Next Charlotte Hornet.....Can drive...Can shoot...

[Proudiddy]

During the combine, the guys compared him to Larry Johnson.

 

I'd love that pick.

[Zaximus]

I dont know if I would go out and sign Jefferson. I'd just play Biz along with Bennett. With the no.4 spot, Cho gotta be thinking about next year draft already. It's beyond dumb to not tank the season again and hope for a better player in 2014 (Wiggins, Parker, Randle).

 

I disagree.  This isn't the NFL where you are guarenteed a pick.  We just got the 4th pick, as clear evidence.  The worst team hasn't got the first pick in what, 9-10 years?  Not to mention we need to ride the momentum of name change with some more exciting basketball.   We need to sell tickets.   If we can sign someone like Jefferson, Millsap, or both, we'd be a much better team.  We've never really had a presense down low that can actually score some points.   You CAN get free agents and build a good team in the NBA, it's different than NFL/MLB.    We need to sign quality people right now and THEN hope to get players in the draft.

[yasuhara2241]

I disagree.  This isn't the NFL where you are guarenteed a pick.  We just got the 4th pick, as clear evidence.  The worst team hasn't got the first pick in what, 9-10 years?  Not to mention we need to ride the momentum of name change with some more exciting basketball.   We need to sell tickets.   If we can sign someone like Jefferson, Millsap, or both, we'd be a much better team.  We've never really had a presense down low that can actually score some points.   You CAN get free agents and build a good team in the NBA, it's different than NFL/MLB.    We need to sign quality people right now and THEN hope to get players in the draft.

I have to disagree with you and side with Chuck on this one. In the NBA small market teams can get decent free agents but not star free agents. 

 

2 ways for a small market team to grow in NBA

 

1. Find a superstar in the draft and groom them. Lets be honest, we have been terrible in the draft but are we so different from other teams who have yet to get a bonafied superstar? Cavs, Bucks, Portland, Toronto, Wiz are all teams that have sucked for yrs and guess what they have all had the #1 pick. 

 

2. Be as patient as hell and build your team through the draft. People say the OKC model. We can't say them because they found a superstar in the draft. I say the Indiana Pacer / Memphis Grizzly model. They never found their superstar but after many many yrs of suckage they were able to get a balanced TEAM. 

 

2014 draft is going to be very deep. We can suck as the Bobcats one more year before we are a whole lot better as the Hornets in 2014. 

[Wesmesss]

I have to disagree with you and side with Chuck on this one. In the NBA small market teams can get decent free agents but not star free agents. 

 

2 ways for a small market team to grow in NBA

 

1. Find a superstar in the draft and groom them. Lets be honest, we have been terrible in the draft but are we so different from other teams who have yet to get a bonafied superstar? Cavs, Bucks, Portland, Toronto, Wiz are all teams that have sucked for yrs and guess what they have all had the #1 pick. 

 

2. Be as patient as hell and build your team through the draft. People say the OKC model. We can't say them because they found a superstar in the draft. I say the Indiana Pacer / Memphis Grizzly model. They never found their superstar but after many many yrs of suckage they were able to get a balanced TEAM. 

 

2014 draft is going to be very deep. We can suck as the Bobcats one more year before we are a whole lot better as the Hornets in 2014. 

 

Cavs haven't found their superstar? Kyrie Irving??

[yasuhara2241]

Cavs haven't found their superstar? Kyrie Irving??

 

Ok they have found their guy, but it doesn't change the fact that they have been very lucky in the draft and still have sucked. The difference between Cleveland and Charlotte? Both teams have sucked but Cleveland has a glimmer of hope in the future. Now even moreso.

[GotSwag?]

Ive been on the Bennett wagon all along.

[Ship]

I think this year is going to be too much of a breaking point for us to tank again the way we have. From a pure numbers point of view, sure you suck as many years as you have to to get as many top picks and hopefully star players as you need to make a formidable team, but in reality I don't think we can keep doing this much longer. You have to think some of the core pieces we've got right now are gonna be sick of it and want to leave if we're just losing every year. If I were Kemba I wouldn't want to stick around here after my rookie deal if I can't even win more than 20 games a season. Same for MKG. Especially since we've already said we're going to go big in FA and we're going to have the money to do it, this is the offseason where we grab the best player we can in the draft and then fill in the other two starting spots with top money FAs. 

 

Hopefully then we have a solid season next year and then package our draft picks/player for one of the all-stars in 2014, if we really think we need to.

 

Also I don't get why people are still thinking McLemore is gonna be a star. If you can't show up in the NCAA tournament then you don't have the fire to be a star. Drafting him and having him talk to MJ isn't gonna give him the fire either. Oladipo is the guy with the fire and if we go SG I hope it'll be him.

[Zaximus]

I have to disagree with you and side with Chuck on this one. In the NBA small market teams can get decent free agents but not star free agents. 

 

2 ways for a small market team to grow in NBA

 

1. Find a superstar in the draft and groom them. Lets be honest, we have been terrible in the draft but are we so different from other teams who have yet to get a bonafied superstar? Cavs, Bucks, Portland, Toronto, Wiz are all teams that have sucked for yrs and guess what they have all had the #1 pick. 

 

2. Be as patient as hell and build your team through the draft. People say the OKC model. We can't say them because they found a superstar in the draft. I say the Indiana Pacer / Memphis Grizzly model. They never found their superstar but after many many yrs of suckage they were able to get a balanced TEAM. 

 

2014 draft is going to be very deep. We can suck as the Bobcats one more year before we are a whole lot better as the Hornets in 2014. 

 

 

The fact that you are trying to make a point based on failed picks by other teams just enforces the reason to sign FA's.  Memphis signed Randolph as a FA and it helped push them over the edge.  Tony Allen and Prince?  Both were FA pick ups.   This IMO pushes more to the fact that, you SHOULD sign quality FAs.   You can't just wait around for the draft, you don't know where you'll pick.  It's nice and if you do find a superstar you can THEN build around, but to just be terrible year after year, not signing FA help, in hopes that maybe you'll get a once a decade player like LBJ or Durrant, is silly.  This team needs fans in the seats and some excitement, just a name change won't do this, we need to at least be fun to watch.   Time really isn't on our side.

[yasuhara2241]

The fact that you are trying to make a point based on failed picks by other teams just enforces the reason to sign FA's.  Memphis signed Randolph as a FA and it helped push them over the edge.  Tony Allen and Prince?  Both were FA pick ups.   This IMO pushes more to the fact that, you SHOULD sign quality FAs.   You can't just wait around for the draft, you don't know where you'll pick.  It's nice and if you do find a superstar you can THEN build around, but to just be terrible year after year, not signing FA help, in hopes that maybe you'll get a once a decade player like LBJ or Durrant, is silly.  This team needs fans in the seats and some excitement, just a name change won't do this, we need to at least be fun to watch.   Time really isn't on our side.

 

I understand your point however Randolph and Prince were traded to Memphis. They were traded in exchange for ex draft pics. 

 

Tony Allen was a FA pick-up and was hardly a huge signing for them 3 yrs 9.7Mill. You can say we are trying that when we picked up Sessions. Both are Role Players. 

 

We pick up a good FA and then we are back in mediocrity forever once again. That is my concern. If we build slowly we will have a better chance at having a lengthy playoff run

[Zaximus]

I still count trading as FA pickups in a way.  But I understand what you mean about mediocrity.  The question is, would you rather make the playoffs (low seed) almost yearly, or keep waiting and waiting on a superstar, not making playoffs, in hopes one drops?   I don't know, getting to the playoffs is big, at least you have a chance.  This sounds pretty bad but, I hardly ever expect us to have a team that will compete in the finals year after year.  Not in the NBA.   But to make the playoffs often and then maybe get lucky here and there and go deeper, could happen. 

 

Then the point that, we need to start making money to keep the team here.  That year we did make the playoffs, the hype was building.  I know we didn't go anywhere, but the hype was there.  Even if we make fringe playoffs 2-3 years in a row and get taken out fast, it'll still bring people to the games and make money, and keep some excitement.

[yasuhara2241]

Don't get me wrong I want to win now. I want to be competitive . I hate going to games and getting blown out. I hate it that I have to take solace in small victories like Kemba is shooting as bad, Bismack is actually catching the ball, or MKG making a jump shot. 

 

But once again Im going all in 2014 and honestly am expecting a lot of improvement. I hope it happens. 

[carolina-chuck]

I like Bennet but I don't think 6'7 PF work in today's Nba. Then you have a really smal front court with him and BIZ.

 

I love the kid, but that's what I'm worried about.

[carpanfan96]

I love the kid, but that's what I'm worried about.

 

His wingspan really makes him a 6-10/6-11 type of player. So not worried about his height at all.  You don't look at height, look at weight, playing style, wingspan and athleticism if a player can make the jump to the NBA.

 

 

For instance, Anthony Davis is 6-10, but actually plays more like a 7-1/7-2 guy because of his wingspan and athleticism   

[carolina-chuck]

His wingspan really makes him a 6-10/6-11 type of player. So not worried about his height at all.  You don't look at height, look at weight, playing style, wingspan and athleticism if a player can make the jump to the NBA.

 

 

For instance, Anthony Davis is 6-10, but actually plays more like a 7-1/7-2 guy because of his wingspan and athleticism   

 

I get that, but I dont know if I want to see a Bennett vs. Randolph match up.