Free Agency, Rumors, Thoughts in General 2.0

[LofJ]

The Hornets had to spend money either this offseason or next. Would it have been better to spend that money next offseason when a lot more teams will have cap space? Or this offseason when almost no teams had space? It's a lot harder to sign good players in free agency when you're competing against more teams for the same player.

I'd also like to remind everyone that the Pacers were going to pay Hayward 105/4 and trade away Turner to do so. So maybe some of the posters on this forum (and more importantly folks in the media) should step back a bit and reevaluate their opinions.

[MasterIchiro]

The Hornets had to spend money either this offseason or next. Would it have been better to spend that money next offseason when a lot more teams will have cap space? Or this offseason when almost no teams had space? It's a lot harder to sign good players in free agency when you're competing against more teams for the same player.

I'd also like to remind everyone that the Pacers were going to pay Hayward 105/4 and trade away Turner to do so. So maybe some of the posters on this forum (and more importantly folks in the media) should step back a bit and reevaluate their opinions.

Good, at least one poster isn't buying the opposing "infomercial".

[Texas Chuck]

How is choosing Hayward + 1st round pick + 2 second round picks over Batum cap (27.5) + 9 million dollars separate a poor front office from a front office not run poorly?

Why do you keep repeating what is clearly a false choice?

You have to have read at least a few replies pointing out that the 2 options were just not:
A) Overpay Hayward and pay a 1st to do it
B) Overpay Hayward and instead stretch Batum

Posts on this board work much better when they are an actual dialogue, not an infomercial for a fan's team.

I understand one option was to not move Batum because it cost one first round pick. And not sign Hayward. But that would mean I didn't want to sign Hayward in the first place despite the signing resulting in the Hornets remaining the youngest team, adding a player who benefits all the young players, having the third least committed salary next year, projected 27 million cap with Devonte' returning.

Infomercial my ass.

There are other options that still involve signing Hayward to that contract that don't involve paying a first to dump the entire Batum deal or stretch waiving him. Yet you keep insisting the decision is binary.

And you got angry last week when I pointed out that you base your evaluation of decisions based not on the quality of the decision but rather who made it. And yet here you are doing the same thing again with your justification for an objectively bad series of decisions being well Mitch Kupchak made them so they are good.

Now we provide you a platform to just be a Hornets apologist. It's not what the board is intended for, but we allow it. But understand when you operate as a propaganda arm that you might face some pushback.

And while as a Mod I feel strongly you should allowed to be as pollyanna about your team and their decisions as you want and I will defend your right to post in that manner, I also feel strongly that intellectually dishonest posts like the ones you are making itt have no place on this board and I will continue to fight against them.

[MasterIchiro]

Why do you keep repeating what is clearly a false choice?

You have to have read at least a few replies pointing out that the 2 options were just not:
A) Overpay Hayward and pay a 1st to do it
B) Overpay Hayward and instead stretch Batum

Posts on this board work much better when they are an actual dialogue, not an infomercial for a fan's team.

I understand one option was to not move Batum because it cost one first round pick. And not sign Hayward. But that would mean I didn't want to sign Hayward in the first place despite the signing resulting in the Hornets remaining the youngest team, adding a player who benefits all the young players, having the third least committed salary next year, projected 27 million cap with Devonte' returning.

Infomercial my ass.

There are other options that still involve signing Hayward to that contract that don't involve paying a first to dump the entire Batum deal or stretch waiving him. Yet you keep insisting the decision is binary.

And you got angry last week when I pointed out that you base your evaluation of decisions based not on the quality of the decision but rather who made it. And yet here you are doing the same thing again with your justification for an objectively bad series of decisions being well Mitch Kupchak made them so they are good.

Now we provide you a platform to just be a Hornets apologist. It's not what the board is intended for, but we allow it. But understand when you operate as a propaganda arm that you might face some pushback.

And while as a Mod I feel strongly you should allowed to be as pollyanna about your team and their decisions as you want and I will defend your right to post in that manner, I also feel strongly that intellectually dishonest posts like the ones you are making itt have no place on this board and I will continue to fight against them.

Other equally bad or worse options like not signing Hayward and taking on a bad contract for Batum, or dumping Miles and Monk to create cap for Hayward when both are better than MLE players and only 22 years old. Ridiculous.

[MasterIchiro]

And yeah I guess I'm a "propaganda wing" for siding with Mitch Kupchak over "Texas Chuck". Too funny!

[HornetJail]

I understand one option was to not move Batum because it cost one first round pick. And not sign Hayward. But that would mean I didn't want to sign Hayward in the first place despite the signing resulting in the Hornets remaining the youngest team, adding a player who benefits all the young players, having the third least committed salary next year, projected 27 million cap with Devonte' returning.

Infomercial my ass.

There are other options that still involve signing Hayward to that contract that don't involve paying a first to dump the entire Batum deal or stretch waiving him. Yet you keep insisting the decision is binary.

And you got angry last week when I pointed out that you base your evaluation of decisions based not on the quality of the decision but rather who made it. And yet here you are doing the same thing again with your justification for an objectively bad series of decisions being well Mitch Kupchak made them so they are good.

Now we provide you a platform to just be a Hornets apologist. It's not what the board is intended for, but we allow it. But understand when you operate as a propaganda arm that you might face some pushback.

And while as a Mod I feel strongly you should allowed to be as pollyanna about your team and their decisions as you want and I will defend your right to post in that manner, I also feel strongly that intellectually dishonest posts like the ones you are making itt have no place on this board and I will continue to fight against them.

Other equally bad or worse options like not signing Hayward and taking on a bad contract for Batum, or dumping Miles and Monk to create cap for Hayward when both are better than MLE players and only 22 years old. Ridiculous.

Alright, I'll play along...

What is your goal for the Hornets? What are you expecting Big Brain Mitch to do moving forward? What is your realistic expectation for a team built around Devonte' Graham, LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, PJ Washington, Miles Bridges, Malik Monk, and picks in the 10-20 range and somewhat limited cap space over the next 3-4 years? Do you foresee any of these players being the best player on a playoff team*, or even second best?

EDIT: *a good playoff team, not just an 8 seed that gets humiliated by the Bucks/Sixers/Celtics every year.

[HartfordWhalers]

Other equally bad or worse options like not signing Hayward

Certainly seems a fairer comparison than starting from the point that Charlotte has paid more than anyone else for a 30 year old with injury history to complement their 2nd youngest in NBA core, and needs o panic stretch Batum or trade a 1st away.

and taking on a bad contract for Batum

Again, another fair option for a team that is that young, and especially given the '21 draft that is supposed to be so top heavy.

The fact that instead of having a real debate on those options, you keep pushing a narrative whereby the Hornets 'gained' a 1st is absolutely intellectually dishonest. And it makes your posts better suited to a fan blog that is just about positive spin, and not a serious assessment. This forum aims for (much) better than that, so once again you are being encouraged to step your game up and post of a better quality.

or dumping Miles and Monk to create cap for Hayward when both are better than MLE players and only 22 years old. Ridiculous.

I definitely don't have Monk currently as better than an MLE player. That seems a really skewed version of what he currently has done, which is mostly inefficient shooting.

Now, I would let Monk try and grow into a useful player of that caliber, as I see Charlotte as better suited for a longer rebuild than rushing to an 8th seed behind Hayward, but that is a directional take and not a comment on what Monk has so far shown.

[Texas Chuck]

And yeah I guess I'm a "propaganda wing" for siding with Mitch Kupchak over "Texas Chuck". Too funny!

You know when multiple posters/mods are pointing out an issue, you might at least stop and consider if it has merit rather than acting like the issue lies with everyone else.

You aren't pushing propaganda for not agreeing with me. I haven't even posted what the Hornets should have done instead so.... I'm simply pointing out there were in fact options other than just stretch waiving or using valuable assets to dump Batum's contract and you in an effort to defend the poor choice that was made, continue to insist nope those were the only options.

It's intellectually dishonest and serves no real purpose. Now I don't have a problem if you seriously conclude that an unnecessary $9M dead cap hit for 3 years was the best option, I'd disagree of course, but fine whatever--but to conclude that you have to at least acknowledge there were other options many of which have been laid out on this board.

[MoneyTalks41890]

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[HartfordWhalers]

Free Barea

[pacers33granger]

The Hornets had to spend money either this offseason or next. Would it have been better to spend that money next offseason when a lot more teams will have cap space? Or this offseason when almost no teams had space? It's a lot harder to sign good players in free agency when you're competing against more teams for the same player.

I'd also like to remind everyone that the Pacers were going to pay Hayward 105/4 and trade away Turner to do so. So maybe some of the posters on this forum (and more importantly folks in the media) should step back a bit and reevaluate their opinions.

Theres a decent chance the only reason Indy was willing to do that was due to ownership wanting it.

In any event it still would have been a terrible contract and an abysmal trade.

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[Buzzard]

The Hornets had to spend money either this offseason or next. Would it have been better to spend that money next offseason when a lot more teams will have cap space? Or this offseason when almost no teams had space? It's a lot harder to sign good players in free agency when you're competing against more teams for the same player.

I'd also like to remind everyone that the Pacers were going to pay Hayward 105/4 and trade away Turner to do so. So maybe some of the posters on this forum (and more importantly folks in the media) should step back a bit and reevaluate their opinions.

Theres a decent chance the only reason Indy was willing to do that was due to ownership wanting it.

In any event it still would have been a terrible contract and an abysmal trade.

Sent from my SM-A716U using RealGM mobile app

I think Indy ownership is tired of 1st round exits and a top 10 like payroll. In my opinion they will give this team one more run. If they fail in the 1st round again, I don't think anyone will be safe.

[FNQ]

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Cuban remains one of the best owners in the league and will always be a favorite of mine

[K_chile22]

I'm really surprised Napier still doesn't have a team. He's a good bench guard

[Texas Chuck]

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Cuban remains one of the best owners in the league and will always be a favorite of mine

Nobody loves JJ more than me obviously, but this was so transparent from the moment they signed him. It was just a way to give him a nice bonus with a gtd contract.

Part of me would love to see a guy who loves to play this much get one more shot somewhere, but another part of me really wants him to stick around and be on the staff immediately.

[kobe_vs_jordan]

Spoiler:

The Hornets had to spend money either this offseason or next. Would it have been better to spend that money next offseason when a lot more teams will have cap space? Or this offseason when almost no teams had space? It's a lot harder to sign good players in free agency when you're competing against more teams for the same player.

I'd also like to remind everyone that the Pacers were going to pay Hayward 105/4 and trade away Turner to do so. So maybe some of the posters on this forum (and more importantly folks in the media) should step back a bit and reevaluate their opinions.

Theres a decent chance the only reason Indy was willing to do that was due to ownership wanting it.

In any event it still would have been a terrible contract and an abysmal trade.

Sent from my SM-A716U using RealGM mobile app

Even then, Pacers are a good team already. Makes sense to add Hayward and try to raise the ceiling.

I don't see the vision for Hornets. Do they have their young core of the future? Are we sure they a .500 team b/c they severely limited their future flexibility.

[NYG]

You think there's anything major to play out before the season or is it mostly just minor touch-ups left?

[Texas Chuck]

You think there's anything major to play out before the season or is it mostly just minor touch-ups left?

I think James Harden is definitely in play. Won't happen before the season if nobody steps up with a real offer, but I absolutely think Houston would trade him now if someone gets serious.

[NYG]

You think there's anything major to play out before the season or is it mostly just minor touch-ups left?

I think James Harden is definitely in play. Won't happen before the season if nobody steps up with a real offer, but I absolutely think Houston would trade him now if someone gets serious.

That's what makes me think it's going to be a random team we're not expecting. I think if you take the average of (value AD got) + (value Kawhi got), it will be what ultimately ends up meeting the completed Harden deal.

[kobe_vs_jordan]

You think there's anything major to play out before the season or is it mostly just minor touch-ups left?

I think James Harden is definitely in play. Won't happen before the season if nobody steps up with a real offer, but I absolutely think Houston would trade him now if someone gets serious.

That's what makes me think it's going to be a random team we're not expecting. I think if you take the average of (value AD got) + (value Kawhi got), it will be what ultimately ends up meeting the completed Harden deal.

Could see Miami or Raptors stepping in if the price gets too low.