2025 Summer League

[JustBuzzin]

They just interviewed Kon on sports center. I didn't catch it until the end of the interview. At least they acknowledging him as a top 5 pick.

Can't remember the last time I seen a Hornets player interviewed on sports center lol

[Heelsfan119]

Passing on Ace was so stupid lol

Future 20+ppg scorer. You can look at him and tell once he settles down with the bad shot selection he's gonna cook in this league.

He honestly looks like a better prospect than Miller at this point during their career. Miller didn't have this kind of explosion this kid has. He's a good rebounder to be so slim.

Hornets always screwing up picks.

I can respect that he was your best player available. However, fit and attitude goes a long way. Maybe he’s a star. Or maybe he’s a guy that will be a high volume scorer. I’m just saying if you ride by every good game he has this year, your nerves will be shot.

I’m more apt to see if he can do it against real pros. Miller and Ace are different players. Miller is the better shooter. Ace the better athlete. My advice: don’t get so caught up by summer league games either way.

He was the BPA my comment has nothing to do with summer league. It's the fact we passed on the BPA because of character concerns.

[yosemiteben]

What worries more than Ace is Cam Spencer, on the other team sinking every 3 and looking amazing off-ball. He was #53 in last year’s draft.

Why does the 53 pick in last year's draft making 3s in summer league worry you?

Because we spent pick #4 on that exact player.

So playing well in summer league is a bad thing now?

I'm still not tracking why someone on another team that was drafted last year and is playing well at summer league is a reason to be worried.

It feels like getting upset just to be upset. Someone playing well isn't a reason to be worried about our pick before he's played even a single minute of a summer league game.

ETA: like if Spencer sucked, I could see saying you were worried because Kon has similar skills or something, even though Kon is obviously a far higher caliber of prospect. But a guy who you say is like Kon playing well doesn't seem like a reason to be worried to me.

[UNCNYC]

Can't take too much out of summer league I remember D Melton, and NAW looking so good summer league and having a rough go in the season. Also Sheppard last year so it can take time if it ever develops at all. I remember McDaniels looked HORRIBLE summer league and then for the first half of his rookie season was balling out of his mind.

[fatlever]

Obviously that was a much better game from Ace tonight, because he did a lot more of the other things that are important.

That's the weird thing about him. He'll be so good, if and when he decides to cut out all the bull from his game. Making contested 20 foot jumpers is one of the least interesting aspects of his game. It's all the other stuff that make him exciting. If he would just focus on some of the good stuff he did tonight - running the floor, taking open corner threes, cutting along the baseline, crashing the offensive glass, and playing passing lanes and help defense. now thats a dude that could have really helped the Hornets. Cut out the Gerald Henderson special - the 20-foot jumper. focus on the other stuff.

[Diop]

Obviously that was a much better game from Ace tonight, because he did a lot more of the other things that are important.

That's the weird thing about him. He'll be so good, if and when he decides to cut out all the bull from his game. Making contested 20 foot jumpers is one of the least interesting aspects of his game. It's all the other stuff that make him exciting. If he would just focus on some of the good stuff he did tonight - running the floor, taking open corner threes, cutting along the baseline, crashing the offensive glass, and playing passing lanes and help defense. now thats a dude that could have really helped the Hornets. Cut out the Gerald Henderson special - the 20-foot jumper. focus on the other stuff.

that description would fit BJ Mullens as well.

[UNCNYC]

They avoid drafting certain players for potential CHARACTER ISSUES. I hate when they automatically stereotype people who appear a certain way in the NBA or life itself. Not saying I don't, but certainly not to the extremes the world does to CERTAIN GROUPS. Growing up at times my

1. PANTS SAGG'ED. Not really cause I wanted them too, but because I am 6'5 and at the time all I could find was pants that were SHORT so I didn't want them to look like HIGH WATERS. so people often thought I was a THUG. I am FAAAAR from that. I dated a girl once who thought that of me and after she got to know me she said you are DIFFERENT from ANYONE I EVER MET. Like waaaaaay different lol.

2. EARRINGS - I have both pierced, but when I put on a SUIT you would think I INVENTED them. People are SHOCKED when they find out I lived in the poor neighborhoods. They think for some reason I grew up wealthy or graduated ivy league *which I have heard for some reason over the years*.

3. HOODIES - I wore, wear, and will always wear them. Hoodies to me were my shield outside of GOD to sorta hide me from the world. But by the grace of God it didn't hide me. I guess you could say like eminem in 8 mile I still dreamed while donning my at times $10 hoodie. I think to some inner city kids it was like a MAN CAVE of sorts for them. This world wasn't so quick to embrace *us* and so it felt as a way to protect in a weird way. Like a cheap mancave and to some a home if unfortunately were homeless.

I could go on and on about the negativity that attach to certain groups that are aided and not deserved but the main point here is that most players in the NBA are very productive to their communities and are far from thugs. Very RARELY are there any problems and when they are most fix them and don't repeat the actions. If anything it's the most professional league.

1. it doesn't allow fighting

2. it guaranteed pay

3. it created opportunities for *women* and minorities in and around the arena's even when it COST them to do so.

[JustBuzzin]

Ace never had character issues. He's basically another Brandon Miller in terms of personality. The guy is goofy that's literally his personality.

I'm thinking they didn't want Ace because that core 3 Melo/Miller/Ace are basically they same kind of personality. Maybe they wanted a more serious player in the mix.

That's the only conclusion I can come to. Talent wise there is no reason why we should have took Kon over Ace. I was looking at the comments on reddit and it was depressing seeing fans of other teams basically laugh at us for taking Kon over Ace.

[yosemiteben]

That website fat posted does an excellent job summarizing some concerns with Ace - https://databallr.com/nbadraft/writeup/Ace%20Bailey:

However, significant concerns about Bailey’s offense center around shot creation, handle, and decision-making. Despite taking 4.5 three-pointers per game and making 34.6%, Bailey struggled greatly shooting off-the-dribble from beyond the arc (just 24.4% on pull-up threes). His ball-handling mechanics are loose and inconsistent, causing trouble creating separation against athletic, physical defenders. As a result, his penetration game suffered, and Bailey only shot 42.1% on half-court layups, often looking rushed or physically overmatched on his drives. His lack of strength compounds these struggles, limiting his ability to finish through contact or draw fouls consistently.

Another key limitation is Bailey’s playmaking. He recorded only 38 assists against 61 turnovers, often demonstrating tunnel vision, slow processing, and inaccurate passing. Bailey primarily looks to shoot, rarely leveraging his scoring gravity to find teammates. This heavily isolation-based style (104 isolation possessions, top percentile in college basketball) led to frequent contested jumpers and inefficient possessions.

...

However, substantial questions remain regarding Bailey’s defensive fundamentals and motor. He often loses awareness off-ball, frequently caught ball-watching, missing backdoor cuts, or failing to rotate properly. His screen navigation is inconsistent, hindered by a thin frame and poor technique, allowing opponents easy separation. Strength limitations compound these struggles, making it difficult to hold ground against physical NBA wings or forwards.

While Bailey's flashes of defensive brilliance are undeniable, his effort and consistency wavered frequently at Rutgers. His motor fluctuated; he rarely displayed sustained intensity or made multiple effort plays. Addressing these concerns, improving strength, awareness, technique, and consistently applying effort, will dictate his defensive ceiling. Initially, Bailey fits best into an NBA defensive scheme that leverages his length and athleticism, emphasizing switch-heavy, aggressive perimeter schemes rather than relying heavily on traditional help-defense or complex rotations.

[JMAC3]

Ace looked good last night.
Topic looked good last night.
Cody W looks like a real NBA player now, not sure he is great but not terrible bust type of player.

Collier is pretty terrible and Utah basically had to bench him to win.
Clayton is a guy I am selling my stock on right now, he really stands out as a poor athlete in SL let alone the regular season.

Flip and Sensabaugh are pretty much what you expect, some really great parts of their games and then some really terrible parts that is easy to see why they are going to be limited in the NBA longterm, both feel like journeymen who will have a few good years in certain roles.

[EmpireFalls]

From what I saw of Cody last night, Salaun would basically have to become an entirely new person to get to that level.

[KembaWalker]

its perfect that Ace had a bit of a stinker and then a fantastic game, i can sit back with my popcorn and enjoy the told-you-so roller coaster

unlike some people im not going to act like Ace Bailey doesnt have a ton of risk of being a complete bust, I just think thats the kind of risk we needed to be taking at 4. he has actual talent not like our previous "home run swing". i like home run swings, when they actually have a chance to go out of the park. Kon simply has no path to anything close to stardom even if his median outcome is better than Aces. i dont care about median outcomes picking 4th after a 19 win season

[JustBuzzin]

From what I saw of Cody last night, Salaun would basically have to become an entirely new person to get to that level.

I was on the wait and see bandwagon with Salaun, but the more I watch him the more I'm convinced his ceiling is basically a hustle/energy player off the bench.


He's just not coordinated enough as a basketball player to be anything more than a hustle player. Peterson is off to a rough start that's for sure Salaun and Kon cmon man this is what you're selling us?

[UNCNYC]

Ace never had character issues. He's basically another Brandon Miller in terms of personality. The guy is goofy that's literally his personality.

I'm thinking they didn't want Ace because that core 3 Melo/Miller/Ace are basically they same kind of personality. Maybe they wanted a more serious player in the mix.

That's the only conclusion I can come to. Talent wise there is no reason why we should have took Kon over Ace. I was looking at the comments on reddit and it was depressing seeing fans of other teams basically laugh at us for taking Kon over Ace.

Totally agree Justbuzzin. I know that's the point I was trying to make. I assumed that by the selections made tho. I never thought any of the players in this draft had any character issues. It was even joked on here about how they were CHANGING THE CHARACTER ETC... No other reason to take the 4 players they did THIS YEAR and the one they did LAST YEAR.

As far as the SERIOUS player goes, there is no team that could be thought of as more GOOFY than the THUNDER. They often tease whoever is being interviewed while being interviewed and sometimes they even put things on their HEADS during it. In thinking they are GOOFY that is a way of thinking they are IMMATURE. Which is indeed a knock against their character. Character issues doesn't have to mean they thought they would be a DANGER it could just mean they thought they weren't mature, classy etc.. enough.

Great point tho btw

[Snidely FC]

Bassman posted a link in the fake trade thread to an article where an alleged team insider said the team wanted to add guys in the draft who "know how to play basketball," presumably to instill structure for "free-lancing talents" Lamelo and Brandon.

It's great to draft players to add structure to the team because they "know how to play," but we've plenty of evidence that at the highest levels talent tops "playing the right way"

[Chapelchilla]

So apparently Kon has maxed out as a role player before he has even played a single summer league game? LOL

[UNCNYC]

Funny thing is all the great teams have always in a sense had questionable character.

Warriors - draymond
Bulls - rodman, also team gambling
Lakers - kobe accusations,
Lakers - showtime era etra partying etc..
Celtics - questionable sportsmanship
Sixers - iverson
Pistons - bad boys
Thunder - aloof, goofy
Jazz - malone accusations
Suns - barkley

One thing WINNING does is bring a different culture. If you lose you can have all the great character you want but noone will pay or watch you lmao

[Snidely FC]

So apparently Kon has maxed out as a role player before he has even played a single summer league game? LOL

Nope!

Kon may well show he is the superior talent to those who came after him. And I hope he does, I like Kon!

Just addressing team management philosophy. If that's their m.o. I'm saying that's been tried before and isn't always the most successful approach.

I'd rather have "insiders" confirm, "we took Player A because he is the most talented."

But yeah, if my message came off as I think Kon maxes out at role player I apologize that wasn't my intent

[KembaWalker]

So apparently Kon has maxed out as a role player before he has even played a single summer league game? LOL

i dont think even his biggest advocates have stated that Kon has any kind of realistic star level outcomes. high end role player is his hard ceiling. theres just people that think we really need a solid role player for whatever reason, or theyre duke fans

[UNCNYC]

I guarantee you if the thunder didn't win and couldn't win people would have questioned their character with silly things like.

They are too soft
Sga is a ME only player
Jalen doesn't have heart
They are not serious
They are goofy

Rather than if they were just good enough. Winning fixes so much.