Grade The Draft

[JDR720]

James Bouknight (11th)
Kai Jones (19th)
JT Thor (37th)
? (56th)

[JDR720]

I went with a B. This is 100% a boom or bust draft though. Very different from Mitch's previous drafts.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

B - I'm super hopeful about Bouknight, but I still feel like Moody was the correct pick there. Kai is like found money at 19, but I'm not sure that I would have picked both him and Thor. Every single pick is like a major bet on the player development staff.

[amcoolio]

B+.

Bouknight is a player you take at 11 every time in my opinion. He is very reiminesnent of Jamal Murray and Devin Booker if he can get his shot to fall. He has incredible driving to the rim with both hands potential and the ability to shake players.

I don't get taking two long term projects at 19 and 37. I would have prefered Jackson and Thor, or Jones and Bassey. Clearly Mitch and the team sees something in Kai Jones, and he has been making good draft picks since he got here so we will see.

[JDR720]

I wouldn't have picked both Kai and Thor. Maybe 1 but not both.

They both project to be the same type of player, one is just 3 years away while the other is 5 years away. Would've preferred a 3&D player or a PG at one or both picks.

[SWedd523]

I wouldn't have picked both Kai and Thor. Maybe 1 but not both.

They both project to be the same type of player, one is just 3 years away while the other is 5 years away. Would've preferred a 3&D player or a PG at one or both picks.

Agreed. I'd have targeted someone to replace Devonte or a wing shooter for depth. I don't see any way they carry all of Kai, Thor, Carey, and Richards moving forward. Somebody is getting cut and somebody is being stuck in Gboro. All of them need a ton of development so maybe this is just their way of throwing darts at the board and hoping for a bullseye. Maybe they see Thor and/or Kai as potential 3/4 guys competing against PJ? Who knows.

Borrego and Co. definitely have their hands full with so many young guys. Almost makes me think they're gearing up to make a consolidation trade for an established vet

[yosemiteben]

In the last two drafts we drafted Vern, traded back up to draft Nic Richards, traded back into the 1st to draft Kai Jones, and used a trade up early 2nd to get Thor.

Mitch saying **** this, I'm getting my future big or will die trying.

[Braggins]

I would have much preferred Sengun, Moody, or Jalen Johnson over Bouknight, but I don't hate Bouknight. I'd probably rate that pick a C.

I really wish they took Garuba, Johnson, or Jackson over Kai. Absolutely hated that pick, but there is at least an outside chance of some boom potential (just don't see any reason to be confident that will be the case). Im inclined to give this one a straight up F considering the players that were picked immediately after him.

I like Thor fine at 37, but I can't give too much credit for an ok 2nd round pick.

Overall I'd probably grade the draft like a D+.

[Braggins]

I don't see any way they carry all of Kai, Thor, Carey, and Richards moving forward. Somebody is getting cut and somebody is being stuck in Gboro. All of them need a ton of development so maybe this is just their way of throwing darts at the board and hoping for a bullseye. Maybe they see Thor and/or Kai as potential 3/4 guys competing against PJ? Who knows.

Richards looks like a complete dud and Vern is probably destined for another year in Gboro, so I think its fine. Throwing darts at the board is the right analogy.

[JDR720]

I wouldn't have picked both Kai and Thor. Maybe 1 but not both.

They both project to be the same type of player, one is just 3 years away while the other is 5 years away. Would've preferred a 3&D player or a PG at one or both picks.

Agreed. I'd have targeted someone to replace Devonte or a wing shooter for depth. I don't see any way they carry all of Kai, Thor, Carey, and Richards moving forward. Somebody is getting cut and somebody is being stuck in Gboro. All of them need a ton of development so maybe this is just their way of throwing darts at the board and hoping for a bullseye. Maybe they see Thor and/or Kai as potential 3/4 guys competing against PJ? Who knows.

Borrego and Co. definitely have their hands full with so many young guys. Almost makes me think they're gearing up to make a consolidation trade for an established vet

I'd figure Richards is done.

JT and Kai, especially JT, will spend a year or two with the Swarm. Carey fits nicely with them both though, I think he sticks around.

[Roll Tide 09]

I’ll give this draft an A. The picks I give a B. The attempt to try and make a meaningful trade I give an A. The direction of the franchise I give an A. So again, overall I give it an A.


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[Roll Tide 09]

Richards should be gone. And in a perfect world, if Washington doesn’t figure out something by the next trade deadline, he should be gone as well.


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[SWedd523]

Bouknight and Kai were my favorite Guard and Big in our draft range, respectively.

I have very high hopes for Bouknight to fill that scorer/secondary ballhandler role to Melo that we've desperately needed for some time. I can see him being a steady 20+ ppg guy and to me, is a phenomenal fit between Melo and Miles long term. Moody would've been my alternative here, as he's probably a better shooter and defender, but with a lower overall ceiling (IMO). If Bouknight hits, he's a multiple ASG selection type of guy.

Kai was a guy I targeted first for his name, but then really fell for his potential when I saw his motor and natural athleticism. He seems to always be sprinting and displays a high activity level. I think he's only scratching the surface of his ability and could be exactly what we're looking for as a modern 4/5, and even huge 3 if he develops the perimeter skills that he's flashed. I get excited thinking about him and Miles running the wings in transition with Bouk and PJ trailing for open shots.

The young core Charlotte has now is one of the highest potential units in the entire league and all the pieces fit incredibly well together. I can conceivably see the Melo/Bouk/Miles/PJ/Kai unit as the established unit for the next decade of Charlotte basketball. If they can grow together, look out. They can be very scary.


As for Thor.... well I like his name, and he's an intriguing player, but I don't see a world where he gets the development necessary to reach his potential. Every big on the roster is very young and very raw so at least one guy is going to be pushed out. I can see Mitch wanting to have as many options as possible because it's so tough projecting long term big man production, so I understand the move from that aspect.

I personally would've preferred a 2/3 shooter because when Hayward goes down again next season for another 20-25 games, we'll be relying on Miles and... the twins? McD? I guess to give minutes, and we saw how well that didn't work out. They now have 5 raw bigs and zero developmental wings beyond Miles. That's troubling... especially so if Miles regresses back to his non-purple patch output

[BigSlam]

James Bouknight (11th)
Kai Jones (19th)
JT Thor (37th)
? (56th)

Should the Plumlee + #37 for #57 trade should be included in the grading.

(because it involved draft picks used tonight)

[Braggins]

I have very high hopes for Bouknight to fill that scorer/secondary ballhandler role to Melo that we've desperately needed for some time.

1.8 apg / 2.8 topg last season at UConn at age 20. His secondary ball handler skills seem worse than Monks. Monk was 2.3 ast / 2.0 to as an 18 year old freshman and was 2.1 ast / 1.3 to, last season in the NBA.

[JDR720]

James Bouknight (11th)
Kai Jones (19th)
JT Thor (37th)
? (56th)

Should the Plumlee + #37 for #57 trade should be included in the grading.

(because it involved draft picks used tonight)

I suppose it could be.

[luciano-davidwesley]

James Bouknight (11th)
Kai Jones (19th)
JT Thor (37th)
? (56th)

Should the Plumlee + #37 for #57 trade should be included in the grading.

(because it involved draft picks used tonight)

Definitely

[driveandkick]

I'm going with a B

Bouknight pick is a good one, but I would have personally gone with Sengun or Moody. Definitely exciting though, it is rare to find a player at 11 that can create his shot like Bouk can. The three point splits are very concerning, have to hope that he figures that out.

Kai is obviously a swing for the fences, and I'm happy with it because that's what we should be doing right now. I don't think he has a clue how to play, but we can chalk it up to inexperience for now. Have to take it slow with him.

I would not have drafted Thor at 37. There were about five players I liked better.

[SWedd523]

I have very high hopes for Bouknight to fill that scorer/secondary ballhandler role to Melo that we've desperately needed for some time.

1.8 apg / 2.8 topg last season at UConn at age 20. His secondary ball handler skills seem worse than Monks. Monk was 2.3 ast / 2.0 to as an 18 year old freshman and was 2.1 ast / 1.3 to, last season in the NBA.

By ballhandler I mean a guy actually capable of dribbling the ball and capable of beating his man on a consistent basis.

Miles is a one move straight line guy
PJ... no
Monk has never shown the ability or strength to consistently get buckets by putting the ball on the floor


And I really don't like the Monk comparison. If Bouk fails it'll be due to injury or simply not panning out. Monk developed a serious case of the MKG-itis and was doomed to failure from the get go. He has legit psych/confidence/personal issues that prevented him from being a legit player. Even despite that he's managed to put up solid production at times. If you give him the same aggression that Bouknight has shown, then we aren't talking about him as a throwaway guy. There's much more to the game than just raw stats.

Bouk can shoot, go either direction off the dribble, and drive/finish with either hand. He already has two good go-to moves with the hesi and step back and has shown a willingness to get buckets. No other guard outside the top 4 has that same scoring potential output. I don't see how you could be against that.

[BigSlam]

My overall draft night grade: B

Pre-draft trade:
LOVED what Mitch did pre-draft getting us a vet 5 on an extremely manageable contract who's athletic profile and passing could suit our game style SO well - and he was able to move up 20 spots while doing so from #57 to #37!! = A+

Pick #11:
Wouldn't have gone with Bouknight. 100% wanted Moody over him. I have some real concerns with Bouknights scoring style and how it fits in with what we are doing = C+

In draft trade:
Was a little worried when we sacrificed to get back into the 1st round. Then when the protections on the pick we traded were announced I felt a lot better - and now IMO is the time to make a move like this one = A

Pick #19:
Loved the pick. If Kai hits, my God we could be set for a very, very long time and the excitement an up tempo line up of LaMelo - Bouknight - Miles - PJ - Kai could bring, not to mention the winning it could result in, could set us up for the next decade. Kai does have a huge bust risk attached to him though = A

Pick #37:
Didn't like the pick. With McD already on the roster and Kai being just drafted I don't see how JT Thor fits in. Would have much rather gone with Dosunmu, Butler or Cooper - who could have given us some very handy PG depth = C

Pick #56:
Was pretty indifferent with the Lewis pick. I mean, it's pick #56 so the expectations were really low. I know others wanted SIms, but with so many 1st and 2nd year bigs on the roster did we really need to add one more? = B