2020 Pre-Draft Discussion

[Hornet Mania]

This seems like the ultimate crap shoot draft.

It might not be a popular opinion, but I'm highly skeptical that the projected top 3 of Edwards/Wiseman/Ball is more than ESPN fluff. My suspicion is that ESPN picked the three most recognizable names and by default those are the top 3 and only guys they were going to discuss during the lotto proceedings.

As I've looked over draft breakdowns the past few months everyone seems to be all over the place with their evaluations. I've seen guys like Hayes as high as #1 and low as #10, Wiseman has also been really low depending on who you ask, sometimes Toppin in the top 3, basically no one seems to have anything close to a consensus. The actual opinions of teams around the league most likely vary dramatically not only from ESPN but also from each other. That's normal to some extent but I think it's more true than ever with this mystery class.

I just hope that whoever we pick ends up being great. I do think this draft will produce at least a few really good players but it's hard for me to feel confident with any specific predictions. Right now I lean slightly towards Wiseman due to our needs and his pedigree, but I think Halliburton and Hayes have real potential to be the Booker/Mitchell types of this draft who fall to 10ish and end up being excellent.

Ball has the highest bust potential imo, maybe I'm just biased due to his brother but I don't want to get hooked by that family's hype a second time. I thought Lonzo would fix his shot eventually and it never happened, I expect the same with Lamelo.

[MasterIchiro]

We are owed a superstar by the Cho Gods.

None of us knows who Kupchak covets most but I think most of us trust he will make the right pick.

Me personally, hard to ignore Toppin's combination of high floor with All-Star ceiling. Superstar centers are a thing of the past, so Wiseman is not high up for me. Edwards will be gone in my opinion. And I think the Warriors with their window will trade out. Ball has superstar potential but I think he will be gone #2 via trade.

That leaves Kupchak to sort through Wiseman, Toppin, Haliburton, Avdija and maybe Hayes.

If Ball falls to #3 and Kupchak grabs him, I think he fits nicely with Graham, Rozier and Monk. And I hope if this happens he becomes a superstar. To me he's the one with the highest ceiling. His floor is scary but I will defer to Kupchak.

[BigSlam]

We should take your guy Cole Anthony at #3.


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[MasterIchiro]

I can see the Bulls offering Lauri + 4 for 2 + 31. Lauri is a win-now player who will never be a franchise player the Bulls need as a bedrock. But Ball could be that foundational player the Bulls have coveted since Rose's injury. The Warriors could then select either Toppin or Wiseman at 4 as one of them will likely be there.

Just my opinion.

[MasterIchiro]

We should take your guy Cole Anthony at #3.


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Anthony was my guy preseason and after the first game as it confirmed his talent. I think we all change targets because prospects perform erratically and inconsistently.

We're all perfectly eligible to shift positions prior to the draft.

My guy is Toppin.

But again, Kupchak is a total boss and I'm one of the fans who trusts him and I trust him a hell of a lot more than Chode.

[UNCNYC]

if we are to keep our pick (which I hope we do not) I would take

Hayes
Ball
Haliburton
Dotson

Thats it in that order. No other players need apply if we keep out 2 pick

Why would you want our pick to be traded?

I would LOVE our pick to be traded.
Given this draft is kinda weak as far as obvious players go, it would be a great opportunity for us to acquire some future
assets.
I would much rather trade back to 8 this year with a team like NY and throw in our 56th pick
(we might can get away with throwing in pick number 56 and keeping 32)
and acquire their 8th pick and 2 lottery protected 1st picks in return

With pick 3 They take Ball and acquire pick 56.

With pick 8 we take anyone of - Hayes, Hiliburton, Okongwu, Dotson, Nnaji, Bey, etc... (if we are lucky enough to have them fall)

With pick 32 - We take one of -

Devon Dotson, Tyrell Terry
Leandro Balmoro, Josh Green, EliJah Huges, Bey
JaDen McDaniels, Jalen Smtih, Saddiq Bey
Nnaji,

or if we keep 56 we acquire one of

PG - Malachi Flynn, Skylar Mays, Yam Mador, Myles Powell
SG - Karin Mane, Ty'shon Alexander, Mason Jones, Nate Hinton
SF - CJ Elleby, Abdoulaye Ndoye, Jay Scrubb, Isaiah Mike
PF - LaMar Stevens,
C - Kaleb Wesson, Reggie Perry, Daniel Oturu

New realistic roster - with players added in....

Graham / Martin
Rozier / Martin / Monk
Bridges / Batum
PJ / McDaniels
Zeller / Biz

and we acquire 2 future lottery protected 1st rounders.

[BigSlam]

There seems to be a lot of really good looking shooting guards in the 2021 draft class.

Guys who have really well rounded and high skill sets in all the primary categories: shooting/scoring, facilitating and also defending.

They also have really good measurables.


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[UNCNYC]

I know what we can do that would BREAK THE LOTTERY.

We can trade our 3rd pick to the Knicks for 2 future 1st rounders and their 8th pick

Then if possible we trade pick 8 for a teams 15th or so pick this year and a future 1st rounders

So after all said and done we turn our 3rd pick into 3 future lottery protected 1st rounders and pick 15th or so this year

[Hornet Mania]

I know what we can do that would BREAK THE LOTTERY.

We can trade our 3rd pick to the Knicks for 2 future 1st rounders and their 8th pick

Then if possible we trade pick 8 for a teams 15th or so pick this year and a future 1st rounders

So after all said and done we turn our 3rd pick into 3 future lottery protected 1st rounders and pick 15th or so this year

My go-to strategy on 2K is also to just trade down as many times as possible when the draft is weak and acquire 2-4 future picks.

I have always been somewhat curious if you could swing that in reality (setting aside concerns about job security). I would want lighter protection though. I know you love late picks UNCNYC but I'd be hoping for mid/late lotto picks as the best-case for this sort of 'trade our present for our future' strategy.

It has always struck me as the sort of thing that might work for a few years and create a nice window of advantage but would eventually be litigated out of the game with a rule change if it did.

[UNCNYC]

I know what we can do that would BREAK THE LOTTERY.

We can trade our 3rd pick to the Knicks for 2 future 1st rounders and their 8th pick

Then if possible we trade pick 8 for a teams 15th or so pick this year and a future 1st rounders

So after all said and done we turn our 3rd pick into 3 future lottery protected 1st rounders and pick 15th or so this year

My go-to strategy on 2K is also to just trade down as many times as possible when the draft is weak and acquire 2-4 future picks.

I have always been somewhat curious if you could swing that in reality (setting aside concerns about job security). I would want lighter protection though. I know you love late picks UNCNYC but I'd be hoping for mid/late lotto picks as the best-case for this sort of 'trade our present for our future' strategy.

It has always struck me as the sort of thing that might work for a few years and create a nice window of advantage but would eventually be litigated out of the game with a rule change if it did.

Good to see a fellow trade backer lol. While I understand the concern of potential drawbacks due to changes made all we can do is live in the current and swing for the fences while getting on base at the same time... If we were to trade down and draft well I think in the long run we would become some of those teams like Boston and New Orleans who stay having draft picks and potentially surpass them. I think a guy like Zeke Nnaji would be great with assets thrown in over a guy like Wiseman without. I actually like Zeke better than Wiseman even without any assets at all...

as far as getting lottery picks instead of protected in return that would be hard so I try to plan for the worse and hope for the best.

[BlackOutBuzz]

Kinda like the NFL Draft, it feels like the NBA draft really "starts" at 3. Ball and Edwards - like Burrow and Young - are in their own tier, so if either falls to 3 they should go no further. But more likely, we've got the first pick in a tier of 5-7 players.

I've kinda soured on Wiseman, though it's not really his fault. It's just hard for a pure 5 to be a real impact player in the league today. As far as bigs go, Toppin has the most star upside - and maybe that's the direction we should go - but I can't help but be intrigued by Okongwu's versatility and Bam-like skillset. But again, not crazy about taking a big top 3.

We're probably too high for the next tier of wings: Avdija, Okoro, or the Seminole twins.

I really like Haliburton, in fact I was worried he wouldn't be there if we ended up 8-12. But after moving into the top 4, it feels a little high for the guy firmly entrenched as the number 3 guard. Feels like he's destined to go 5-7, so never really in our range.

All that said, I think Hayes might be the guy. Roster fit be damned, we don't have that luxury. Maybe we can still trade Rozier to the Knicks, but even if we don't trade him Hayes has the size to play the big guard in small lineups. And he's plenty talented enough to be the 3rd pick.

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[SWedd523]

What happened to that RJ Hampton kid. I liked what I was seeing from him before the world ended

[UNCNYC]

I am a fan of Balls.

Anyone?

Anyone?




Anyone???


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Lol, I appreciate the occasional humor I find on this board. It's never over-done, but just enough to keep the brotherhood. . One of the many things I love about you guys. I guess you can say it's better than the lack of humor which I have unfortunately contributed too here as of late due to just being focused on being a bootleg GM lol.

[LofJ]

I'm trying to not get too attached to any of Wiseman, Edwards, or Ball (who I'm trying to give a chance) because there's no telling who will go top 2. I wouldn't be shocked if the Warriors picked any of the above 3 or traded out, they are a true wildcard.

[BigSlam]

I've kinda soured on Wiseman, though it's not really his fault. It's just hard for a pure 5 to be a real impact player in the league today.

Agreed - unless the pure 5 (7 footer) has great mobility/agility along with range on his J - which Wiseman has (I think??)

but I can't help but be intrigued by Okongwu's versatility and Bam-like skillset. But again, not crazy about taking a big top 3.

I'd have thought that Okongwu is more the concern, because he is undersized and lacks a jump shot?

[James Gatz]

Been off the forums for a while but wanted to stop back in with us getting 3.

For me, Ball would be my top choice. I don't think he'll be available at 3 though. I really don't want Wiseman. All the draft nerds I follow are really out on him. If we're getting a big I'd rather have Okongwu.

Hornets Preferences:

Tier 1
Ball

Tier 2
Edwards
Hayes
Okongwu

[Liver_Pooty]

What would you guys think about trading the pick for Beal?

[BigSlam]

What would you guys think about trading the pick for Beal?

I think it gets Washington out of salary cap hell - so we should be getting an asset back and not giving an asset up, especially not an asset as much as a top 3 pick.

[Liver_Pooty]

What would you guys think about trading the pick for Beal?

I think it gets Washington out of salary cap hell - so we should be getting an asset back and not giving an asset up, especially not an asset as much as a top 3 pick.

Getting arguably the best 2 guard in the league is a pretty good asset to get back. I dont think I'd do it, but I can see conversations happening

[UNCNYC]

What would you guys think about trading the pick for Beal?

I love the idea. We are already somewhat of a veteran team and Beal could make us a team on the level of a Utah or Suns, type of team. I think that would be a good move. I also could see him resigning here