No Shirt No Problem: The Amari Bailey Thread

[Snidely FC]

So is he a PG?

He's a Combo Guard! LOL. He sure plays like a PG. Coming out of high school he was ranked as a SG. I dunno!

In High School:

Bailey, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Sierra Canyon High School (California) was the No. 1 shooting guard in the 2022 class.

"He's a pure combination guard who has effortless high-end scoring ability with or away from the ball," said Paul Biancardi, ESPN's national recruiting director. "His drive game and paint finishes end with explosive athleticism and body control. As a playmaker, he is equally adept at creating for himself or facilitating for others. In transition or in the halfcourt, he demonstrates outstanding passing vision."

"He's a clever ball handler who changes his speeds and direction with purpose when navigating a defense," Biancardi said. "He's somewhat underrated as a versatile backcourt defender who will rebound and start the fast break. He owns an on-court presence and offensive instincts

At the combine:

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In other words, for Hornets fans who were hoping for someone who could operate as PG2, or as lead guard with LaMelo off ball, I think Bailey offers that optionality

[yosemiteben]

Good stuff, didn't realize he was so highly regarded. We drafted the #3 (NSJ), #10 (Bailey), and #11 (Miller) RSCI ranked prospects from the 2022 high school class, and ironically Brandon Miller was the lower ranked prospect of those three.

[fatlever]

Bailey, Nick, Bryce, Bouk

We just need to hit on one of those guys to be a legit starter. Mitch has now taking four swings at combo guards, shooting guards in the last 3 drafts. Four strikes and you have to retire.

Gun to your head, which of these four do you have the most confidence in reaching a quality starter level?

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[LofJ]

Bailey, Nick, Bryce, Bouk

We just need to hit on one of those guys to be a legit starter. Mitch has now taking four swings at combo guards, shooting guards in the last 3 drafts. Four strikes and you have to retire.

Gun to your head, which of these four do you have the most confidence in reaching a quality starter level?

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I'd bet on Nick Smith. He has the right attitude and commitment right out of the gate. He isn't entitled at all and already experienced what it's like to struggle. And he didn't quit when he could have, he battled through adversity to stay on the court.

[Emhoward]

Bailey, Nick, Bryce, Bouk

We just need to hit on one of those guys to be a legit starter. Mitch has now taking four swings at combo guards, shooting guards in the last 3 drafts. Four strikes and you have to retire.

Gun to your head, which of these four do you have the most confidence in reaching a quality starter level?

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I'd go

Bailey
Bryce
Nice
Bouk

May switch Bailey and Bryce if I think on it more.

[SWedd523]

Bailey, Nick, Bryce, Bouk

We just need to hit on one of those guys to be a legit starter. Mitch has now taking four swings at combo guards, shooting guards in the last 3 drafts. Four strikes and you have to retire.

Gun to your head, which of these four do you have the most confidence in reaching a quality starter level?

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The Bouk ship has sailed.

Bryce has shown promise, and probably has the easiest path to PT. I don't think he's got starter level talent though.

Nick was a first rounder so by default he's higher in the hierarchy than Bailey, but that's contingent on his knee health.

[amcoolio]

Bailey, Nick, Bryce, Bouk

We just need to hit on one of those guys to be a legit starter. Mitch has now taking four swings at combo guards, shooting guards in the last 3 drafts. Four strikes and you have to retire.

Gun to your head, which of these four do you have the most confidence in reaching a quality starter level?

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I'd bet on Nick Smith. He has the right attitude and commitment right out of the gate. He isn't entitled at all and already experienced what it's like to struggle. And he didn't quit when he could have, he battled through adversity to stay on the court.

Nick is the most talented out of the bunch for sure, and he feels to me the most humble as well. I like Bailey as well. Surely one of these four hits.

[fatlever]

I'm very curious to know for people that have watched a lot of both guys as to what makes Nick a higher ranked Prospect than Bailey?

Is it simply that he's slightly bigger? Is he considered a better three-point shooter? Which one is the better defender? It does seem pretty clear that Bailey is the better passer or creator of the two. They both seem to operate in the mid-range as their bread and butter. Both seem to be similarly built.

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[SWedd523]

Going into college or going into the draft?

[JMAC3]

I'm very curious to know for people that have watched a lot of both guys as to what makes Nick a higher ranked Prospect than Bailey?

Is it simply that he's slightly bigger? Is he considered a better three-point shooter? Which one is the better defender? It does seem pretty clear that Bailey is the better passer or creator of the two. They both seem to operate in the mid-range as their bread and butter. Both seem to be similarly built.

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Smith overall is bigger, better shooter and more of a bucket getter. Amari is a smart basketball player, but he doesn't have the tool box of scoring moves that Smith has.

Amari has a chance to be a really solid pro, but if NSJ hits he could be a top 3 guard from the class.

[fatlever]

Going into college or going into the draft?

I guess more going into the draft, or right now

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[Bassman]

Nick Smith Jr should be “most likely to succeed” as a starter from those four, but Bailey certainly has the look of a fine reserve PG with combo capabilities. Bryce shouldn’t be counted out as he had solid flashes, but I think his ceiling is a bit lower. No matter who emerges I feel a lot better about our situation there now. BOUK may not be a lost cause but he hurt himself significantly with his level of play, antics and inconsistency.

[SWedd523]

Going into college or going into the draft?

I guess more going into the draft, or right now

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Probably residual of Nick having more hype going into college. Neither guy really did much of anything in school so there wasn't a lot of info to move them around. Nick was considered a lotto type pick for much of the early cycle and Bailey wasn't. They both slid roughly the same amount.

I think Nick is more athletic/explosive than Bailey, so that probably gives him a bit of a leg up, all other things considered roughly equal

[UNCNYC]

All the SG's we DRAFTED and I think we missed out on some of these guys. I like bailey. Hopefully someone pans out

Seth Lundy - only one of two drafted out of the bunch late 2nd round
Omari Moore
Isaiah Wong - the other drafted late
Damion Baugh
Matt Bradley
Brendan Adams

[luciano-davidwesley]

I have a suspicion that Mitch sees Bailey's future as a point guard rather than a 2. He seems to play more like a 1 to me.

[UNCNYC]

I have a suspicion that Mitch sees Bailey's future as a point guard rather than a 2. He seems to play more like a 1 to me.

In a sense drafting Amar feels like getting scoot. They both bring similar styles and both have a star potential to them. Almost like we ended up with both scoot and miller in a sense

[Bassman]

I have a suspicion that Mitch sees Bailey's future as a point guard rather than a 2. He seems to play more like a 1 to me.

In a sense drafting Amar feels like getting scoot. They both bring similar styles and both have a star potential to them. Almost like we ended up with both scoot and miller in a sense

Bailey shows excellent passing and ball handling skills. So much control, uses hesitation, pocks and penetration to create or score. He lacks premier quickness but has good floor speed, athleticism. Seems to shoot well enough. We needed a PG and agree that Mitch views him there as Amaris’s primary role.

[wilson115]

Sees himself as a point guard and apparently the next Michael (B.) Jordan ...

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“First off, I’m just appreciative of Charlotte believing in my ability,” said Bailey, shortly after being drafted last Thursday night. “I’m very thankful to be here. Second off, I showcased that I can be a playmaker, a point guard that can create for others as well as myself and do whatever it takes to win. I’m going to lock up on defense and just have a lot of fun, most importantly.”

“At 41, we had him much higher,” added Hornets President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Mitch Kupchak. “Amari is another young, ball-handling guard. He played at a big-time program and had a very good Chicago pre-draft. He’s another young player who we’ll bring to summer league, and he’ll get time there. He’ll come to training camp and probably end up falling into our developmental program. We’ll learn more during summer league.”

[fatlever]

Sounds like Bailey should be the starting point guard of the summer league team and get as many minutes as he can handle running the show.

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[wilson115]

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