Not at 4 I don’t think. But if they trade down, say to #8, that’s a possibility. I read Boston was high on him.
My closing argument for Bailey…
I can’t help but to keep thinking back to the Kobe situation. The situation this franchise has been UNFAIRLY ridiculed for, for decades. A situation we should learn from nonetheless. A situation that saw us hand over a future hall of fame, all time great and the closest thing to Jordan for an old established center we only kept for two years.
Kobe was a fresh out of high school kid before that was a common thing to do with the Audacity to (if not outright refuse to play for Charlotte or other teams) declare specifically who he wanted play for and threaten to go overseas if not granted that opportunity. Again, this a high school kid. A complete unknown at the time. Who had a clue he would be what he became. But he had the gaul to pull this move.
Similarly, we have Ace whose representation is trying to pull the limited levers at their disposal to dictate exactly where he goes. No, we can’t say that Ace would ever be anywhere close to Kobe. But He has just as much if not more upside than anyone could have seen in Kobe at that time.
Knowing what we know now, no one in their right mind would pass on Kobe regardless of his efforts to dictate where he wanted to go. You’re calling his bluff and drafting him. So why in 2025 would the very franchise who has suffered essentially ever since that fateful decision some 30 years ago… why would we allow, another 18 year old, by all accounts good character kid with poor representation, who is uber talented with the greatest upside potentially available when we draft, to slip through our hands yet again?
Even if you think the team should be built around Melo and Brandon which I agree with, too much talent at this point in our roster build is never the wrong decision. At the least, if they don’t mesh, talent equals trade assets. But Melo (health wise) and Brandon are not so established that you pass on the most talented option for fit concerns. There just is no scenario for this franchise in particular to pass on Bailey if you believe he is the most talented, highest upside player available and I believe that to be the case if he is available at 4.
I appreciate and respect how quiet our front office is. I think that’s an underrated quality. But. The starving fan in me needs the dopamine hit of some juicy, tasty hornets rumors. Unless I don’t like the rumors. So in that case…just stay quiet and disappoint me in the moment without warning-opposed to a growing sense of anticipatory grief.
I played the 5 all my life and grew up watching Big Al low post highlights trying to imitate them. I always will have a soft spot for centers especially ones who can play on the low block.
I was a big Sengun fan that draft as well, however, I feel like Sengun had a game that would translate much easier to the NBA’s than Queen. I’d love to see a guy like Queen work, but I have a feeling he won’t.
Same here. I was always the tall kid. Played center/PF. Stopped growing so inside into a point forward role who could shoot. I definitely have a soft spot for the skilled bigs. People will make fun of me, but the good version of Boris diaw was how I liked to play lol.
I like Ace Bailey but I don’t think this team is the right fit for him to reach his potential. In my opinion he is right to want to go to a place like Washington where he can get the shots he wants because I think that’s the best way to develop a player like him. Instead of here where he’d be fighting for shots with LaMelo, Miller, Tre Mann and Miles
I think I have settled on tre Johnson first
I would also be all for moving down as far as 7.
My ideal scenario would be to trade melo and end up with a package that includes #3 or #5-8.
Hard not to fall in love with Tre shotmaking upside. But my God was he awful on defense last year. I don’t think he has to be. He’s got crazy length and quickness he should be able to make it work on that end. My fear if he couldn’t be bothered to try on a mediocre Texas squad why should I believe he’ll work to improve on that end on the dreadful Charlotte Hornets
As far as I have heard, Tre is a very hard worker who expects a lot from himself and teammates. He can get frustrated and down on himself because he wants the team to win and be better. I haven’t heard anything about his work ethic or being a bad teammate.
Also, the Texas coach was fired. That team was poorly coached. I had no idea what they were running. I think Tre was partly frustrated because of that as well. Tre was forced into essentially being the primary and secondary scoring option lol. So he carried a lot of responsibility, which also was frustrating. Winning was largely on him.
Same with VJ. Both Tre and VJ had a poor surrounding cast. Would’ve loved to have seen what they would’ve looked like in a better roster and system that actually played to their strengths.
Definitely a flag. I totally get that and am not dismissing it.
Here are the other flags
VJ: will he be more than kris dunn or Jalen Ivey? In other words, will he be offensively good
Kon: don’t love drafting a glue guy in a top heavy draft at #4. Especially since I am very unsure the hornets have anything that is worth gluing long term. Also can he hang defensively or get any space offensively?
Fears: 6’2" and not an elite shooter
Bailey: attitude wise melo redux. Absolutely no thank you for me. Basketball wise will he be anything other than a high volume shooter zero assists and a couple rebounds.
Now with all these flags, college ball (and 1 year at that) is really hard to determine flags. Especially defensively. NBA defense is a team and rotational concept more than anything.
Again, I won’t complain even a little bit if they get Tre tonight. But it’s easy to say that stuff. If he has a great work ethic it absolutely did not show up on defense last year, especially help defense. These guys are of course young and their priorities can change. He should be able to be at least a replacement level defender, absolutely no excuses. But compared to watching Kon dive around for loose balls on a Monday night while up 20 points at Boston College… idk man, these things just stick with me. It’s why I think if I could choose I’d go with Kon.
1 Like
I like - in our situation - that generally, Ace, Kon, Tre, and VJ are all in the same tier (by themselves) behind tier 1 Cooper, and tier 2 Harper. In other words, I do think there’s a similar gamble across the 4 of them.
PLEASE SEE BELOW!!! PLEASE SEE BELOW!!!
I am highlighting this for folks.
Not opposed to trading down. I just don’t want to go lower than 8.
What a great draft so far! Love the picks! Can’t wait for tomorrow!
4 posts were merged into an existing topic: Kon Knueppel Thread
This is the face you make when you FINALLY realize, much too late, that your childhood family friend is such an incompetent NBA agent that he got you butt romped all the way to Utah!
To quote Fred G. Samford - “You big dummy!”
Posted before. I’m glad somebody had me look up McNeely’s numbers back then.
Traditional non-shooting stats.
Per 100 possessions played:
Knueppel
7.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.0 steals, 0.3 blocks
McNeely
11.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.4 blocks
Edgecomb
10.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 3.8 steals, 1.1 blocks
Tre J.
3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.3 blocks
Bailey
12.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.7 steals, 2.2 blocks
2 Likes
Eastley
Mich_Mercer
I just hope we don’t draft a guy we can get later in the draft.
I’m an insane person, would find it hard to pass on the upside of Ace. Definitely doesn’t seem like the guy for us though.
1
powellrmp
dnbman
IF YOU'RE READY TO BE DISAPPOINTED MAKE SOME NOISE!!!
2
powellrmp
dnbman
GoBobcats24
TheDorkLord
Chef
spectre
It better be something greater than dropping a few spots for a couple of 2nds
2
Chef
dnbman
Chef
powellrmp
spectre
cltblkhscoach
TheDorkLord
Chef
TheDorkLord
Mich_Mercer
woodsy23
QC_Thundercats
Well the good new is, we pick high enough where we're not the designated commercial break for the draft…
Or maybe they'll still try to squeeze in a quick fandual ad…
1
Mich_Mercer
Chef
powellrmp
I’m on vacation at the beach this week with my in laws. If the pick is Maluach I think I’m going to walk straight into the ocean without saying a word. Just walk out the door, right into the water.
Or just “sorry, I have to go think about things”
2
Mich_Mercer
powellrmp
Mich_Mercer
powellrmp
Nah I grew up in Wilmington. I’m in chapel hill
1
QC_Thundercats
powellrmp
If Maluach is the pick, if he listens closely enough he just might hear me from several states away
1
Eastley
If we pick Maluach, I will walk outside and pray that I am struck in this lightening storm
1
spectre
dnbman
Chef
TheDorkLord
powellrmp
Mich_Mercer
TheDorkLord
I found one other Hornets fan in Winston-Salem, then he moved to High Point
1
woodsy23
Mich_Mercer
Eastley
Mich_Mercer
TheDorkLord
Mich_Mercer
I just feel the value of all of our guys is lower than it should be.
I just hope we don’t do something stupid.
2
TheDorkLord
I agree, if Mark is moved it better be an awesome haul
1
Mich_Mercer
GoBobcats24
Mich_Mercer
Which means… we aren’t drafting any of those guys. Haha
1
woodsy23
GoBobcats24
Mich_Mercer
GoBobcats24
Mich_Mercer
GoBobcats24
Eastley
If we say Jordan's name 3 times, does that mean we end up drafting a 35 year old Naismith winner?
1
GoBobcats24
woodsy23
Mich_Mercer
Eastley
TheDorkLord
Mich_Mercer
TheDorkLord
they have to think about it lol
1
Eastley
Mich_Mercer
Hornets have to take the best player… but I know they won’t.
1
Eastley
woodsy23
TheDorkLord
Eastley
GoBobcats24
Mich_Mercer
Eastley
If they do that, as long as they don't trade him for Maluach
Damn, they picked Coop, that's crazy - Nico doing something un-insane
1 2
Mich_Mercer
GoBobcats24
TheDorkLord
GoBobcats24
Maybe 6!
I just feel like we would get hosed in any trade so we might as well keep him lol
1
Mich_Mercer
Eastley
Mich_Mercer
It’ll be for a late lottery pick and a 2nd
1
GoBobcats24
Mich_Mercer
GoBobcats24
Mich_Mercer
GoBobcats24
Eastley
Ok Hornets, break our hearts, pick a punter
1
Mich_Mercer
TheDorkLord
Eastley
Ok, here's where the draft starts
2
GeraldWallaceMVP
Mich_Mercer
QC_Thundercats
Geez, no creativity spurs. Why not try being different and getting a Maluach
1
cltblkhscoach
Mich_Mercer
Eastley
GoBobcats24
GeraldWallaceMVP
Mich_Mercer
TheDorkLord
Can we draft Dylan's Mom?
2
Eastley
Mich_Mercer
Eastley
TheDorkLord
dnbman
TheDorkLord
Mich_Mercer
ncborn
GeraldWallaceMVP
cltblkhscoach
Eastley
QC_Thundercats
ncborn
Mich_Mercer
ncborn
Mich_Mercer
GeraldWallaceMVP
ncborn
Eastley
ncborn
Tre or Ace
1
Mich_Mercer
powellrmp
GeraldWallaceMVP
It’s going to be Kon 100%
1
Mich_Mercer
ncborn
powellrmp
Eastley
Mich_Mercer
GeraldWallaceMVP
Ace could be the best player in the draft, he could also be out the league in 4 years
2
TheDorkLord
Mich_Mercer
GeraldWallaceMVP
Mich_Mercer
VJ has a nice family man…
1
Eastley
ncborn
powellrmp
ncborn
GeraldWallaceMVP
Tbh Melo was kinda a high upside high risk pick and he’s worked out
1
ncborn
Mich_Mercer
powellrmp
You don’t believe in Salaun?!??
2
Chef
Mich_Mercer
spectre
GeraldWallaceMVP
Eastley
Icky_Thump
It's Kon
And I'm out
1
spectre
ncborn
Mich_Mercer
Eastley
Icky_Thump
TheDorkLord
fuck, but we should have traded down to do this
1
Icky_Thump
Mich_Mercer
I’m laughing…
Chef
Mich_Mercer
Icky_Thump
ncborn
Eastley
Icky_Thump
GoBobcats24
Lol goodnight
1
Mich_Mercer
cltblkhscoach
Icky_Thump
Chef
Icky_Thump
spectre
TheDorkLord
Mich_Mercer
TheDorkLord
cltblkhscoach
If we draft Dalton Knecht last year we don't even need this
1
Icky_Thump
Mich_Mercer
I’ll warm up to him… but man… if Ace ends up being what he can be… this will be so sad
1
cltblkhscoach