Grade the Draft: Hornets 2025

[Chapelchilla]

Bleacher report and CBS both gave us an A
ESPN a B
I haven't seen any others yet

[SWedd523]

D.

I don't see any chance for any of these guys to ever sniff consideration for an all Star nod. For an organization that seems to have given up on adding difference makers by other means, it spells disaster to go multiple drafts in a row without adding guys opposing teams have to fear. We don't know it yet, but we have slammed the doors on the Melo Era shut.

[Chapelchilla]

D.

I don't see any chance for any of these guys to ever sniff consideration for an all Star nod. For an organization that seems to have given up on adding difference makers by other means, it spells disaster to go multiple drafts in a row without adding guys opposing teams have to fear. We don't know it yet, but we have slammed the doors on the Melo Era shut.

Melo has done nothing to earn an era but let's see how these guys look before declaring a disaster, the "experts" disagree!

[KembaWalker]

I don’t think CBS has ever given us anything below a B- lol I made it back to Malik Monk (A- pick btw) before I got bored. Worst I saw was B- for Miles (Clips got a b- for SGAs low upside in the trade lul).

If CBS grades meant anything we’d have a helluva dynasty going

[EmpireFalls]

I can see the arguments for a B and above on the class, as they are all coherent “fits” and useful role players. On paper we got exactly the sort of high feel, versatile, smart competitive guys that Jeff preaches about. Maybe Kalk and McNeeley are a little slow in the leg, and maybe Sion is never going to be much of a scoring threat, but it’s 4 guys who can play next to a star duo and bring a lot of supportive skill to the table. Also good value on McNeeley and Kalk who I’ve seen mocked a lot higher in the teens in a few big boards.

The issue is in NBA competitive settings, it’s about the Jimmies and Joes more than the Xs and Os, and we lack star power to an embarrassing degree. Our lottery pick was by far the best chance of acquiring some, and so to come away with another one of those hard-nosed high IQ role players at #4 is a massive letdown. It’s a class of guys everyone “likes”, but no one anyone “loves”.

What this roster lacks more than anything else is the fear factor. No one creates advantages or takes teams out of what they’d like to do. LaMelo does his best but he doesn’t break down the defense effortlessly and wilts badly against physical ball pressure. The most effective action we had last season was actually Mark’s rim running, he has some legit roll gravity and chemistry with Melo and applies real pressure to defenses. Of course, he’s got the injury bug and won’t busts his ass all the time, so we had to ship him out and get Liam and Kalk instead to play “the right way”.

Miller and Miles seemed to master the art of empty calories in the last Cliff year. Two dribble pull-up 3s at a 34% clip, shot fakes to draw sympathy FTs after a long run without them, takes in semi transition when the defense wasn’t paying attention. Entire defenses can fully focus on LaMelo with no fear of retribution by leaving other guys 1v1. They have some talent, but nothing truly threatening, and when push came to shove, they settled.

This offense is built to settle for long jumpers, and the defense filled with a hodgepodge of “effort guys” who who are smart, competitive, but deficient athletically in strength, speed, length, or explosiveness. We’ll settle defensively too. We’ll rotate correctly, communicate, try our darndest, and watch them shoot over us, beast us on the glass, and generally wear us out, as aggressive, explosive teams tend to do. that’s what we’ll see all year. Purgatory, waiting for Dybantsa, Boozer, or Peterson to come create the advantages for us.

[Chapelchilla]

I can see the arguments for a B and above on the class, as they are all coherent “fits” and useful role players. On paper we got exactly the sort of high feel, versatile, smart competitive guys that Jeff preaches about. Maybe Kalk and McNeeley are a little slow in the leg, and maybe Sion is never going to be much of a scoring threat, but it’s 4 guys who can play next to a star duo and bring a lot of supportive skill to the table. Also good value on McNeeley and Kalk who I’ve seen mocked a lot higher in the teens in a few big boards.

The issue is in NBA competitive settings, it’s about the Jimmies and Joes more than the Xs and Os, and we lack star power to an embarrassing degree. Our lottery pick was by far the best chance of acquiring some, and so to come away with another one of those hard-nosed high IQ role players at #4 is a massive letdown. It’s a class of guys everyone “likes”, but no one anyone “loves”.

What this roster lacks more than anything else is the fear factor. No one creates advantages or takes teams out of what they’d like to do. LaMelo does his best but he doesn’t break down the defense effortlessly and wilts badly against physical ball pressure. The most effective action we had last season was actually Mark’s rim running, he has some legit roll gravity and chemistry with Melo and applies real pressure to defenses. Of course, he’s got the injury bug and won’t busts his ass all the time, so we had to ship him out and get Liam and Kalk instead to play “the right way”.

Miller and Miles seemed to master the art of empty calories in the last Cliff year. Two dribble pull-up 3s at a 34% clip, shot fakes to draw sympathy FTs after a long run without them, takes in semi transition when the defense wasn’t paying attention. Entire defenses can fully focus on LaMelo with no fear of retribution by leaving other guys 1v1. They have some talent, but nothing truly threatening, and when push came to shove, they settled.

This offense is built to settle for long jumpers, and the defense filled with a hodgepodge of “effort guys” who who are smart, competitive, but deficient athletically in strength, speed, length, or explosiveness. We’ll settle defensively too. We’ll rotate correctly, communicate, try our darndest, and watch them shoot over us, beast us on the glass, and generally wear us out, as aggressive, explosive teams tend to do. that’s what we’ll see all year. Purgatory, waiting for Dybantsa, Boozer, or Peterson to come create the advantages for us.

A lot of that is not wrong at all. We didn't land in n the top 3 and 4-7 were similar, except maybe Ace who seems like he could be a net negative.

We probably got one or maybe even two starters and 2/3 guys who profile as much better than what we have had in the rotation lately in this draft.
That's solid.

Melo-Brandon-Miles-Kon has potential to play exciting and versatile modern style AND winning NBA ball.

The bench is much deeper.

With a better center (kalk?) and back up pg we have good base to build off. I think they are actually on the right track for a change and still seem to have a plan to win consistently in the near future.

8 first rounders in 4 years, a bunch of young talent coming in, cleaning up the payroll, less lazy or crazy types. That's a good start.....

[cornchip]

Gave a C but it's more like a C-.

I like Kon as a player. Kon as a #4 pick was a problem for a number of reasons. I thought Ace and Tre were simply better prospects but that's just me. The FO did far more thorough (you'd hope) evaluations than and disagreed. That's fine.

What I don't get is the variance between the three (Kon, Ace, Tre...you could throw in Maluach and Fears depending on if you had a massive need at PG or C). I can't possibly see how one so decisively outranked the others. Saying that, at #4 you control 5 and 6. If there's a team that really wants one (like was reported with WAS and Ace), you have to get value for that. You may have gotten Kon at 6 anyway but at worse you end up with Tre who has considerably more upside.

I didn't think McNeely was very good at UCONN but he does have talent. Not the type of talent to trade your starting C though. The future pick we received is likely going to be at the end of the draft. We drafted NSJ at 27 in 2023 (last time we picked that late). So we essentially traded Mark for NSJ and McNeely. I know you never know how that late pick will turn out or if it gets attached to another asset but that's how I see it as of now.

Liked both 2nd round picks.

[KingCat]

I can see the arguments for a B and above on the class, as they are all coherent “fits” and useful role players. On paper we got exactly the sort of high feel, versatile, smart competitive guys that Jeff preaches about. Maybe Kalk and McNeeley are a little slow in the leg, and maybe Sion is never going to be much of a scoring threat, but it’s 4 guys who can play next to a star duo and bring a lot of supportive skill to the table. Also good value on McNeeley and Kalk who I’ve seen mocked a lot higher in the teens in a few big boards.

The issue is in NBA competitive settings, it’s about the Jimmies and Joes more than the Xs and Os, and we lack star power to an embarrassing degree. Our lottery pick was by far the best chance of acquiring some, and so to come away with another one of those hard-nosed high IQ role players at #4 is a massive letdown. It’s a class of guys everyone “likes”, but no one anyone “loves”.

What this roster lacks more than anything else is the fear factor. No one creates advantages or takes teams out of what they’d like to do. LaMelo does his best but he doesn’t break down the defense effortlessly and wilts badly against physical ball pressure. The most effective action we had last season was actually Mark’s rim running, he has some legit roll gravity and chemistry with Melo and applies real pressure to defenses. Of course, he’s got the injury bug and won’t busts his ass all the time, so we had to ship him out and get Liam and Kalk instead to play “the right way”.

Miller and Miles seemed to master the art of empty calories in the last Cliff year. Two dribble pull-up 3s at a 34% clip, shot fakes to draw sympathy FTs after a long run without them, takes in semi transition when the defense wasn’t paying attention. Entire defenses can fully focus on LaMelo with no fear of retribution by leaving other guys 1v1. They have some talent, but nothing truly threatening, and when push came to shove, they settled.

This offense is built to settle for long jumpers, and the defense filled with a hodgepodge of “effort guys” who who are smart, competitive, but deficient athletically in strength, speed, length, or explosiveness. We’ll settle defensively too. We’ll rotate correctly, communicate, try our darndest, and watch them shoot over us, beast us on the glass, and generally wear us out, as aggressive, explosive teams tend to do. that’s what we’ll see all year. Purgatory, waiting for Dybantsa, Boozer, or Peterson to come create the advantages for us.

Miles I agree; one of the most empty calorie players I've ever seen. Considering his additional off court issues, any competent front office would have shipped him out to whatever sucker's get enticed by his stats.

Miller, I don't think it's fair to label him as such. He had some big moments in close games during his rookie year that I think he would have led us to a win with better teammates and this year he pretty much carried us to victory in the win against the Pacers (that game where he had one of the best in game dunks of the year).

I still think Miller has an outside shot of being our 1A but I understand that realistically he isn't projecting to be thar right now.

[BatumtheGlue]

1. Kon is not a bad choice when 3 best players in the draft already taken. Kon is not going to be a superstar, but at least he was the best available prospect who will thrive alongside LaMelo and Brandon imo.

2. Liam. At best a serviceable glue guy or bust. Worst pick.

3. Sion. This guy could be getting more minutes than the others. 3 and D role player.

4. Ryan. Also getting minutes in my opinion, he will be more reliable than Diabetes as Nurkic's back up.

It's a B for me.

None will be a superstar, but that's what best we can get.

[fatlever]

koc and haberstrogh really liked hornets draft... around 34 mins in, timestamped below. Shout out to Hornets lead for getting the tweet screenshotted on the show.

https://youtu.be/dE26O1nZ-cI?si=jVrUIgnDjCBBuN9x&t=2040

They jokingly pitched a theory that the Hornets, by drafting two of Cooper's Duke teammates and one of his high school teammates, were playing 4D chess by trying to create a team of all of Cooper's former teammates in a attempt to lure flagg to Charlotte down the road

[Snidely FC]

the Mark trade just blows a gigantic hole in our center rotation that no late 1st/early 2nd is filling any time soon. Losing Mark for nothing has a much larger impact than the differences in players available at #4.

While for me initially it felt as though the trade “blew a hole” in the roster in hindsight it seems clear that the team traded Willliams with the expectation that a ready replacement in Kalk (or Niederhauser or Raynaud) would be available at 29, 33 or 34 pick.

While you can ding them for poor asset management due to Mark’s draft history, if his durability was a concern then his draft history amounts to a sunk cost. If the outcome is a more dependable roster spot and a reasonably comparable player of the same age you have to do that trade

[fatlever]

And another

Read on Twitter

?t=s1yE2qNJSW-prWmBTZFJTw&s=19

Sent from my SM-G973U using RealGM mobile app

[fatlever]

And another

Read on Twitter

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Sent from my SM-G973U using RealGM mobile app

[JDR720]

I haven't saw any draft people give Charlotte any less than a B.

[Chapelchilla]

koc and haberstrogh really liked hornets draft... around 34 mins in, timestamped below. Shout out to Hornets lead for getting the tweet screenshotted on the show.

https://youtu.be/dE26O1nZ-cI?si=jVrUIgnDjCBBuN9x&t=2040

They jokingly pitched a theory that the Hornets, by drafting two of Cooper's Duke teammates and one of his high school teammates, were playing 4D chess by trying to create a team of all of Cooper's former teammates in a attempt to lure flagg to Charlotte down the road

They seemed to love our draft overall too. I'm feeling good about it.

[Diop]

Read on Twitter

?t=XO2GyeSvVxSlTTxszkgtTg&s=19

[KembaWalker]

I think people look at our stats and see that we shot 34% from 3 last season, see us draft two shooters and think we addressed a need.

I don’t really see it. I don’t think the quality of shooters on this team was an issue. The issues I saw were that they don’t have anyone that draws significant help either in the post or on drives, they straight up just have horrible shot selection (Melo and Brandon), and a coach strategically instructing them to when in doubt launch a 3 instead of grinding for better looks. I don’t think we addressed these issues at all..

And I’m talking about the guys that mattered last season not the scabs. We did improve by adding guys that will hopefully lessen the need for g league scabs, but anyone we picked would have done that

[Hornet Mania]

It was a C for me.

I think Kon and Liam will be solid pros, but I hate the low ceilings. Sion is a decent swing for a tough role player, Kalk I am actually a little excited about. Mark trade was decent but we didn't exactly bend them over for value, arguably worse than what we got from LAL.

It's overall just very uninspiring. It wasn't a total disaster but I'd be shocked if we looked back and considered it better than just okay. Kind of like drafting Hendo and Zeller.

[vexco]

I think people look at our stats and see that we shot 34% from 3 last season, see us draft two shooters and think we addressed a need.

I don’t really see it. I don’t think the quality of shooters on this team was an issue. The issues I saw were that they don’t have anyone that draws significant help either in the post or on drives, they straight up just have horrible shot selection (Melo and Brandon), and a coach strategically instructing them to when in doubt launch a 3 instead of grinding for better looks. I don’t think we addressed these issues at all..

And I’m talking about the guys that mattered last season not the scabs. We did improve by adding guys that will hopefully lessen the need for g league scabs, but anyone we picked would have done that

I don't think this at all. I think they're high on our draft because we picked players who might actually make us a better team. I'm not sold on Kon but by all accounts he makes the right decisions on the floor and that can help a lot between melo and miller.

[UNCNYC]

1st off there are some awesome people in this world and 100% of them are found on THIS board.
I was all but done on this site and said it would take something drastic to return.
To my surpise that drastic thing was the PACERS drafting of TAELON PETER. I'll get to that in a second.

BTW - I rate our draft a B-. I actually think we did pretty well, but I do not like the formula used on a consistant basis.
To me THESE TYPES of players RARELY pan out. Imo the MAJORITY of players in the NBA have HIGH CHARACTER so never understood
why it had to be added as if they didn't.

My draft would have been different tho

PICK 1 - FEARS - I liked him as of late
PICK 2 - MAXIME RAYNAUD
PICK 3 - KAM JONES

AND

PICK 4 - Taelon Peter

This kid has EVERYTHING that a UNCNYC player would have, when choosing an underdog...

faith
athleticism
it factor
confidence
swag
flashy play
potential

He is also one heck of an underdog. He came off the bench at LIBERTY and only averaged 13 pts a game.
He is also 23 years old.

There must be something about the GM of the pacers cause he picked two players I LOVE in Kam Jones and Taelon Peter.

Thats why it's always good to keep an open mind when drafting cause you got people like UNCNYC
and a FEW people who think like him lol.

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