2023 NBA Draft Thread

[amcoolio]

Draft Scoot, trade Rozier for a Hart type off the bench, go with LaMelo/Scoot/Bridges/Washington/Williams with Hart type/Cody Martin/Hayward/Richards off the bench. Offseason done

[LofJ]

Read on Twitter

Scoot's gotta be the guy, Terry Rozier can't do anything like this

We haven't had a player with a first step off the dribble like Scoot since Shinn and New Orleans stole our OG Hornets.

[KingCat]

Read on Twitter

Scoot's gotta be the guy, Terry Rozier can't do anything like this

Again, nobody is picking Terry over Scoot.

Do you need me to post Miller highlights and say PJ isn't doing any of this....

Bruh someone here just today implied Scoot is a Terry that can't shoot

[vexco]

I don't get the hesitancy about Millers shot here. His release is so quick that he'll get it off over closeouts even in the NBA. He's an elite shooter at the college level and does almost everything else well.

[SWedd523]

Read on Twitter

Scoot's gotta be the guy, Terry Rozier can't do anything like this

We haven't had a player with a first step off the dribble like Scoot since Shinn and New Orleans stole our OG Hornets.

"**** me, right?"

[LofJ]

Read on Twitter

Scoot's gotta be the guy, Terry Rozier can't do anything like this

We haven't had a player with a first step off the dribble like Scoot since Shinn and New Orleans stole our OG Hornets.

"**** me, right?"

I thought about Kemba right after I posted that, but I left it up. I was thinking of Baron Davis specifically with that comment.

[countryboi]

Draft Scoot, trade Rozier for a Hart type off the bench, go with LaMelo/Scoot/Bridges/Washington/Williams with Hart type/Cody Martin/Hayward/Richards off the bench. Offseason done

this is a decent playoff team

[LofJ]

Taking a break from the Scoot/Miller debate. What do we do with our 4 other picks in this draft?

We can't roster that many rookies. A trade up and/or using some of those picks to move Rozier should be a high priority.

Teams like the Warriors, Hawks, and Heat are looking at massive tax bills and will be much more contained in free agency under the new CBA. Cheap contract rookies with more college experience will be valuable to them.

Hopefully, Mitch will make aggressive efforts to trade up for the best wing we can get. Dariq Whitehead, Julian Phillips, and Kris Murray are all guys we can possibly land.

[Diop]

Reminds me a bit of the Rose v Beasley debates of 09, shame Beasley wasted that talent though

[MasterIchiro]

Taking a break from the Scoot/Miller debate. What do we do with our 4 other picks in this draft?

We can't roster that many rookies. A trade up and/or using some of those picks to move Rozier should be a high priority.

Teams like the Warriors, Hawks, and Heat are looking at massive tax bills and will be much more contained in free agency under the new CBA. Cheap contract rookies with more college experience will be valuable to them.

Hopefully, Mitch will make aggressive efforts to trade up for the best wing we can get. Dariq Whitehead, Julian Phillips, and Kris Murray are all guys we can possibly land.

The new CBA allows for three 2-way contracts instead of just two. So picks 39 and 41 fit those, preserving roster spots on the 15-man.

Pick 34 is not going to sign a 2-way deal. Pick 27 is guaranteed a roster spot.

Conclusion: Kupchak can resolve the pick surplus by simply consolidating picks 27 + 34. I looked into this so you don't have to. The Grizzlies have a short roster and sit at pick 25.

Pick 27 + 34 for pick 25. This could work.

Or the consolidation could involve roster players if the Grizzlies like one of the Hornets spare parts.

[LofJ]

Taking a break from the Scoot/Miller debate. What do we do with our 4 other picks in this draft?

We can't roster that many rookies. A trade up and/or using some of those picks to move Rozier should be a high priority.

Teams like the Warriors, Hawks, and Heat are looking at massive tax bills and will be much more contained in free agency under the new CBA. Cheap contract rookies with more college experience will be valuable to them.

Hopefully, Mitch will make aggressive efforts to trade up for the best wing we can get. Dariq Whitehead, Julian Phillips, and Kris Murray are all guys we can possibly land.

The new CBA allows for three 2-way contracts instead of just two. So picks 39 and 41 fit those, preserving roster spots on the 15-man.

Pick 34 is not going to sign a 2-way deal. Pick 27 is guaranteed a roster spot.

Conclusion: Kupchak can resolve the pick surplus by simply consolidating picks 27 + 34. I looked into this so you don't have to. The Grizzlies have a short roster and sit at pick 25.

Pick 27 + 34 for pick 25. This could work.

Or the consolidation could involve roster players if the Grizzlies like one of the Hornets spare parts.

I hope we can move up more than two spots in this draft. The players projected to go in the late 1st and early to mid 2nd round is the strongest group of players in this draft outside of the lottery.

[MasterIchiro]

Taking a break from the Scoot/Miller debate. What do we do with our 4 other picks in this draft?

We can't roster that many rookies. A trade up and/or using some of those picks to move Rozier should be a high priority.

Teams like the Warriors, Hawks, and Heat are looking at massive tax bills and will be much more contained in free agency under the new CBA. Cheap contract rookies with more college experience will be valuable to them.

Hopefully, Mitch will make aggressive efforts to trade up for the best wing we can get. Dariq Whitehead, Julian Phillips, and Kris Murray are all guys we can possibly land.

The new CBA allows for three 2-way contracts instead of just two. So picks 39 and 41 fit those, preserving roster spots on the 15-man.

Pick 34 is not going to sign a 2-way deal. Pick 27 is guaranteed a roster spot.

Conclusion: Kupchak can resolve the pick surplus by simply consolidating picks 27 + 34. I looked into this so you don't have to. The Grizzlies have a short roster and sit at pick 25.

Pick 27 + 34 for pick 25. This could work.

Or the consolidation could involve roster players if the Grizzlies like one of the Hornets spare parts.

I hope we can move up more than two spots in this draft. The players projected to go in the late 1st and early to mid 2nd round is the strongest group of players in this draft outside of the lottery.

Maybe Kings at 24.

[LofJ]

The new CBA allows for three 2-way contracts instead of just two. So picks 39 and 41 fit those, preserving roster spots on the 15-man.

Pick 34 is not going to sign a 2-way deal. Pick 27 is guaranteed a roster spot.

Conclusion: Kupchak can resolve the pick surplus by simply consolidating picks 27 + 34. I looked into this so you don't have to. The Grizzlies have a short roster and sit at pick 25.

Pick 27 + 34 for pick 25. This could work.

Or the consolidation could involve roster players if the Grizzlies like one of the Hornets spare parts.

I hope we can move up more than two spots in this draft. The players projected to go in the late 1st and early to mid 2nd round is the strongest group of players in this draft outside of the lottery.

Maybe Kings at 24.

If the guy we want is there I'd do it. The value isn't amazing, but getting the player you want is worth it, especially considering the excess amount of picks the team has this year.

[Ozymandias]

I like Scoot but the worry I have with drafting another guard is that two pg lineups do not usually find much success in the playoffs. If a good chunk of the salary cap is tied up into two star guards, you are limiting the ceiling of what the team can eventually achieve. It would be destined in a few years that the Hornets would need to make a decision and trade either Scoot or LaMelo.

I think a lineup featuring Scoot and LaMelo could get to the playoffs, I mean the team was already pretty close. But I fear it will mainly end in first round exits. Maybe one year we would get into the 2nd round if we run into a good matchup, but no way the team would ever be a true contender.

Having that wing scorer that can defend multiple positions and is a threat to drop 50 pts any given night is vital to having a contender in the NBA.

Miller isn't a perfect prospect, he has weaknesses as they all do. I think the concerns about his athleticism and handles are a bit overblown. I think good coaching can get him to tighten up his handle just like Scoot can learn to shoot 3s more efficiently. Also adding strength would help Miller tremendously in driving to the basket and getting to his spots. The big question I hope the front office finds out is if he has the mental makeup to work on his weaknesses and take his game to the next level.

Final point, I believe Miller's ceiling raises the ceiling of the team as a whole and what they can eventually accomplish moreso than Scoot's ceiling would.

Anyway, long time lurker. Thought I'd drop my two cents.

[MasterIchiro]

I like Scoot but the worry I have with drafting another guard is that two pg lineups do not usually find much success in the playoffs. If a good chunk of the salary cap is tied up into two star guards, you are limiting the ceiling of what the team can eventually achieve. It would be destined in a few years that the Hornets would need to make a decision and trade either Scoot or LaMelo.

I think a lineup featuring Scoot and LaMelo could get to the playoffs, I mean the team was already pretty close. But I fear it will mainly end in first round exits. Maybe one year we would get into the 2nd round if we run into a good matchup, but no way the team would ever be a true contender.

Having that wing scorer that can defend multiple positions and is a threat to drop 50 pts any given night is vital to having a contender in the NBA.

Miller isn't a perfect prospect, he has weaknesses as they all do. I think the concerns about his athleticism and handles are a bit overblown. I think good coaching can get him to tighten up his handle just like Scoot can learn to shoot 3s more efficiently. Also adding strength would help Miller tremendously in driving to the basket and getting to his spots. The big question I hope the front office finds out is if he has the mental makeup to work on his weaknesses and take his game to the next level.

Final point, I believe Miller's ceiling raises the ceiling of the team as a whole and what they can eventually accomplish moreso than Scoot's ceiling would.

Anyway, long time lurker. Thought I'd drop my two cents.

Celtics have 3 PG. Brogdon - Smart - White.

[Ozymandias]

Celtics have 3 PG. Brogdon - Smart - White.

?? Sorry, maybe I didn't get my point across clearly. I'm not saying you cannot play two pgs. I'm saying if your offense revolves around star pgs that will eventually earn max contracts in this league, that limits the ceiling of what the team can accomplish.

Celtics are actually a great team that proves my point about needing a star player on the wing that can defend and score. In fact they have two of those guys.

[MasterIchiro]

Celtics have 3 PG. Brogdon - Smart - White.

?? Sorry, maybe I didn't get my point across clearly. I'm not saying you cannot play two pgs. I'm saying if your offense revolves around star pgs that will eventually earn max contracts in this league, that limits the ceiling of what the team can accomplish.

Celtics are actually a great team that proves my point about needing a star player on the wing that can defend and score. In fact they have two of those guys.

PG"s aren't typically elite spacers but LaMelo is. He's launching bombs on a plain comparable to Steph Curry's in distance.

This is before factoring Scoot's speed, handling and athleticism in transition. LaMelo running with Scoot adds a layer of advantage in pressuring an opposing defense and depleting their energy.

The build is unique. There is no precedent for a tandem of guards who bring LaMelo's and Scoot's skillets. I think they complement each other well. There is no way for an NBA defense to stop Scoot from touching the paint every trip down the floor. The defense will collapse and LaMelo can camp out at the logo.

On the defensive end, Scoot has a 6' 9" wingspan. He will be guarding opposing PG with that length, quickness, and strength. LaMelo would guard opposing SG at 6' 7".

[LofJ]

I'd like to point out that a two PG lineup took what was likely the most talented NBA roster of all time to the brink of elimination and would have won if Chris Paul did not get injured. Yes, the big scoring wing guys like Lebron, Kawhi, Giannis, and Durant have won tons of championships, but you can build contending rosters without them.

[BeesWax]

Also I think we have a wing who can be the scoring option from there in Bridges. Having a strong 1-3 with a 4 that can be a glue guy and a rim running athletic 5 who can protect the rim is a nice start. If any of our bench pans out we have a balanced roster with 4 different guys who can step up at times. I hate Washington's inconsistency but when he is hot he can carry the team on the offensive end and we all know Ball and Bridges can at times. Now is Scoot is the prime Rose like people are saying we would have a team that it would be hard to hold down in a little while.

[yosemiteben]

I think it will be tough for me to prefer Miller over Scoot but I do recognize that might partially be to "flashiness" bias. I just see both elite skills and elite physical traits in Scoot, whereas I don't really see elite physical traits in Miller and that has me worried. His lack of lift and difficulty finishing around the rim seem like pretty big red flags to me, and he doesn't seem to have plus lateral mobility which makes me concerned about his defensive potential.

I do see the concerns about Scoot's perimeter shooting ability and I think they are valid.