Hornets worst shooting team in NBA? What to do...

[MasterIchiro]

CBS Sports Sam Vicene wrote an interesting article about the current state of the Hornets and their shooting woes.

It's not an exaggeration to call this the worst shooting team in the NBA last season. They finished last in the NBA in 3-point field-goal percentage, were second-to-last in overall field-goal percentage and true-shooting percentage, third-to-last in offensive rating, and in the bottom quarter of the league in 3-point field goal attempts. Only the 76ers rivaled their offensive ineptitude last year.

So what is the remedy for that? More shooting and a greater ability to space the floor. This team needs to find a wing that can consistently knock down shots above the 37 percent clip from deep in order to create space for the attacking Kemba Walker...

Devin Booker is recommended as part of the solution:

Booker is the best shooter available in the draft, which means the Hornets need to give him a serious look. He'd be a perfect fit next to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Walker, who really need shooting around them to continue to develop. He'd also help Jefferson a lot as well, as he'd allow him more operate in the paint. He'd be a slight reach here, but one that could potentially improve them next year.

He sums up with a warning and I talked about it last season. With Big Al and possibly Hendo opting in, the Hornets may very well enter next season with nearly the exact same roster and thus the exact same struggles. Team flexibility is severely limited.

He suggests:

Maybe they can move one of their many frontcourt pieces for an extra first round pick? One thing is clear: this roster can't look like what it currently does come September. If it does, the team is in some trouble.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25216271/hornets-draft-needs-devin-booker-could-help-teams-shooting-woes

[mrknowitall215]

There's so many solutions to fix this problem that I've iterated on too many occasions to account for at this point. There's no one player that's going to fix the shooting woes. It has to be a series of events, starting with changing the scenery of the common denominators at the wing position that are expendable one piece at a time

[MasterIchiro]

starting with changing the scenery of the common denominators at the wing position that are expendable one piece at a time

Does that mean MKG is on the table for you? Does it concern you that he did not attempt a 3 PT-shot thus he is part of the problem?

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

Big picture, you are correct MasterIchiro. The team needs to improve shooting in the worst way. I'm just not sure that one guy can really change the "worst shooting team in the NBA" by himself, especially if he is the youngest rookie in his class. I'll add that if he is the guy picked and it turns out that Booker's only skill really is shooting then he isn't going to be able to stay on the floor long, and the team would have been better off to draft a more athletic guy with a slightly worse shot.

Here is my big picture thought

Coaching - Team needs an offensive overhaul in the worst way. Whatever is implemented it needs to use corner threes and put the guys actually on the roster in the spots where they shoot 3s the best. Even if there are only marginal 3 point threats on the roster it's on the coach to try to give them the best opportunity for success. Cliff didn't do that last season. Our shooters also need some playing time, even if it's hurting the team somewhere else. We can't have sharpshooters - such as Booker - rotting on the bench even if they haven't 'paid their dues' or some such. If the roster has talent it needs to be used.

PG - Kemba has range but is inefficient. Roberts has had some good shooting seasons, but not here - points to misuse IMHO.
SG - PJ and Daniels can both shoot, really the issue is Gerald as a starter.
SF - MKG ... let's just hope that his range keeps getting better, but he's too good overall to take off the floor.
PF - There was talk about Zeller taking corner 3s and Vonleh can supposedly shoot. We need to find out if they can. Marvin just needs to be used better off the bench.
C - Al can make mid-range shots. IMHO we need to look into letting him do that from time to time and not have a one dimensional post game from him. Hawes has range. Biz needs to be on the floor with shooters.

Again, MHO, but tweaking the "pure Cliff offense" and replacing Gerald with a shooter would be good first steps. Zeller and Vonleh need to show development. Hawes may be part of the solution here.

But I'm not so sure that picking Booker is the answer. He's the best shooter, but Oubre or Johnson might be better long term fits and your link mentions them both. However the best solution might be trading for SG. You've been all over Mayo in the fake trade thread, but honestly I would rather see if the team could get Kevin Martin from the T-Wolves. I'm not even opposed to Lamb at this point. It's just that the reality of the situation is that Cliff prefers vets and most rookies these days do take time to develop, especially if they are young.

[yosemiteben]

Booker is going to be about as impactful next season for whoever drafts him as McDermott was for the Bulls.

[catch20two]

Booker is going to be about as impactful next season for whoever drafts him as McDermott was for the Bulls.

And the choir sings AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMENNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.

[Eoghan]

Fire Cho.

[MasterIchiro]

SF - MKG ... let's just hope that his range keeps getting better, but he's too good overall to take off the floor.

I would argue MKG, having not attempted a 3 and allowing defenses to pack the paint or swarm Kemba, is part of the shooting/spacing issues that made the Hornets offense among the worst in the league along with teams like the Sixers.

I would argue he's too obsolete on the perimeter to leave him on the floor.

A draft pick would be part of the solution. I've stated in another thread I'm willing to wait for Booker to develop as he's only 18.

Another part of the solution might be to trade Vonleh or Zeller for an additional pick as the author suggests.

[mrknowitall215]

starting with changing the scenery of the common denominators at the wing position that are expendable one piece at a time

Does that mean MKG is on the table for you? Does it concern you that he did not attempt a 3 PT-shot thus he is part of the problem?

I think they need to find a way to get rid of Henderson first, and that's been my stance for 3 (to 5) years now. I think we've seen that the offense could be above average in a case study of CDR filling in & acting as a prototype SG the prior year

Reason why I wouldn't put MKG on the table is because I think he's proven that he's everything but expendable to this team. That's not to say that MKG being expendable (or anyone else on the roster for that matter) isn't subject to change, but as of right now he's probably has the most floor impact of any player on the team since defense is the only identity that could stick to the roster's shtick. It does concern me that MKG did not attempt a 3-pointer and I look forward to seeing him show confidence in that aspect of his game. I know people that have ran open gym runs with him last summer, and they said that he was confidently attempting and making 3-pointers out to 27 feet, but I wouldn't have a legitimate answer to why that hasn't translated other than lack of confidence

[MasterIchiro]

starting with changing the scenery of the common denominators at the wing position that are expendable one piece at a time

Does that mean MKG is on the table for you? Does it concern you that he did not attempt a 3 PT-shot thus he is part of the problem?

I think they need to find a way to get rid of Henderson first, and that's been my stance for 3 (to 5) years now. I think we've seen that the offense could be above average in a case study of CDR filling in & acting as a prototype SG the prior year

Reason why I wouldn't put MKG on the table is because I think he's proven that he's everything but expendable to this team. That's not to say that MKG being expendable (or anyone else on the roster for that matter) isn't subject to change, but as of right now he's probably has the most floor impact of any player on the team since defense is the only identity that could stick to the roster's shtick. It does concern me that MKG did not attempt a 3-pointer and I look forward to seeing him show confidence in that aspect of his game. I know people that have ran open gym runs with him last summer, and they said that he was confidently attempting and making 3-pointers out to 27 feet, but I wouldn't have a legitimate answer to why that hasn't translated other than lack of confidence

Might be confidence, but he knows his mechanics erratic. When he did have the confidence or when he did take shots near the 3-pt line he really bricked them and showed poor accuracy. If I had his form, I would lack confidence as well. If his form improves I think his confidence would follow but I'm not confident his form will improve. Could the Warriors have won with MKG in place of Iggy? Could they have carried a player who simply would pass up open 3's allowing defenses to swarm Steph Curry?

[Liver_Pooty]

If Henderson opts out I'd take a long hard look at bringing JR Smith in here. He is one dumb son of a bitch, but he can at least shoot.

[yosemiteben]

I wouldn't have a legitimate answer to why that hasn't translated other than lack of confidence

Probably the same reason that Cody hasn't.

I think it's pretty obvious that Cliff did not give them the green light. They seem like the type to buy 100% into whatever they are told their roles are, and through this past season they seem to have been told do not attempt threes.

Cliff in his post-season presser seemed to essentially confirm that when he said it was time to transition to Cody taking threes. There's no way Cliff told him he should be doing that during the season or Cody would have.

[mrknowitall215]

Could the Warriors have won with MKG in place of Iggy? Could they have carried a player who simply would pass up open 3's allowing defenses to swarm Steph Curry?

I don't know if the Warriors could've beat the Cavaliers with MKG in place of Andre Iguodala, but I'm sure they could've won with MKG in place of Harrison Barnes. Kerr played the right mismatches to defeat Cleveland after he started making adjustments beyond Game 3. Keep in mind while shading LeBron that the Cavaliers played 10-15 feet off Iguodala & Livingston to shade Curry throughout the series. Iguodala just happened to make them pay for it a few times

[MasterIchiro]

If Henderson opts out I'd take a long hard look at bringing JR Smith in here. He is one dumb son of a bitch, but he can at least shoot.

Smith, Mayo, Gordon, Martin, Lamb, JJ - all options.

[MasterIchiro]

Could the Warriors have won with MKG in place of Iggy? Could they have carried a player who simply would pass up open 3's allowing defenses to swarm Steph Curry?

I don't know if the Warriors could've beat the Cavaliers with MKG in place of Andre Iguodala, but I'm sure they could've won with MKG in place of Harrison Barnes. Kerr played the right mismatches to defeat Cleveland after he started making adjustments beyond Game 3. Keep in mind while shading LeBron that the Cavaliers played 10-15 feet off Iguodala & Livingston to shade Curry throughout the series. Iguodala just happened to make them pay for it a few times

If they gave that 10-15 feet to MKG he wouldn't be able to make them pay like Iggy or Barnes or Livingston. They shaded Curry but those guys were able to make them pay.

[pellom]

If Henderson opts out I'd take a long hard look at bringing JR Smith in here. He is one dumb son of a bitch, but he can at least shoot.

Smith, Mayo, Gordon, Martin, Lamb, JJ - all options.

Would rather save some money and try to get Belinelli.

[mrknowitall215]

If Henderson opts out I'd take a long hard look at bringing JR Smith in here. He is one dumb son of a bitch, but he can at least shoot.

I would've been behind this opinion had we not already had Hairston on the roster. I was interested in J.R. Smith & Nick Young for this team yesteryear, but nowadays I think they need less erratic basketball and more consistency to make up for the shortcomings

[MasterIchiro]

If Henderson opts out I'd take a long hard look at bringing JR Smith in here. He is one dumb son of a bitch, but he can at least shoot.

I would've been behind this opinion had we not already had Hairston on the roster. I was interested in J.R. Smith & Nick Young for this team yesteryear, but nowadays I think they need less erratic basketball and more consistency to make up for the shortcomings

PJ is incredibly erratic. Wish we had Hood instead. PJ is not part of the solution imo.

[mrknowitall215]

Could the Warriors have won with MKG in place of Iggy? Could they have carried a player who simply would pass up open 3's allowing defenses to swarm Steph Curry?

I don't know if the Warriors could've beat the Cavaliers with MKG in place of Andre Iguodala, but I'm sure they could've won with MKG in place of Harrison Barnes. Kerr played the right mismatches to defeat Cleveland after he started making adjustments beyond Game 3. Keep in mind while shading LeBron that the Cavaliers played 10-15 feet off Iguodala & Livingston to shade Curry throughout the series. Iguodala just happened to make them pay for it a few times

If they gave that 10-15 feet to MKG he wouldn't be able to make them pay like Iggy or Barnes or Livingston. They shaded Curry but those guys were able to make them pay.

Barnes also couldn't make a layup, which is a area in which MKG excels at. Also, I don't think Livingston made a 3-pointer in the series, that's if he even dared to attempt one

[Liver_Pooty]

If Henderson opts out I'd take a long hard look at bringing JR Smith in here. He is one dumb son of a bitch, but he can at least shoot.

I would've been behind this opinion had we not already had Hairston on the roster. I was interested in J.R. Smith & Nick Young for this team yesteryear, but nowadays I think they need less erratic basketball and more consistency to make up for the shortcomings

I'd be thrilled if Hairston was as good as Smith is right now. Thats not saying much, but its the truth.