Rays Pompadour wrote:Okay, reports (not rumors) have Minnesota and Golden State wanting to trade out of #1 and #2. Curiously, there are no reports or rumors of Charlotte wanting to do anything similar. That could be excellent corporate discipline, or it could be that the Hornets value #3 more than we free traders might like or want. I suspect the latter...and here's why:
If the top three draft prospects are all virtually the same, meaning that each have big potential but also big warts, then it becomes an eye-of-the-beholder thing. And, so without a true #1 or #2, #3 becomes a defacto #1 pick. That's not cause to crow in such a mediocre draft, but it does point to how the Hornets might value their pick. For the first time in a long while, Charlotte might be able to get a #1 draft pick at #3. And if teams lower in the draft aren't willing to pay up for #1 or #2, they certainly aren't going to pay #1 pick value for #3.
Therefore, whomever is there at #3, Wiseman, Edwards or Ball, the Hornets will select that player and not trade back. A darkhorse is Deni Avdija, but I think the best shot Charlotte has in hitting a home run at #3 is with those three main guys.
If teams trade up for LaMelo and Ball 1-2, I believe we take Avdija. If Edwards and Avdija are gone, Kupchak may take Toppin over LaMelo, Wiseman and Okongwu. Heads would explode but there it is.
