The Draft Thread/Center,Center,Center

[AppHeel]

This thread is off the rails lol - I keep reading about how we need to take Luke Garza at 11 when he will likely be there at pick 56.

In the NBA lottery you draft for talent over need. Higher upside wings will be there at 11 than big men imo. If you go big at 11, I really like Isaiah Jackson. If you don't get a big at 11, there will be plenty of opportunity to address in trade or FA.

[rippadonn]

3 hours ago, jayboogieman said:

Haven't watched that video. If the third Ball brother doesn't shoot or play defense any better than his brothers, he would have to be a hard pass. The Hornets need scoring and defense instead of another ball handler.

LiAngelo is a 6'5" SG with a nice shot, 2nd brother. None of our SG are above 6'3" now. That would be a size upgrade. Is he a better player than Malik? I think the 3pt shot may be equal or better. Ball has the height advantage and probably fits a rotation with Miles if you wanted a big lineup on the floor. Gotta get big at center though.

[rippadonn]

32 minutes ago, AppHeel said:

This thread is off the rails lol - I keep reading about how we need to take Luke Garza at 11 when he will likely be there at pick 56.

In the NBA lottery you draft for talent over need. Higher upside wings will be there at 11 than big men imo. If you go big at 11, I really like Isaiah Jackson. If you don't get a big at 11, there will be plenty of opportunity to address in trade or FA.

This whole thread came after someone asked Mitch what they need to be better. They did touch on Malik but the main point of improvement for him was center, "several" centers. We need size upfront more than anything. Our backcourt is fine if they keep Graham and Rozier, they both play SG. Add a SG in FA if Malik leaves and we're good.

Oh, the gentleman asked if I thought Garza was worth #11 this year. I said I would pick a Cockburn or Garza at 11 because we need a scoring big with size desperately.

Nothing crazy about needing a dump truck. Badly.

Edited June 29, 2021 by rippadonn

[AppHeel]

17 hours ago, rippadonn said:

This whole thread came after someone asked Mitch what they need to be better. They did touch on Malik but the main point of improvement for him was center, "several" centers. We need size upfront more than anything. Our backcourt is fine if they keep Graham and Rozier, they both play SG. Add a SG in FA if Malik leaves and we're good.

Oh, the gentleman asked if I thought Garza was worth #11 this year. I said I would pick a Cockburn or Garza at 11 because we need a scoring big with size desperately.

Nothing crazy about needing a dump truck. Badly.

The good news is, that whoever we get at center is an upgrade to Biz/Zeller. The bar is super low. I think Vernon Carey can be that dump truck you're looking for. Plus, he's got higher upside than Garza imo.

The argument for a wing like Wagner, Moody, Bouknight, etc at 11 is that we saw how much this team struggled when all those guards/wings got hurt last year. No offense to Caleb Martin, but playing him heavy minutes for a team aspiring to make the playoffs isn't a winning recipe. I think the wings have higher upside than the bigs at 11. 

Edited June 30, 2021 by AppHeel

[KatsAzz]

One of the biggest needs for the Hornets is a center but it’ll be interesting to see whether general manager Mitch Kupchak decides to use the best player available strategy or draft based on need.

The class at the center position isn’t too deep. After USC’s Evan Mobley, who will likely be a top-three pick, the pool is slim. But there still might be some options at pick 11.

Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham is likely to be the No. 1 pick by the Detroit Pistons, followed by either Evan Mobley or Jalen Suggs. After that, Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Green are the likeliest to round out the top five.

[Shocker]

Garza is a serviceable backup at best.  He isn't the answer.

[bLACKpANTHER]

The only Big Men I'd be interested in at #11 are Kai Jones (from Texas) and Sengun (Turkey)..

Kai Jones has all the measurables and look and feel.. but he is a project, similar to Wiseman.. don't expect him to contribute a ton his rookie year.. he disapears in spots when he should be dominating with his size and athleticism..

Sengun is an offensive force but a defensive liability - which is mostly the case with Euro players - but he has shown interest in playing defense, which is key.. he has great offensive post moves and is working on developing a reliable 3pt shot..

I'd probably be more interested in a wing player.. and addressing the C position during free agency..

[WOW!!]

On 6/28/2021 at 7:41 PM, rippadonn said:

Really, lol. 

I'm correct about Kofi AND Garza. Let's just see who's NBA ready. Lol!

"Unhealthy" I focused on centers we can actually draft.

You're talking about a guy who's out of reach, even IF he gains enough weight to be a center night in night out in the NBA.

 

 

So if neither starts day 1 will you remember this thread?? 

I bet neither sees a minute of a regular season game in the 1st 3 months of the season if they get drafted at all..

Just because we can draft them doesn't mean their worth drafting... And we have 2 young C already on the roster who are already developmental prospect.. Why add more...

And I only brought up Mobley because he is the only day 1 starting center in this draft.. No other 5 (maybe Sengun) is starting 1st night of the season... Everybody else need way more development before becoming starters...

That is reality no matter who you like..

[WOW!!]

11 hours ago, bLACKpANTHER said:

The only Big Men I'd be interested in at #11 are Kai Jones (from Texas) and Sengun (Turkey)..

Kai Jones has all the measurables and look and feel.. but he is a project, similar to Wiseman.. don't expect him to contribute a ton his rookie year.. he disapears in spots when he should be dominating with his size and athleticism..

Sengun is an offensive force but a defensive liability - which is mostly the case with Euro players - but he has shown interest in playing defense, which is key.. he has great offensive post moves and is working on developing a reliable 3pt shot..

I'd probably be more interested in a wing player.. and addressing the C position during free agency..

The team is looking to win.. So I have no doubt they aren't depending on drafting a starting C in the draft.. Mitch is way to smart and can see how this draft is playing out.. And if he wants a contribution from this year draft it will be at Wing.. This draft isn't strong with lottery bigmen.. Hopefully we are definitely looking at the FA route for a starting big...

[rippadonn]

I'll just list my credentials, on this here site I was one of the few on the Justin Herbert Official Bandwagon. Now what? OROY. 

Guys were ragging on me because I was on the Kyle Trask Official Bandwagon. Guys here said he was noodles armed garbage. I continued so say he threw for more yards and touchdowns than your guy. Now what? Picked high second round by Tampa backing up Tom friggin Brady.

I'm on the OFFICIAL KOFI COCKBURN BANDWAGON now. IF Mitch picks him up we're good. He'll be fun to watch with Melo and we'll have 7'0 285lbs (NBA body) at center who's game and stature is in the mold of the great Shaq. Very much like him, monster dunks and all.

HE is the second best Center prospect in this draft and we can pick him if we want/need him. I'll scream BPA all day in the football sense of the term but NBA? Nah, if a good/great dumptruck is what you need to make more money don't buy a Camaro.

[rippadonn]

Having Melo, all the guys who may stay, (Graham, Rozier) and all the possible and plentiful FA wings available, wing isn't as important. You just need a guy. Melo is a scoring PG/G.

You just need your Shaq to his Kobe. Good/great bigs at 7'0 285lbs isn't a body type that is cranked out every day. For one of those body types to be as gifted an athlete as Kofi is, is rare.

[rippadonn]

On 5/26/2021 at 11:51 AM, rippadonn said:

 

 

[AppHeel]

On 6/30/2021 at 11:15 AM, bLACKpANTHER said:

The only Big Men I'd be interested in at #11 are Kai Jones (from Texas) and Sengun (Turkey)..

Kai Jones has all the measurables and look and feel.. but he is a project, similar to Wiseman.. don't expect him to contribute a ton his rookie year.. he disapears in spots when he should be dominating with his size and athleticism..

Sengun is an offensive force but a defensive liability - which is mostly the case with Euro players - but he has shown interest in playing defense, which is key.. he has great offensive post moves and is working on developing a reliable 3pt shot..

I'd probably be more interested in a wing player.. and addressing the C position during free agency..

Thoughts on Isaiah Jackson from Kentucky?

Doesn't have the offensive floor that Jones or Sengun have, but I think his ceiling is higher than most think.

Defensively, he's already way ahead of the other two. He led the SEC in block and rebound rate last year and as he gets stronger, the high floor for those skillsets should get even higher. Not only can he rim protect, he's really mobile and can switch on the perimeter.

Really good court runner and playmaker on break/in post. Plus, he's played with LaMelo before.

He's my favorite big prospect after Mobley - but totally understand why 11 is too high for him.

 

[bLACKpANTHER]

29 minutes ago, AppHeel said:

Thoughts on Isaiah Jackson from Kentucky?

Doesn't have the offensive floor that Jones or Sengun have, but I think his ceiling is higher than most think.

Defensively, he's already way ahead of the other two. He led the SEC in block and rebound rate last year and as he gets stronger, the high floor for those skillsets should get even higher. Not only can he rim protect, he's really mobile and can switch on the perimeter.

Really good court runner and playmaker on break/in post. Plus, he's played with LaMelo before.

He's my favorite big prospect after Mobley - but totally understand why 11 is too high for him.

 

I just don't see a high ceiling with him.. he is def more of a 'sure thing' than Kai and Sengun - but their ceilings are way higher, IMO.. Sengun could be our version of Nurkic.. or Kai could be Dwight Howard.. or they could both fizzle out..

also Jackson isn't huge.. I'd like more height or weight on him.. he's about PJ's height - maybe an inch taller.. Miles is already a tweener SF/PF and PJ is a tweener PF/C.. I don't want another tweener.. we need bulk up front..

if we were picking later - maybe.. but with #11 - naw.. just my thoughts

Edited July 1, 2021 by bLACKpANTHER