Pick for the Hornets 13 & 15

[Duke4life831]

Am I alone in slightly preferring Kessler to Williams? In the vids I've watched he looks more agile on defense. His defensive impact metrics are also better. His shooting needs a lot of work though and they're close enough defensively for that to be a sticking point. So I guess it would come down to preference and intangibles. I think they're both being underrated a bit, they were both McDonald's All-Americans in last year's stacked draft class. Duren has a higher ceiling than both of them because of his athleticism, but I'd be happy with any of the 3.

Other than one of those guys I'd like the team to target Dyson Daniels. He fits a team need in perimeter defense, he fits the offensive scheme with his plus passing, and he should be able to contribute off the bench while he develops. If he's not there Ochai Ogbaji would be the fall back.

Mark is the much more agile defender compared to Kessler. Mark may not be the most explosive leaper, but he is a hell of an athlete outside of that for his size. Speed, quickness, and lateral ability Mark has the comfortable lead over Kessler.

I also really fail to see why Duren has the higher ceiling. Ya Duren is a more explosive athlete, but what does that do for him? Mark's defensive awareness is on a completely different level, Mark's size and length is elite even in the NBA, Duren's isn't. Then on the offensive end, Mark is the much better FT shooter, it's been limited but has shown good natural touch with his jumper. Is a better lob threat than Duren and he has a really reliable hook shot.

I'm just not really sure where I see the Duren advantage either than age and explosiveness. And I think Mark more than makes up for that with his elite size and far more advanced defensive awareness.

[SelfishPlayer]

LaMelo is the only untouchable franchise guy there. I don't think that they should draft a big man to slow down LaMelo. They can always sign a vet and/or trade for one. They should lean more towards perimeter guys that are ready to play right now rather than go high upside super inexperienced. Ochai Agbaji a sweet shooting super athletic SG/SF and Jabari Walker a good rebounding perimeter oriented PF/SF that can shoot and put the ball on the floor would be good fits with LaMelo.

[amcoolio]

Dyson Daniels being 6'8" now reportedly makes it really hard not to want to pair LaMelo with that guy.

[amcoolio]

I'm also in the camp of not trading the picks because Charlotte needs to follow the Memphis model and draft high IQ two way players. Why give up two chances in the top 15 in a first round full of interesting defensive and two-way talent. Kupchak has drafted well but the defense is sorely lacking.

I fully believe Bouknight and Kai Jones (and possibly even Thor) will be strong rotation players for the Hornets in a year or two. They both flashed potential the little playing time they got.

[Big J]

Trade both picks & Hayward for Gobert.

[Goldbum]

This is self sering as a Blazer fan but
#6 Sharpe
4
#13 D.Daniels
#15 Sochan or Eason
Hornets swing for the fences
Portland drafts 2 plus defender/playmakers

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

This is self sering as a Blazer fan but
#6 Sharpe
4
#13 D.Daniels
#15 Sochan or Eason
Hornets swing for the fences
Portland drafts 2 plus defender/playmakers

As a Charlotte fan, I would do this even if Sharpe wasn't there.

[Nazrmohamed]

Only two players have made themselves matter so far on the Hornets: LaMelo and Miles.

I would like to see them draft Dyson Daniels. If they can trade up for Sharpe, they should. If they can trade up for Duren, they should. I also like Jeremy Sochan and Tari Eason. Even if they are able to draft a Duren or get lucky into the top 4, I would like them to spend the season letting all their young bigs get major minutes and not worry about their record. Put the pressure on Melo to be the leader instead of being so aloof.

How'd you feel about moving up to pick 11.

[Ell Curry]

Mark Williams would be my pick for the Hornets at 13

im not a huge Bouknight guy so at 15 i'd go best 2 guard available, Sharpe, Davis, Mathurin or Christie whoever is available.

Cleveland picks 14 and can't go with a center. Unless they move the pick, you're fine to take Williams at 15 I think and instead go for a guy Cleveland might like at 14 too, like Agbaji (perfect Cleveland fit) or Tari Eason.

[Ell Curry]

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Pelton has 15 and 13 as worth between the 2nd and 3rd pick, which seems kind of insane, but I looked at 6-10 years ago (because those players are who they are by now basically) and #13 or #15 included guys like Giannis, Lavine, Kawhi and Booker and lots of busts at 2 or 3 so it does seem to check out.

Can't see the top 3 moving and OKC doesn't need more picks, but using the current draft order, maybe Indiana moving #5 for 13 and 15 for 5 isn't crazy, or Portland at 6 or Sacramento at 7. All those teams need a starting forward and I think at the moment I'd bet on 4-7 only maybe including Keegan Murray in that group (Ivey, Sharpe, Mathurin the others, as I have them ahead of Griffin) so maybe going from Keegan Murray to hoping one of Davis (a 2 guard, but those teams aren't set there really apart from Duarte in Indy and he can probably be a 2/3), Sochan or Eason fall to 13 is worth also getting the #15 pick, especially for rebuilding teams which Indiana and Sacramento might not want to be but should think of themselves as. They could draft a project with great tools like Kendall Brown or a potential starting center in Mark Williams or a guy from the next tier who they love after workouts that will be moving up over the next few months as always occur, or literally any foreign player since only Daniels might be gone.

[MasterIchiro]

Mark Williams would be my pick for the Hornets at 13

im not a huge Bouknight guy so at 15 i'd go best 2 guard available, Sharpe, Davis, Mathurin or Christie whoever is available.

Cleveland picks 14 and can't go with a center. Unless they move the pick, you're fine to take Williams at 15 I think and instead go for a guy Cleveland might like at 14 too, like Agbaji (perfect Cleveland fit) or Tari Eason.

This should be our strategy because it's obvious Cavs won't take a center nor would any center in this range entice teams to move up to 14. The MLE market is packed with centers in this free agent class. So no way am I letting the Cavs get to Agbaji here. Since I also want Eason, I know the Cavs will retaliate and take Tari 14.

[Ell Curry]

Mark Williams would be my pick for the Hornets at 13

im not a huge Bouknight guy so at 15 i'd go best 2 guard available, Sharpe, Davis, Mathurin or Christie whoever is available.

Cleveland picks 14 and can't go with a center. Unless they move the pick, you're fine to take Williams at 15 I think and instead go for a guy Cleveland might like at 14 too, like Agbaji (perfect Cleveland fit) or Tari Eason.

This should be our strategy because it's obvious Cavs won't take a center nor would any center in this range entice teams to move up to 14. The MLE market is packed with centers in this free agent class. So no way am I letting the Cavs get to Agbaji here. Since I also want Eason, I know the Cavs will retaliate and take Tari 14.

I could maybe see the Bulls trying to go from 18 to 14 to get Williams to be Vucevic's backup (nice change of pace) and eventual starter to anchor the middle for Lavine, Dosunmu, White and Williams and whoever they eventually replace Demar with, but yeah probably safe.

[toooskies]

Mark Williams would be my pick for the Hornets at 13

im not a huge Bouknight guy so at 15 i'd go best 2 guard available, Sharpe, Davis, Mathurin or Christie whoever is available.

Cleveland picks 14 and can't go with a center. Unless they move the pick, you're fine to take Williams at 15 I think and instead go for a guy Cleveland might like at 14 too, like Agbaji (perfect Cleveland fit) or Tari Eason.

This should be our strategy because it's obvious Cavs won't take a center nor would any center in this range entice teams to move up to 14. The MLE market is packed with centers in this free agent class. So no way am I letting the Cavs get to Agbaji here. Since I also want Eason, I know the Cavs will retaliate and take Tari 14.

I just want to note that it's possible the Cavs take a C here. Mobley's a PF until he beefs up, and is years away from adding the 25+ pounds to do that while maintaining his agility-- he can play small-ball C but gets eaten alive by bigger Cs like Zubac or Adams, let alone Jokic or Embiid. The Cavs were a Jarrett Allen injury away from playing guys on 10-day contracts, and two injuries away from starting them at C.

Backup C is their 3rd biggest short-term need behind a taller backup PG and taller shooter wing, and needs to be upgraded from Ed Davis for the Cavs to have a successful offseason. They're more likely to grab a guy at #39 or roll with another veteran minimum guy, but Ed Davis and Moses Brown shouldn't be the backup plan.

Mark Williams also plays offensively a lot like JA, with lots of high efficiency lobs and pocket passes turning into dunks around the rim. He'd fit with what the Cavs do.

I don't see the Cavs taking a smaller wing like Agbaji while they have the Sexton/LeVert/Okoro trio jostling for SG minutes, even if those guys aren't the long term answers there. You don't expect #14 to start and you wouldn't want him waiting behind three other guys for minutes.

If the Cavs need to reach to find an ideal backup SF or PG, they could definitely just go with Williams or trade down.

[MasterIchiro]

I'm still taking Agbaji 13 unless Eason is there. The only center I would take 13 is Duren.

[SelfishPlayer]

The Hornets are in a great position. Don't try to overthink it by going with high potential unknowns or centers. You already have your superstar playmaker and another potential all star, scorer just try to find two guys that can start for 8+ years. Tari Eason, Ochai Agbaji, Kendall Brown, Malaki Branham, Jabari Walker, and maybe EJ Liddell all look like what I consider high floor guys that will stick around the league and hold value as a trade asset. All of those guys can play with your superstar and develop value. MarJon Beauchamp, Johnny Juzang, and Gabriel Procida look like overall fits. Dyson Daniels looks like a questionable fit only because he's a playmaker and may never develop enough trade value.

[BostonCouchGM]

Kai Jones will be their 5. People forgot he was drafted because Borrego refused to play him. When he finally does start people will realize how dumb Borrego was for not playing him and how absurd it is to suggest the smaller Duren should be drafted to be their center. Now, if you want to take Williams and play Jones at the 4 in a JJJ type role then that makes sense. If I’m CHA I’m taking a 3 and D wing to eventually replace Hayward or Bridges if he leaves, with the other pick.

Borrego didn't buck management. The organization reached consensus about the development timeline for Kai the day he was drafted. Their projections matched Borrego's handling of Kai. He needs an NBA body. I do like him as a versatile 5 who can close and switch to the perimeter like JJJ, recover and protect the rim. Drop back centers like Adams are once again getting played off the floor.

As far as pick 13, I would consider the Cavs have pick 14 and could steal a player I want at 15. That is why I would take Ochai Agbaji 13 and hold off on Williams who I love as a classic rim protector. He erases the rim. But with Allen and Mobley, Cavs aren't taking Williams. He will be there 15. Cavs might take Agbaji though. He has guard skills and they need that. He could be an upgrade to Okoro. We could use Agbaji as a wing defender and backup PG down the road, and let Cody Martin walk. He's a senior and ready to join a rotation right now. We need to save money on Martin and maybe try to trade him for picks like Graham.

So my strategy would be Agbaji 13 and Williams 15. I would still offer the MLE (4 years 44.5 million) to Nic Claxton and hope to start Claxton, back him with Kai and Williams. Throw in JT Thor and Jalen McDaniels and we have some interesting closing lineups with our frontcourt.

lol wut? tell me you've never seen Kai Jones on a basketall court without telling me you haven't seen him on a basketball court. He legit has some of the best combo of size/length/athleticism in the league. He's a slightly taller Robert Williams. Here is the guy who "needs an NBA body"

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and he was languishing on the bench, not being used, while Borrego ran with a laughable rotation of bigs which was the main reason why they lost so many games. Borrego would not have been fired had he and management "reached consensus" No chance. Borrego wanted a vet instead of the athletic rim running, rim protecting Kai Jones and it cost the team. The kid averaged 18-11 with a steal and two blocks a game. He is literally everything that team needed and why he was drafted. Why would management want him languishing on the bench? Makes zero sense. They have a young team so you can't use youth as an excuse. The only viable explanation is Borrego. You'll never convince me that Kai Jones couldn't get similar minutes and make a similar impact this year, while developing with the other kids, as Claxton, and Isaiah Jackson did with their respective teams. It was a lost season for him and Borrego is the reason. He should have been getting 12-15 mpg at minimum. Yes there would be growing pains, missed assignments and fouls. But those would be offset by his energy, versatility and game changing plays (dunks, blocks)

[MasterIchiro]

I've seen plenty of GLeague games and watched Kai's film. I follow our prospects. We use our Gleague team with a purpose - develop prospects on a level above NCAA. Kai is the same age as Keegan Murray. Murray developed this season in NCAA, Kai in a higher level Gleague. So nothing is lost.

I'm well aware Kai has the same standing reach as Jarrett Allen but with superior athleticism, handles, plus an outside shot. When I say his body is not NBA ready I'm talking about body weight and strength needed to position and bang in the paint with NBA bigs. Even there Kai worked on his body this past season. Nothing lost. He faced Gleague bigs instead of NBA bigs, so that was appropriate for his current body weight.

I have pushed back against every trade proposal where teams try to poach him. There's one now where he goes for Christian Wood. Lol. He's untouchable. I firmly believe that. Kai stated in his exit interview he learned alot this season and grew on both ends.

It's nonsense to think a young coach would buck his boss who's been around the game since before every current NBA player was born. Kupchak reentered the draft to land Kai. He stalked Kai.

Then just forgot about him because rogue coach put one over on him and he decided not to intervene because reasons? Because GM in the business of squandering and neglecting talent he stalked originally?

Hornets take a minor league baseball approach to development. Some basketball fans don't have a concept of minor leagues. But baseball fans are used to following prospect across multiple levels of ball, 5-6 different levels across 3-4 years or more.

Kai stayed in school an extra year and spent one year in Gleague. It was just the first step in his development plan. His intentional purposeful plan outlined by a vet GM.

[shangrila]

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Pelton has 15 and 13 as worth between the 2nd and 3rd pick, which seems kind of insane, but I looked at 6-10 years ago (because those players are who they are by now basically) and #13 or #15 included guys like Giannis, Lavine, Kawhi and Booker and lots of busts at 2 or 3 so it does seem to check out.

Can't see the top 3 moving and OKC doesn't need more picks, but using the current draft order, maybe Indiana moving #5 for 13 and 15 for 5 isn't crazy, or Portland at 6 or Sacramento at 7. All those teams need a starting forward and I think at the moment I'd bet on 4-7 only maybe including Keegan Murray in that group (Ivey, Sharpe, Mathurin the others, as I have them ahead of Griffin) so maybe going from Keegan Murray to hoping one of Davis (a 2 guard, but those teams aren't set there really apart from Duarte in Indy and he can probably be a 2/3), Sochan or Eason fall to 13 is worth also getting the #15 pick, especially for rebuilding teams which Indiana and Sacramento might not want to be but should think of themselves as. They could draft a project with great tools like Kendall Brown or a potential starting center in Mark Williams or a guy from the next tier who they love after workouts that will be moving up over the next few months as always occur, or literally any foreign player since only Daniels might be gone.

It’s a moronic take. Nobody is trading a top 3 pick for 13 and 15.

Pelton is wildly off on the values of the higher picks.

[zimpy27]

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Pelton has 15 and 13 as worth between the 2nd and 3rd pick, which seems kind of insane, but I looked at 6-10 years ago (because those players are who they are by now basically) and #13 or #15 included guys like Giannis, Lavine, Kawhi and Booker and lots of busts at 2 or 3 so it does seem to check out.

Can't see the top 3 moving and OKC doesn't need more picks, but using the current draft order, maybe Indiana moving #5 for 13 and 15 for 5 isn't crazy, or Portland at 6 or Sacramento at 7. All those teams need a starting forward and I think at the moment I'd bet on 4-7 only maybe including Keegan Murray in that group (Ivey, Sharpe, Mathurin the others, as I have them ahead of Griffin) so maybe going from Keegan Murray to hoping one of Davis (a 2 guard, but those teams aren't set there really apart from Duarte in Indy and he can probably be a 2/3), Sochan or Eason fall to 13 is worth also getting the #15 pick, especially for rebuilding teams which Indiana and Sacramento might not want to be but should think of themselves as. They could draft a project with great tools like Kendall Brown or a potential starting center in Mark Williams or a guy from the next tier who they love after workouts that will be moving up over the next few months as always occur, or literally any foreign player since only Daniels might be gone.

It’s a moronic take. Nobody is trading a top 3 pick for 13 and 15.

Pelton is wildly off on the values of the higher picks.

Pelton says that teams pay a premium to move up. What that means I'd that they overpay on the values he's set.

I would trade pick 6 for 13 and 15 in this draft.

[tmorgan]

Yeah, this a good draft to sit on 13 and 15.

Many drafts have a near exponential talent/potential increase as you reach the top. This one does not. The bigs are a clear top 3, plus wherever you fit in mystery box Sharpe, but I’m pretty sure I’d prefer 13+15 to even pick 5 right now. Now if you love Ivey, Mathurin, Murray or someone after workouts, you can make a move up with those picks pretty easily, i imagine.

Don’t think Eason lasts that long, though.