Post#147 » by Liver_Pooty » Thu May 30, 2013 9:50 pm
In ESPNs future power rankings were once again dead last.
"Tanking ain't easy" ought to be the Bobcats' slogan. Their strategy of getting bad before getting good again has proved to be only 50 percent successful, as they've fielded a roster over the past few years that has been too bad.
That's not to say the Bobcats don't have talent: Kemba Walker proved he could score (albeit inefficiently), Gerald Henderson has become a solid wing, 2012 lottery pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has a ton of potential and Josh McRoberts made the most of his revival. But none of those players, individually or collectively, are capable of lifting Charlotte from the muck.
The problem is there isn't a whole lot of faith in the soon-to-be-Hornets as an organization, as evidenced by their last-place ranking in Management by the panel. This makes it infinitely harder to attract talent (via free agency) to play in an arena that can be three-quarters empty on some nights and for a team that has had a revolving-door policy for its head coaching position. Even if they could attract players, and although there's cap flexibility moving forward, our panel doesn't believe Michael Jordan, the Bobcats owner, will spend what it takes to for the team to improve.
Charlotte has two future first-round picks coming to them, from the Blazers and Pistons, but they haven't shown the ability to consistently draft well (although Kidd-Gilchrist and Jeff Taylor were both solid picks in 2012). Moreover, they owe Chicago a protected pick (which will become unprotected in 2016). While Bobcats/Hornets fans certainly hope the ship is righted before that pick becomes the disaster it might be, our panel isn't as hopeful.
Balllin wrote:Zion Williamson is 6-5, with a 6-10 wingspan. I see him as a slightly better Kenneth Faried.