Direction of the team

[JMAC3]

Trying to keep it simple.

Adding a poll

[JDR720]

We don't have one.

All-In doesn't make any sense at all. Maybe it would've pre-Miles situation, but not now.

So it's a combination of holding tight and blowing it up.

- Don't do anything reactionary and shortsighted, like trading all our stuff for Mitchell.
- Do try to move off some of our not so good contracts, like Gordon.

[luciano-davidwesley]

We don't have one.

All-In doesn't make any sense at all. Maybe it would've pre-Miles situation, but not now.

So it's a combination of holding tight and blowing it up.

- Don't do anything reactionary and shortsighted, like trading all our stuff for Mitchell.
- Do try to move off some of our not so good contracts, like Gordon.

I voted blow it up with shades of hold tight. I pretty much agree with JDR though. Tank this year for sure and if we can get a high pick maybe Miles' charges are dropped and we have a new big 3 or trade Miles for something interesting.

[Benjamin Linus]

I'd like to us blow it up and go for that top pick / potential star to pair with LaMelo but I know there's no way Jordan/Clifford (and most of the fanbase) are gonna go for that

I am open for trading for a young star for the right price. If someone like SGA or Ingram eventually end up wanting out I wouldn't have a problem making a strong push for em

[NJBuzz12]

thats the issue. there is no direction with this team. i say blow it up this year. try to trade hayward. try to trade rozier. this seems like a deep draft. bridges screwed us. i dont have much faith in pj washington. try to get another top young talent to pair with lamelo and hope bouknight and williams can develop into above average players.

[Liver_Pooty]

I think the huge leap lamelo, in my opinion, is going to take this year isn't being taken into account. If Hayward can play 65 games were fine. There, I said it.

Edit: The 3rd year is typically when we see if a players a superstar or just a "star". We'll see. He still has a solid roster around him even without Miles.

[NJBuzz12]

i just want mitch fired.

[Diop]

[Braggins]

i just want mitch fired.

I'm hoping things implode fast and Clifford + Mitch are both gone by the all-star break.

[SWedd523]

Probably too soon to go all in (post Miles), definitely too late to blow it up (post Batum/Hayward/Rozier contracts and have to keep Melo happy), not good enough to hold tight.

They did what they've always done. Tanked for too little time, panicked because Mike got bored/angry with losing, blew their wad on a bunch of not-really-needle-mover vets, and fell back into mediocrity.

I will say, had Miles not turned into the league's dumbest player, they'd have been in a better position to go all in and the trajectory of the team would be much different

[yosemiteben]

I'm a bit confused at why there isn't a middle ground option.

We can emphasize development and still use picks to improve the team in a trade without dumping assets or requiring a star in return.

[Rays Pompadour]

This whole thread is an emotional tee-up. Like when Disney decided to build the Millennium Falcon in the middle of a theme park.

Here's a few emotion-free facts:
- Mitch just signed a contract extension, so he's not going anywhere.
- The Hornets had their lottery luck with LaMelo Ball. Any future fortune of this kind is wishes and dreams.
- The whole darned things has to be re-set because of Miles Bridges.
- Charlotte's cap space is limited to exemptions.
- Michael Jordan still owns this team.

The direction has been, and will continue to be, to draft-and-develop, and add free agents or do trades when the opportunity arises. The ethic is to not act out of urgent need (thus creating a potential negative value position - see 2022, NBA Draft) and to invest in developing young talent. At some point, you figure, the investment will pay off.

Now...I think that staid approach is crap. The best organizations are creative and invest in assets that produce. And the healthier ones work the fringes of free agency and trades to shore up the foundation, not recreate one. Tanking was a Morey epiphany. And while Houston and Orlando and Oklahoma City are trying to follow that model, it's just not a long-term proven strategy. There's simply too much risk.

But that doesn't mean you don't take any risks. That's my main beef with Kupchak and Jordan's many minions. The direction is mainly on a good path. The future is bright, even with Bonehead Bridges doing his stupid thing. But unless the Hornets step out and do something transformational, they'll always the happy little tree in a Bob Ross painting.

Or a emotional relic in fantasy land that will never get off the ground.

[JMAC3]

I'm a bit confused at why there isn't a middle ground option.

We can emphasize development and still use picks to improve the team in a trade without dumping assets or requiring a star in return.

There is that option in the poll... but also because this has been the plan since 2014. Play it safe, develop, don't tank, don't trade multiple picks for anyone.

EARNED lottery spot since then...
2014- 9th
2015- 9th
2016- 22nd
2017-11th
2018-11th
2019- 12th
2020- 8th
2021-11th
2022-13th

This is exactly where you do not want to be in the NBA, tons of history to back this up.

[JMAC3]

Tanking was a Morey epiphany. And while Houston and Orlando and Oklahoma City are trying to follow that model, it's just not a long-term proven strategy. There's simply too much risk.

I think there are tons of teams seeing the benefits of tanking already including two teams in Conf finals.

Memphis- Landed Ja #2, JJJ #4
Boston- Landed Smart #6, Tatum #3, Brown #3
Cleveland- Mobley #3, Garland #5, Okoro #4, Sexton #8
Twolves- Towns #1, Edwards #1
Mavs - Luka #3
Hawks- Trae #5, Hunter#4, Okongwu #6

I don't understand why people are so against tanking this year. Getting another top 4 pick to pair with LaMelo is arguably the best move. Just look at the way these teams became good, their main core is drafted in the top 6 picks and then built out from there.

[yosemiteben]

I'm a bit confused at why there isn't a middle ground option.

We can emphasize development and still use picks to improve the team in a trade without dumping assets or requiring a star in return.

There is that option in the poll... but also because this has been the plan since 2014. Play it safe, develop, don't tank, don't trade multiple picks for anyone.

Read what you quoted. I specifically said we can use picks (plural) in a trade. None of the options cover that, it's either do nothing, blow up, or trade everything for a star.

[JMAC3]

EARNED lottery spot since then...
2014- 9th
2015- 9th
2016- 22nd
2017-11th
2018-11th
2019- 12th
2020- 8th
2021-11th
2022-13th

I legit don't know how anyone can look at this and think to themselves, we shouldn't make a drastic change to our approach.

[yosemiteben]

EARNED lottery spot since then...
2014- 9th
2015- 9th
2016- 22nd
2017-11th
2018-11th
2019- 12th
2020- 8th
2021-11th
2022-13th

I legit don't know how anyone can look at this and think to themselves, we shouldn't make a drastic change to our approach.

It's almost like...no one is saying that.

ETA:. There's also been massive FO turnover and totally different strategy over that time period, which kind of negates your point here.

[JMAC3]

7

EARNED lottery spot since then...
2014- 9th
2015- 9th
2016- 22nd
2017-11th
2018-11th
2019- 12th
2020- 8th
2021-11th
2022-13th

I legit don't know how anyone can look at this and think to themselves, we shouldn't make a drastic change to our approach.

It's almost like...no one is saying that.

HUH? What are you talking about? Legit 7 of the 16 votes in the poll are advocating for hold tight.

[yosemiteben]

7

I legit don't know how anyone can look at this and think to themselves, we shouldn't make a drastic change to our approach.

It's almost like...no one is saying that.

HUH? What are you talking about? Legit 7 of the 16 votes in the poll are advocating for hold tight.

It's because that's the only option if you think Mitchell is too expensive but don't want to tank.

Bad poll gets bad results.

[JMAC3]

7

It's almost like...no one is saying that.

HUH? What are you talking about? Legit 7 of the 16 votes in the poll are advocating for hold tight.

It's because that's the only option if you think Mitchell is too expensive but don't want to tank.

Bad poll gets bad results.

I said trade for a star? Does not say Mitchell.

What option did I leave out?

Trade a few picks for good players, develop our players into good players and win games. Yay!

I get it if you don't like plans laid out, but you never post an actual series of trades/moves detailed out. It is always so ambiguous.

Trading for a star/tanking are actual plans. Not just hovering in the middle and praying for the best (hence what we have done since 2014).