Woulda Coulda Shoulda If But Didn't

[Rich4114]

This thread reminds me about how we took DJ Augustine instead of Brook Lopez and how we could've taken Drummond (I was pushing for Drummond that draft) instead of MKG. Our poor decisions continue to lead to more poor decisions. At some point we need to make smart draft picks. We are lucky Kemba developed the way he has because he has passed his upside from when he drafted. Yes, we have been extremely unlucky in some regards (sports success is part luck and part smart decisions) but since we haven't been lucky and we also make poor decisions over the years, we are in a poor situation.

The fans don't deserve another 3+ years of sucking in order to be contenders but we may have no choice.

[yosemiteben]

Our current FO didn't draft Augustine.

DET is frustrated with Drummond and is open to moving on from him.

Don't think either of your examples are particularly compelling.

[Rich4114]

I know our current FO didn't draft Augustine - Larry Brown insisted and MJ/Higgins let him. At the last minute no less after we were about to take Lopez...

As for Drummond - we choose MKG over him #2 overall when we had a huge need at C. Would you trade Drummond for MKG today? I certainly would.

[RussellandFlow]

[chellis]

I think the underlying theme here is we aren't great at identifying talent and then developing the players we select. Really, we need to invest in improved scouting and player development.

[GlenRiceARoni]

Booker sucks this year. Not sure why everyone thinks he's a guaranteed star. I think hes a low end prospect

-------------------------------------------------------------------
I invented the Piano Key Necktie.
What did Vivek get for Cousins?
NOTHING!

[chellis]

Booker sucks this year. Not sure why everyone thinks he's a guaranteed star. I think hes a low end prospect

-------------------------------------------------------------------
I invented the Piano Key Necktie.
What did Vivek get for Cousins?
NOTHING!

I don't think he's a guaranteed star, but I do think he'll have a more productive career than Kaminsky. (Please prove me wrong Kaminsky)

[Rich4114]

Booker sucks this year. Not sure why everyone thinks he's a guaranteed star. I think hes a low end prospect

-------------------------------------------------------------------
I invented the Piano Key Necktie.
What did Vivek get for Cousins?
NOTHING!

I don't think he's a guaranteed star, but I do think he'll have a more productive career than Kaminsky. (Please prove me wrong Kaminsky)

The Kaminsky pick was all wrong when it happened. The team was in love with the concept of a stretch 4 immediately for the 2015-16 season and they just weren't looking at anything else. Booker would've been better, Turner would've been better, the trade with Boston would've been better. I hope he proves me wrong too, but it's not looking so likely right now. (It never really was)

[Mystical Apples]

I gotta admit it was a little depressing watching Okafor, Hezonja, WCS, Mudiay, Johnson, and Winslow flash their chops during All-Star weekend. RJ Hunter and Rozier too.

Sigh. What could've been.....

[CatgutStitches]

I gotta admit it was a little depressing watching Okafor, Hezonja, WCS, Mudiay, Johnson, and Winslow flash their chops during All-Star weekend. RJ Hunter and Rozier too.

Sigh. What could've been.....

I hope this didnt go over peoples heads...

I think the problem is fans look at our draft success as the Hornets vs everyone else but thats not really accurate. You have to look at each team individually, and how many teams HAVENT missed many good picks/made mistakes. Most of the "misses" people rave about that other teams capitalized on are in no better position than we are (and many are worse). "I cant believe we didnt draft Drummond"...Oh because Detroit is dominant right now..."We should have picked Booker"...Yup, he's looking like a superstar and PHX is playing great...etc, etc, etc. Apart from hitting on a generational talent like Lebron or getting REALLY lucky there is no rulebook on how to become good.

Things seem dismal right now but with a healthy Zeller we were a pretty damn good team...lets hope we can get him right, build on the fringes of our young core, hope Batum and Marvin pick things up again and win some basketball games.

[GlenRiceARoni]

I gotta admit it was a little depressing watching Okafor, Hezonja, WCS, Mudiay, Johnson, and Winslow flash their chops during All-Star weekend. RJ Hunter and Rozier too.

Sigh. What could've been.....

Exactly. This crap is getting old around here.

Wed be significantly worse off with booker than frank. Thats inarguable

-------------------------------------------------------------------
I invented the Piano Key Necktie.
What did Vivek get for Cousins?
NOTHING!

[chrbal]

The Bobcats (now Hornets) entered the NBA when you could make trades like this;

Suns Trade Kurt Thomas to Seattle

Posted: July 20, 2007


The Phoenix Suns today traded center Kurt Thomas and two future first-round draft picks to the Seattle SuperSonics for a future conditional second-round pick. In addition to salary cap relief, the trade leaves Phoenix with an $8 million trade exception for their use in future dealings.

Kurt Thomas was 34 at the time, but thats a good vet, two 1st round picks for some 2nd round pick...just because you have cap space. The year Charlotte took Okafor, New Jersey traded one of its 1st round picks to Portland for an unguaranteed contract (eddie gill, thank you google. Gill was available in the expansion draft).

All kinds of teams during this time did trades like this.

The Suns alone sold 1st round picks all the time. Charlotte should have taken advantage of this to build their team up.

Also, Jason Kapono signing with Miami for like 2 years/$2.2 mil and the Bobcats (then) not putting up a better offer. Its not that Kapono was amazing, but signing him could've blocked drafting Morrison.