Why do we even bother anymore?

[Robot Rock]

I've been thinking about this.

On-court failures aside, why do we bother rooting for this team? For me, I grew up liking them because of their colors, the mascot, proximity to my hometown and Muggsy. I stuck with them through Muggsy getting traded, Rice getting traded for Jones, Jones leaving, Shinn moving the team, the NBA choosing the wrong owner for the Bobcats, said owner gouging fans while putting an awful product on the court, the all-UNC draft, MJ taking over, the Tyrus Thomas trade, the Eddie Najera trade, Wallace getting traded for peanuts, the worst record in NBA history, MKG going 2nd overall, the name change, a couple playoff berths, the awful Marvin/Batum/MKG contracts, taking on Dwight's contract and now trading Dwight's contract for an even worse contract so we can trade Kemba for a bust and an even worse contract over a longer period of time. Does anyone here really believe we won't end up with Luol Deng and without a 2019 first by October?

Why should we even support this abomination anymore, when the front office seems to only see how much they can get away with while screwing the fans? They want you to buy season tickets so you can meet Rex Chapman at a draft party while he giggles under his breath that we just drafted Robert Williams and a couple of UNC rejects.

Should we be excited that we get to see MKG and Nic Batum in white throwback Hornets jerseys, with a roster so devoid of talent, cap space and potential that it makes us yearn for the 19-63 team of 1990? The team's future becomes more bleak with each passing month, let alone each underachieving season.

Are we fans just because being a Hornets fan automatically makes the rest of our lives that much better in comparison?

[tondi123]

Why support any NBA team unless you've got a top 5 player? If you don't, the odds of being relevant are somewhere between slim and none and the odds of actually winning a championship are basically zero. The NBA is more about angling for one of those top players than anything else because without them you're basically pissing in the wind. All the talk about this player or that pick is just noise if you don't have a Lebron, Curry, or Durant. Basically 26 teams are rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic every year because, whether they win 20 games or 50 games, they're not winning a championship without one of the top guys. Its certainly more fun to win 50 games and have the illusion of championship potential but that's all it is, a pleasant illusion.

[Marino]

I love the city I was born in, I love the team I grew up with. I love the memories I have as a child. The memories made with both my parents and now my wife. Sure the Hornets do a lot of dumb things and it looks bleak at times, but I will never turn my back on them.

[_tijo_]

You can take Bobcats off the uniform, but you can't take it away from their soul.

[amcoolio]

Golden State was in the same situation a decade ago. Just got to get better at drafting.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

I'm not a glass half-empty kind of guy and I don't think the FO is trying to screw over fans.

[Robot Rock]

Oh, I forgot. We get to host the All-Star Weekend with no Hornets players participating in anything. Sweet.

[Robot Rock]

I'm not a glass half-empty kind of guy and I don't think the FO is trying to screw over fans.

Well with their trades and picks they certainly don’t screw over other teams...

[yosemiteben]

Maybe you shouldn't? No one can answer this for you.

[MasterIchiro]

Without Dwight, the team is going to play more uptempo and move around the ball more.

With Cody, Hernangomez and Frank at center fans are going to enjoy watching the team more.

By trading Dwight, the front office is committing to the development of our young bigs.

Kupchak says Hornets will add to the backcourt or wing in the draft. I would expect the same commitment to development for Lamb and Monk along with pick 11 (Sexton or Miles Bridges).

On top of these exciting developments we can use the MLE to upgrade backup PG. Going from MCW to Napier is super exciting.

Cho is gone
Cliff is gone
Dwight is gone
MCW is gone

The worst is in the past.

[MasterIchiro]

Kemba - Napier
Lamb - Monk
Batum - MKG - Miles Bridges
Williams - Kaminsky - Miles Bridges
Zeller - Kaminsky - Hernangomez

[MasterIchiro]

After the draft, Kupchak will focus on moving MKG or Marvin. This opens up more minutes to develop Miles Bridges.

The team is doing exactly what I want to see. Develop around Kemba. Cut ties with poor fits and free minutes for young players.

[Chapelchilla]

I like the deal today. If we can retain Kemba and the young guys like Monk, Lamb, Frank, Willy and our draft pick actually get decent PT from Borrego next year, I think we can get back on the right track quickly. Dwight killed our morale and no back up PG for 2 years killed our bench. Those can be fixed now.

[HornetJail]

Losing Dwight is better for this team as long as Zeller is healthy. Cody is by FAR the better fit. We're likely a slightly better product on the floor after this move, less talent at the center position, but the others are allowed to play more freely. It's next summer that I'm now seriously worried about if we make no other moves. There has to be something else coming. I refuse to believe we just took on $17M in Mozgov for the **** of it.

[fatlever]

Get that being a Hornets fan feels hopeless at times. And the franchise is certainly done nothing since returning + 2000 + 4 to make us excited about the team for more than one year at a time. That being said I don't understand how the trade today can elicit such reaction. Yeah on paper it was a pretty terrible trade but we all know that watching Dwight was awful at times. The players certainly didn't like him and the front office certainly didn't like him. Clifford is gone and that's the only reason he was here. Whether we tank or try to make the seven seat again, this team will be a lot more enjoyable to watch without Dwight on the court.

Sent from my SM-G920V using RealGM mobile app

[Bassman]

I understand your frustration. Great summary of the many, many MANY bad moves, picks and screw ups.

I’ve been with The Hornets from the first rumors of a guy named Shinn saying he was going to try and get a franchise. Birth to now. Some great glory, but mostly struggles with stupid decision makers (Spencer Stolpen possibly the worst).

This deal is not among the worst...not hardly. Dittos to Master and others who correctly say it is addition by subtraction. More moves to follow I am sure. Getting this team to health is not going to be easy. I prefer decisive moves built on a sound strategy..whatever that requires. Let’s see how it plays out.

For better or worse, I am a Hornets fan forever.

[bes628]

I’m right there with you; idk why I even care anymore.

[Robot Rock]

Maybe you shouldn't? No one can answer this for you.

I wasn't personally asking you why. I was asking the group why any of us should care. Obviously, you have your reasons.

[yosemiteben]

Maybe you shouldn't? No one can answer this for you.

I wasn't personally asking you why. I was asking the group why any of us should care. Obviously, you have your reasons.

If you think everything is awful and it will only get worse such that it's not worth investing time and attention (if not dollars) on the team, just stop paying attention. I don't get the issue.

[Robot Rock]

Maybe you shouldn't? No one can answer this for you.

I wasn't personally asking you why. I was asking the group why any of us should care. Obviously, you have your reasons.

If you think everything is awful and it will only get worse such that it's not worth investing time and attention (if not dollars) on the team, just stop paying attention. I don't get the issue.

I don't want to leave you alone in here.