Offseason 2025 Thread

[amcoolio]

Brookyln seems to like picks, trade them the two suns firsts and Nurkic for Claxton

[JMAC3]

Do we just completely give up on defense? I mean seriously who is going to play against us and see the starting lineup of LaMelo-Kon-Brandon-Miles- Nurkic and be worried about scoring? If anything there are so many bad defenders maybe they just confused on who is the worst option. Then we bring Mann, NSJ, and McNeely off the bench.

Our defense is likely to be historically bad.

[driveandkick]

Do we just completely give up on defense? I mean seriously who is going to play against us and see the starting lineup of LaMelo-Kon-Brandon-Miles- Nurkic and be worried about scoring? If anything there are so many bad defenders maybe they just confused on who is the worst option. Then we bring Mann, NSJ, and McNeely off the bench.

Our defense is likely to be historically bad.

Think it was the Simmons podcast today I was listening too and yeah, they were basically asking who we would have to have at the 4/5 to be okay defensively. Think Bill said Bill Russell lmao

[HornetJail]

Is Nurkic/Diabate really so bad of a C rotation for the Eastern conference? Cleveland for sure, Embiid if healthy, but then I'm struggling to see scary matchups there.

Are Hornets fans really this oblivious to the talent real NBA teams have?

I love Moose but he is at most a 15-20mpg backup on every other team in the NBA. Nurkic is not serviceable except against certain matchups.

ATL: Porzingis/Okongwu
BOS: work in progress due to trades, but i'll be floored if they're actually starting Luke Kornet or Al Horford in October
BRK: Claxton (meh)
CHI: Vuc/Collins (meh... although Vuc can still get hot)
CLE: Allen/Mobley
DET: Duren/BeefStew
IND: Turner
MIA: Bam/Ware
MIL: Lopez/Portis
NY: KAT/Mitch
ORL: Carter/Goga/some Paolo (meh)
PHI: Embiid/Drummond
TOR: Poeltl (meh)
WAS: Sarr/Olynyk/Holmes (meh)

We comfortably have the worst center rotation in the East, and about 10 of the other teams will definitely embarrass us.

If we actually go into the season with a Moose/Nurk center rotation, there's a very good chance we wind up with the least amount of points coming from that position of the last decade.

[Walt Cronkite]

Next year's team should lose plenty, but I would like to think O and D rating both improve just from talent added and not actively losing for Cooper Flagg. I don't think competing for a play-in is an outrageous goal for them to shoot for. This is all far too early to be proposing though, the draft is at the half-way point...

[JustBuzzin]

Do we just completely give up on defense? I mean seriously who is going to play against us and see the starting lineup of LaMelo-Kon-Brandon-Miles- Nurkic and be worried about scoring? If anything there are so many bad defenders maybe they just confused on who is the worst option. Then we bring Mann, NSJ, and McNeely off the bench.

Our defense is likely to be historically bad.

You're on fire today. Agreed again!

[JMAC3]

Next year's team should lose plenty, but I would like to think O and D rating both improve just from talent added and not actively losing for Cooper Flagg. I don't think competing for a play-in is an outrageous goal for them to shoot for. This is all far too early to be proposing though, the draft is at the half-way point...

I don't see how giving Josh Green minutes to Kon and Okogie minutes to Liam is going to fix our defense.
Mark wasn't great but he at least provided some size and he was a good rebounder on that end of the floor to end possessions.

[SWedd523]

Next year's team should lose plenty, but I would like to think O and D rating both improve just from talent added and not actively losing for Cooper Flagg. I don't think competing for a play-in is an outrageous goal for them to shoot for. This is all far too early to be proposing though, the draft is at the half-way point...

I'm still blown away that anyone thinks they're going into next year with any intention other than to tank.

[Walt Cronkite]

Is Nurkic/Diabate really so bad of a C rotation for the Eastern conference? Cleveland for sure, Embiid if healthy, but then I'm struggling to see scary matchups there.

Are Hornets fans really this oblivious to the talent real NBA teams have?

I love Moose but he is at most a 15-20mpg backup on every other team in the NBA. Nurkic is not serviceable except against certain matchups.

ATL: Porzingis/Okongwu
BOS: work in progress due to trades, but i'll be floored if they're actually starting Luke Kornet or Al Horford in October
BRK: Claxton (meh)
CHI: Vuc/Collins (meh... although Vuc can still get hot)
CLE: Allen/Mobley
DET: Duren/BeefStew
IND: Turner
MIA: Bam/Ware
MIL: Lopez/Portis
NY: KAT/Mitch
ORL: Carter/Goga/some Paolo (meh)
PHI: Embiid/Drummond
TOR: Poeltl (meh)
WAS: Sarr/Olynyk/Holmes (meh)

We comfortably have the worst center rotation in the East, and about 10 of the other teams will definitely embarrass us.

If we actually go into the season with a Moose/Nurk center rotation, there's a very good chance we wind up with the least amount of points coming from that position of the last decade.

You don't have to denigrate the Hornet fanbase. Nurkic and Moussa isn't a great center rotation and the Hornets got bullied inside a lot last year. I almost listed Detroit, but I don't know that Indiana, Miami, Milwaukee, Atlanta, NY are impossible frontlines to matchup against, don't a lot of those guys primarilly operate more on the perimeter? By your own "meh" admission, about a third of the teams aren't very scary there. Hornets are a work in progress, that should be obvious. Fully willing to admit that I probably have higher expectations for Diabate than most, he was my favorite player last year. Don't be a jerk.

[GiggitySmalls]

I hope we trade both melo and miles. I dont care st all. If Peterson really means hornets DNA and culture it means getting rid of those frauds no matter what it takes. We are gonna be horrible anyways even if im not as sour about this draft as some. Newsflash we are gonna suck. Get rid of pussy melo and his fidget spinner for stimming and woman beater miles.

Sent from my SM-S936U using RealGM mobile app

[Walt Cronkite]

Next year's team should lose plenty, but I would like to think O and D rating both improve just from talent added and not actively losing for Cooper Flagg. I don't think competing for a play-in is an outrageous goal for them to shoot for. This is all far too early to be proposing though, the draft is at the half-way point...

I don't see how giving Josh Green minutes to Kon and Okogie minutes to Liam is going to fix our defense.
Mark wasn't great but he at least provided some size and he was a good rebounder on that end of the floor to end possessions.

Yea, you could totally be right. One of the more positive things about Kon I read is that he could be a neutral defender, which, you know, isn't great. Neither of those guys "fix" the defense for sure. Good point about Mark's rebounding, definitely something is going to have to be done there.

[fatlever]

Mark was terrible defensively last year. I'm not losing any sleep over thinking our defense being worse without him.

Our center depth is a problem. Hopefully Grant is back to full strength by December.

I'm here for all the moose minutes. Fight me. Lol.

Okogie needs to play as much as he can handle

Liam probably in gleague to start the season. Doubt he takes green/okogie minutes initially.

Need vet depth signings at pg, center and wing defender.

Nurk is stopgap

Team not trying to go all in. It's obvious. Agree, as I've been saying, try to win or trade Melo. If we suck by Feb, dump Melo for whatever or make a trade for real help.

Sent from my SM-G973U using RealGM mobile app

[KingCat]

Mark was terrible defensively last year. I'm not losing any sleep over thinking our defense being worse without him.

Our center depth is a problem. Hopefully Grant is back to full strength by December.

I'm here for all the moose minutes. Fight me. Lol.

Okogie needs to play as much as he can handle

Liam probably in gleague to start the season. Doubt he takes green/okogie minutes initially.

Need vet depth signings at pg, center and wing defender.

Nurk is stopgap

Team not trying to go all in. It's obvious. Agree, as I've been saying, try to win or trade Melo. If we suck by Feb, dump Melo for whatever or make a trade for real help.

Sent from my SM-G973U using RealGM mobile app

I can see Melo being one of those surprise late offseasin October trades that no one saw coming, or being the biggest storyline at the deadline in 26.

[JMAC3]

Updated Depth Chart IMO.

1- LaMelo - Mann - Sion
2- Kon - Green- NSJ
3- Miller - Okogie- McNeely
4- Miles - Salaun - Grant(IR)
5 - Nurkic - Moussa - Kalk

Two Way: KJ Simpson
Waive/Trade: Micic and Jefferies

Bench unit is still rather terrible to me, along with starting center.

Okogie, Nurkic, Jefferies, Micic is 40 million in expiring salary for now that I would be looking to flip into a contributor if possible.

[MasterIchiro]

Updated Depth Chart IMO.

1- LaMelo - Mann - Sion
2- Kon - Green- NSJ
3- Miller - Okogie- McNeely
4- Miles - Salaun - Grant(IR)
5 - Nurkic - Moussa - Kalk

Two Way: KJ Simpson
Waive/Trade: Micic and Jefferies

Bench unit is still rather terrible to me, along with starting center.

Okogie, Nurkic, Jefferies, Micic is 40 million in expiring salary for now that I would be looking to flip into a contributor if possible.

Has to be a starting center currently playing for a rebuild team. Otherwise that center should be unavailable and critical to contention.

From the lottery teams:

Nets
Jazz
Wizards

Once you get to 9 you get the Raptors, who did not select a center because they will be competing with Poeltl.

10 was the Suns who will be shortly rescinding the Mark trade because Mark as damaging goods as promised by 2 Magic fans firing strays in our forum.

[Liver_Pooty]

If we’re truly trying to compete this year I’d look at a legit backup 4 over a center. I do like Salaun but I’d prefer him get every single rep possible in the G league this year.

I also want to be remotely close to the playoffs

Edit: Grant ruined everything possible in his knee and I don’t know when he’ll be ready.

[wilson115]

UFAs listed as fours:

Marvin Bagley III
Chris Boucher
Larry Nance, Jr.
Jeff Green
Trey Lyles
Precious Achiuwa
Jake LaRavia
Markieff Morris
James Johnson
Isaiah Jackson (RFA)
Taurean Prince
Trendon Watford
Bol Bol
Vlatko Cancar
Guerschon Yabusele
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Kai Jones

[HornetJail]

UFAs listed as fours:

Marvin Bagley III
Chris Boucher
Larry Nance, Jr.
Jeff Green
Trey Lyles
Precious Achiuwa
Jake LaRavia
Markieff Morris
James Johnson
Isaiah Jackson (RFA)
Taurean Prince
Trendon Watford
Bol Bol
Vlatko Cancar
Guerschon Yabusele
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Kai Jones

based on that list, I'm telling Brandon Miller to eat cookout 3 meals a day so he can play small ball 4

[Diop]

I like Nance as a backup 4/5, always been a solid defender

[Snidely FC]

Jake LaRavia for PF
Size strength and shooting he’d be consistent with this weeks draft picks

He’s a hard-nosed and smart defender, and his shot diet was pristine.

Thirty percent of his shots last season came within three feet and 57% came within 10. Thirty-seven percent were threes. He shot roughly 60% in the restricted area and 42% from deep last season.

He’s still not 24, he’s proven he can guard multiple positions, he’s a legit 6-foot-8 who is also a legit 3-point shooter. He could be part of all kinds of mix-and-match line-ups. He’s a good player young enough to keep growing alongside the core.