 » by **yosemiteben** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:46 pm

Read on Twitter

"Stellar stats"

Look, I'm excited we got him and am choosing to buy in, but come one now. Just under 9 points and 5 boards are not stellar stats.

MPM · Post #109 » by **MPM** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:52 pm

yosemiteben wrote:

Read on Twitter

"Stellar stats"

Look, I'm excited we got him and am choosing to buy in, but come one now. Just under 9 points and 5 boards are not stellar stats.

The annoying emoji is just the turd on top of the bitter cake. I love, love, love the Kai pick, but c'mon.

Post #110 » by **BigSlam** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:58 pm

yosemiteben wrote:"Stellar stats"

Look, I'm excited we got him and am choosing to buy in, but come one now. Just under 9 points and 5 boards are not stellar stats.

Yikes.

That takes a selection that I was really happy about and smacks the smell of desperation to try and get fans to buy in on it.

Don't treat us like idiots. That "stellar stats" jive talk is super insulting.

euphorbus · Post #111 » by **euphorbus** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 2:06 pm

KingCat wrote: It's been a long time since someone with this much potential has been in a Hornets jersey.

He does not have more potential than LaMelo Ball. Period.

Robot Rock · Post #112 » by **Robot Rock** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 2:20 pm

This is who I wanted, so I love it.

BlackOutBuzz · Post #113 » by **BlackOutBuzz** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 2:59 pm

yosemiteben wrote:

Read on Twitter

"Stellar stats"

Look, I'm excited we got him and am choosing to buy in, but come one now. Just under 9 points and 5 boards are not stellar stats.

Lol I saw that tweet. Feels like it's just inviting scrutiny by encouraging people to ignore context.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

LofJ · Post #114 » by **LofJ** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 4:09 pm

I've mentioned this before, but for some strange reason guys whose names start with K or L tend to do pretty well in the NBA.

Klay Thompson
Kevin Durant
Luka Doncic
Lebron James
Kyrie Irving
Kris Middleton
Kemba Walker
Kevin Love
Kyle Lowry
LaMelo Ball
Karl Towns
Kawhi Leonard

You have some busts like Kevin Knox and Kris Dunn, but the hit rate is good.

Post #115 » by **BigSlam** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 4:11 pm

LofJ wrote:I've mentioned this before, but for some strange reason guys whose names start with K or L tend to do pretty well in the NBA.

Klay Thompson
Kevin Durant
Luka Doncic
Lebron James
Kyrie Irving
Kris Middleton
Kemba Walker
Kevin Love
Lyle Lowry
LaMelo Ball
Karl Towns
Kawhi Leonard

You have some busts like Kevin Knox and Kris Dunn, but the hit rate is good.

Parents should have nammed that hack Kdam Korrison.

Post #116 » by **BigSlam** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 4:58 pm

The Trade

Charlotte Hornets Receive: No. 19 (Kai Jones)

New York Knicks Receive: 2022 first-round pick (top-18 protection)

Grades

Hornets: A+

Surrendering a future first-rounder initially seemed like a cringey decision by the Hornets. They have LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward and some other nice players, but they're not guaranteed to be smack-you-in-the-face good for at least the next couple of seasons.

Then the protections came in, per ESPN's Bobby Marks:

2022: Top-18 protection

2023: Top-16 protection

2024: Lottery protection

2025: Lottery protection

Charlotte won't have to fork over a lottery pick no matter what happens. That's huge.

So too is the selection of Kai Jones.

The 20-year-old big man is incredibly raw, but the Hornets needn't be in any rush, despite what the inclusion of a future first-rounder implies. Mason Plumlee can handle primary-big minutes for the next two seasons, and head coach James Borrego has a propensity for small-ball lineups.

Jones will have time to work on his game in a pressure-free role and in the G League. The potential payoff for the Hornets is monstrous. His skill set tantalizes at both ends. He has a chance to be an all-time rim-runner and someone who defends like he's a small-ball 5 without actually sacrificing size.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2946559-grading-the-biggest-trades-from-wild-nba-draft-day

Post #117 » by **BigSlam** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 5:01 pm

Doesn't mean he's going to amount to anything as a basketball player, but I really like listening to Kai speak.

He seems like a genuinely nice, engaging, intelligent and well spoken kid.

Liver_Pooty · Post #118 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 5:03 pm

BigSlam wrote:Doesn't mean he's going to amount to anything as a basketball player, but I really like listening to Kai speak.

He seems like a genuinely nice, engaging, intelligent and well spoken kid.

He sounded great in the press conference. Can tell he's a genuine good dude.

Post #119 » by **BigSlam** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 5:21 pm

Looks like Kai is going with #23.

geraldwallace · Post #120 » by **geraldwallace** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 5:21 pm

Kai Jones shot 75% at the rim last season