2025 Preseason Thread

[GoBobs]

Article on Hornets SI stating the obvious; Tiddy is not ready to be a contributor on a team trying to stretch for growth and a playoff spot. Author suggests others who should get those minutes, but none of them play PF. I agree he needs a G-League season, but who else can really play the 4 spot behind Miles until Williams is back?

https://www.si.com/nba/hornets/news/hornets-should-embrace-difficult-decision-concerning-tidjane-salaun

Liam is an option, it will be interesting to see who gets more minutes between him and Salaun this year. My wild card is Kon though. He has a solid base and plays physical. I can see him being able to play the 2, 3, and mabye a little 4. Playing up a position will make it easier for him to stay in front on D and he can utilize the strength which he already has.

[fatlever]

jpete made a mistake by not addressing backup pf knowing grant was coming off acl and tiddy was clearly not ready
sion/liam - one of which (the pick) should have been used to draft or acquire a pf or move pick for future pick to open roster spot for free agent pf
never understood the sion pick (outside of owner being huge fan of his) or drafting 4 rookies on full deals
okogie could have filled as emergency pf ahead of tiddy. okogie has the girth/strength if desperate. oh well...
maybe drew peterson (seems more of a sf) can play 4, but hes done nothing in preseason
liam isnt really an option, unless were going super small ball
that leaves miller (who doesnt have the strength or rebounding)
or move moose to pf (but that puts mason back in rotation, equally bad option)

sadly, theres no good options behind miles until grant returns. poor roster management. we're stuck with tiddy playing 10-15 mins a night.

hopefully we can use pats expiring (plus assets?) to trade for a pf

pat + tiddy + picks for ????

[JohnnyKILLroy]

Who starts at center? Please and thanks for fantasy purposes

[HornetJail]

Who starts at center? Please and thanks for fantasy purposes

we don't know for sure, but the fair assumption should be that Moussa Diabate puts up the best stats. I wouldn't expect any of our center options to be particularly great fantasy options

[JohnnyKILLroy]

Who starts at center? Please and thanks for fantasy purposes

we don't know for sure, but the fair assumption should be that Moussa Diabate puts up the best stats. I wouldn't expect any of our center options to be particularly great fantasy options

Thanks

Looking for a third center who’ll get minutes low end double double with some defensive stats. I drafted Wemby and Sengun. I took a flyer on Kalkbrenner with my last pick. Since I’m here I’m also considering dropping kalbremner for Kon I think Kon will be more valuable but I don’t really need guard stats although a guy that bombs 3s and is a smart player is always nice to have too

[HornetJail]

Who starts at center? Please and thanks for fantasy purposes

we don't know for sure, but the fair assumption should be that Moussa Diabate puts up the best stats. I wouldn't expect any of our center options to be particularly great fantasy options

Thanks

Looking for a third center who’ll get minutes low end double double with some defensive stats. I drafted Wemby and Sengun. I took a flyer on Kalkbrenner with my last pick. Since I’m here I’m also considering dropping kalbremner for Kon I think Kon will be more valuable but I don’t really need guard stats although a guy that bombs 3s and is a smart player is always nice to have too

yeah idk if either rookie is going to be a big fantasy guy but Kon will definitely get minutes early on. If I had more faith in Lee, I'd say that Kalk would get immediate 15-20mpg but we've been burned by too many coaches deciding to lean on Mason Plumlee.

[JohnnyKILLroy]

we don't know for sure, but the fair assumption should be that Moussa Diabate puts up the best stats. I wouldn't expect any of our center options to be particularly great fantasy options

Thanks

Looking for a third center who’ll get minutes low end double double with some defensive stats. I drafted Wemby and Sengun. I took a flyer on Kalkbrenner with my last pick. Since I’m here I’m also considering dropping kalbremner for Kon I think Kon will be more valuable but I don’t really need guard stats although a guy that bombs 3s and is a smart player is always nice to have too

yeah idk if either rookie is going to be a big fantasy guy but Kon will definitely get minutes early on. If I had more faith in Lee, I'd say that Kalk would get immediate 15-20mpg but we've been burned by too many coaches deciding to lean on Mason Plumlee.

Ha - Plumlee forcing coaches hands for a decade now. I also worry about how many guys on the Hornets need the ball in their hands. Kon might be perfect for that. I hope you guys are healthy this year. Fingers crossed. Good vibes

[fatlever]

Read on Twitter

@ZachLowe_NBA
: "Collin Sexton is undersized to play the 2, defensively. He is a score-first guard, hybrid guard. He might be best as a sixth man, but he plays f-cking hard on both ends of the floor, all the time. He is not a defensive liability because he doesn't see the game on that end or doesn't compete on that end. He fights for rebounds. He fights around screens. He's a fearless, balls-to-the-wall player that I've always enjoyed watching, and I think he's going to help this team as long as he's on it. I think he's the kind of player they need. I'm excited for that."

@RobMahoney
: "I think there's something about how LaMelo (Ball) experiences the game. Is it all spiraling loops and convoluted paths? He takes a route through navigating playmaking that other players don't. Collin Sexton is a straight f-cking line all the time. There's a complementary aspect to that, a yin-yang dynamic. I don't know if it will work in basketball terms or if there will be enough defense between them. We'll have to see how it plays out. But I like the experiment of pairing LaMelo with someone who is so direct at doing the things LaMelo wants to be a little cuter about."

[Bassman]

“ But I like the experiment of pairing LaMelo with someone who is so direct at doing the things LaMelo wants to be a little cuter about."

Yep is that Sexton as Mahoney suggests? I’d start him with Melo for sure. Dynamic, experienced and can get hot as a match offensively. Kon is the OTHER straight man I think they pair with him at times. The question is…can Melo play with enough discipline to channel his inner child when needed?