If we get the third or fourth pick, I’m about 90% sure coach Lee will be hammering the table for VJ edgecomb.
Like I said above, there are teams with multiple future picks and multiple firsts this year. This could be a good opportunity to double dip in the top 10 plus get a future pick or two by trading melo
And so will I
Rasheer Fleming is a name that I’d keep an eye on. Fits the Coach Lee mold. I’d expect him to go in the 10-16 range. Good size, active defender, shoots the three pretty well.
Edit: also shoutout nique Clifford, the 6’6 SG out of Colorado state. In the 12-18 range come draft day. Strong, ready defender, big wingspan.
There’s a bunch more guys I could talk about too. Those are two nice examples of guys I’d like to spend another first round pick on. This is a great freaking draft.
Well, nevermind then. Drake powell did in fact declare for the nba draft. Huh. Someone must’ve promised him a pick in the first round. I’m sure he’s going to get a good boost when he does the workouts. I’d take a flyer on Powell late in the first
Holy sh!t - nobody has posted in three days?
You know if we get the second pick, that would cause problems. Simply put Melo would not want us to draft Dylan but Harper would be the rational/only choice at 2. The question is, “How much sway does Melo have over the organization?”
So I am voting against getting the 2nd pick. I pray to God for the first pick and I am cool with the 3rd or 4th pick. 5 and/or below is a nightmare.
I like the fact that VJ and Ace have the ability to bring some defense to the starting line up. I even like Carter Bryant but is that kid worth the 5th pick? I really can’t see picking a non 3 point shooting big in the top 10.
What makes you say from LaMelo’s previous history that he would be against drafting Dylan Harper?
I’m happy to be critical of Melo, but I feel like he’s done reasonably well when paired with another ball handler. Can’t see he’d be too upset being paired with another 6’6 scorer who can also facilitate.
Harper has high end potential. Very high end. I see a lot of Tracy McGrady vibes. I’m not saying that is my projection for Harper, but I see similarities. One, I do not care what Melo thinks. Two, he just got the supermax with glass ankles. He’ll be just fine.
Man… now I’m thinking about us having a Tracy McGrady on our team. Don’t put that false hope on me!!!
Dang. Have we (the collective we) forgotten Scoot and how Melo clearly wanted Brandon?
I just don’t see Melo giving up primary ball handling responsibilities to anyone much less a rookie. Harper would work w Melo at the two but it would very controversial (yes - media hyped drama) to draft Harper.
I guess the 2 pick could work if we trade back for the 3rd or 4th pick and another asset.
As for the glass ankles, that is how Stef started his career w Golden State. That is what I think about when I think of Melo’s ankles. It gives me hope.
LaMelo also was fine with playing alongside Terry Rozier, Tre Mann and other ball dominant backcourt players. We don’t know if he didn’t want to play with Scoot because he didn’t want another ball dominant guard, he may of just thought Brandon was the better player which he clearly is. The Hornets took a hard look at Steph Castle last offseason, no word from Melo. LaMelo also played with his brother Lonzo for several years clearly without an issue way back when.
We also don’t even know if it was true he didn’t want to play with Scoot, it was just an unsubstantiated rumor at the time.
I do not understand this weird narrative that LaMelo is a diva comes from. If anything LaMelo has been the opposite, despite us changing coaches, owners, gms, turning over the entire roster and just overall playing like shit, Lamelo has never once said anything to create drama.
If anything he has doubled down on his commitment to the team..
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Diva?!?! It did not cross my mind that my assertion could be construed as a criticism of Melo. Well I now have a better understanding of dnbman’s comments. There you have it, I was being controversial w/out even knowing it!
Let me state it this way: Melo has earned a lot of deference and we should give it to him especially considering his success this past season. If he doesn’t want us to draft another guy who’s viewed as a PG*, then I would at least listen to his concerns.
You could make the argument that a second overall pick demands the selection of Harper and that is rational. But to be honest, I would not like to be in that position; hence, my prayers for the 1st overall selection.
*If I were Melo, I sure as heck wouldn’t have wanted Scoot selected. Heck I am just a guy and I still didn’t want Scoot. As for playing with his brother, Melo is a man now. Melo is THE man now. I would be happy to see him get more star treatment even though that doesn’t seem like him.
Can not stress enough that melo’s preferences should have zero impact on who they draft
I don’t think it would bother Melo, I think he’d rather start getting to the playoffs if it meant sharing ball handling duties.
Plus at 6’6 + 6’7, they both can initiate (as well as any other ball handler the Hornets utilize).
I feel like in this era of basketball, the best ball players are still going to get the rock the majority of the time, regardless of position. Luka isn’t a true point, but he still brings the ball up and handles enough to average close to double digit assists while still getting over 20 shots a game. Him and LeBron (and previously Kyrie) seemed to be able to stay in the flow despite one ball.
At the close of games is where you definitely get it into your star players hands, so unless Harper comes out like young LeBron or CARmelo, I think LAmelo will be first priority in getting the ball and making decisions.
This is from Google AI:
AI Overview
The Charlotte Hornets have a 14% chance of landing the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, and a 58.3% chance of getting a pick in the top 5, according to Yahoo Sports. They also have a 13.4% chance of getting the second pick, 12.7% chance of securing the third, and 12% chance of getting the fifth, as reported by BetCarolina.
Just to mentally prepare myself for tomorrow’s lottery, regardless of what happens…
Cooper’s obviously the prize, but I’ve been comfortable with any of the top 4 prospects who have star potential if they work hard. Harper could turn into a Cade Cunningham, VJ could be like Westbrook or Anthony Edwards, Bailey could turn out to be a Tatum or Siakam. All obviously would help the team.
But because there’s almost an equal chance we fall out of the top 4, I need to find a way to be ok with another Bruce Lee roundhouse to the lower bowels. I think I’m coming around to where Tre Johnson is also a prize with upside. Good height and athleticism, great scorer. The difference with the top 4 prospects is that he’s more like your typical rookie, without a grown man frame yet, and he still has a lot of refinements to his game to catch up. But he’ll absolutely be a scorer at the NBA level.
Fears is the next, probably last prospect with star potential out of the draft. I know unsung players lower down absolutely have a chance to be a star, but it’s hard to figure out which one will have the right mindset/situation to flourish. But Fears has great size for a PG, really crafty and quick, and can get any shot he likes. Is not that good at 3’s though, but has good enough form to work on it to become sufficient in a Jrue Holdiay like fashion.
Of course, we can fall as far as 7, missing out on these top 6 best potential prospects. I like Knueppel and Jakucionus, or Queen fine, but there seems to be an upper limit on how high they can become based on athleticism.
I guess I’ve started to mentally prepare myself to at least be anywhere in the top 6 at this poin. But falling to 7 would devastate the system and cause my sports soul to self destruct.
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I completely agree with all of these.
Unless Chef says I don’t. And then I don’t.
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My only unique take is, this is the draft to trade melo and do a soft reset with 2 top 7 picks and a future path to more stars in the draft