Obviously we had the 2nd greatest night of any team out there. Definite big win to get the 2.
But seeing that slim margin for how things can go badā¦ Detroit, with the worst record in the league goes from 1 to 5. Thatās as big as a gut punch that I think has ever happened. Donāt even get a consolation prize to comfort them.
Houston had it rough too, went from 2nd and dropping 2 spots to 4. But they did just have the #1 pick in the last couple years, so boo hoo, donāt care, see you in the lottery again while Melo and Scoot dominate the East for years to come!
Iām catching up at 06:30, my time. I scrolled through this thread to find the pick we got!
Bitter sweet is the emotion. Number 2 is great. Scoot is clearly the second best player in the draft. And heās a poor fit. An out and out PG.
My instant thought is trade.
I love LaMelo and his game, but I have mooted the concept of trading him (with the assumption he wants out) if we got Scoot. I do not expect this to happen, but it might just be the most prudent, if cold, way to play it.
The other option would be to trade #2, maybe for #3 or #4, I doubt for #6 & #11.
With the second pick in the draft we have the ammunition to reshape the franchise. I doubt we have the gunner, in Mitch, or ownership to do it though.
So we get gifted a legit #1 pick at #2 and you guys want to trade Lamelo? lol. The guy that makes everything go. Scoot and Lamelo compliment each other well. Draft BPA and figure it out
As a thought exercise, you run all manner of trades through your mind, yes. I certainly donāt want to trade LaMelo, Iāve stated exactly that in posts leading up to the draft. However, there is a lot of figuring it out to do when your two most talented players are both PGs, who thrive with the ball in their hands. Not to mention the fact the one, strong money, multiyear contract on your books is for a combo guard who doesnāt fit well with either of them. I certainly donāt see a world where all three of LaMelo, Scoot and Terry coexist and thrive on the same roster.
If itās me, as of right now:
I likely pick Scoot and try to trade Terry, plus picks, for Mikal Bridges.
Iād bring PJ back, because I find what Miles did too much to stomach, and I think PJ being more of a 3&D Big fits this theoretical roster better.
Iād bring back Svi, over Kelly because I want a fight between Svi, Cody & Bryce for bench wing minutes, I think heās a better fit than Kelly, and heād be a lot cheaper.
Iād bring back Theo, who I really like as a third PG, 5th/6th ranked Guard on the team.
That would give us a top unit of Scoot, LaMelo, Mikal, PJ & Williams and a second unit of Theo, Cody/Svi, Bryce, Thor & Richards. Iād be excited to see that group develop on the court for the Hornets next season.
I like your thought process but i donāt think the nets have any interest in trading mikal. Couple teams tried to offer the farm for him and nets wouldnt budge.
Would love to get Mikal while retaining everthing but Rozier, I just dont think that is realistic but if it is lets make it happen! I like everything you said here but as of right now Lamelo is still untouchable for me.
I agree @JFoster, @GoBobcats24 & @tnhornetsfan ā¦ itās unlikely, maybe highly unlikely, that the Nets would trade him. But would Terry, #27, #34 & a loosely protected 2024 1st get it done, or close?
The point being, Iād be fine pushing most of my chips forward for a core group of Scoot, LaMelo, Mikal & Williams and supplement them with the likes of Theo, Cody, Bryce, PJ, Thor & Richards, as well as future second rounders (Mitch is the man for this job, at least) and free agents, for a few years.
Just remembered about Mikalā¦ the Sixers initially drafted him, only to trade him right away to Phoenix for Zhaire Williams. Who hasnāt played since 2020 and did nothing for them.
I thought trading a bunch of good role players for a half season of Butler and letting him leave was bad. And the whole Ben Simmons saga. And Jhalil Okafor and Markelle Fultz bust picks. And even despite the horrible process, if they had just stayed put with Mikal, theyāre in the Eastern Finals and their future is still bright.
Somewhere Sam Hinkie is looking at his crumpled schematic shaking his head. Starting with Ben Simmons but accelerating to the fultz/Tatum disaster and ensuing darts flung at the dart board.
Had he had 3 more years, Phil would have championships.
Since it can be measured against the same bar of imagination, had Cho had 3 more years, weād have one too. Count me as someone entirely unimpressed with either Darryl Morey or the spawn of Morey in Sam Hinke.
Hereās an interesting question. If Wemby is the greatest prospect since Lebron will his agent even allow him to work out for us or anyone except the Spurs?
Yeah, heās incredible. Did you hear about that one time, there was a kid choking on popcorn - he threw the ball towards the rafters, went up 4 rows to do the heimlich maneuver, came back down, ran and caught the ball in midair from the free throw line to dunk his own self alleyoop.
On Victor: for the last few ācanāt miss generational talentsā it has actually worked out. Especially LeBron. Factor in KD, AD and a couple others, it makes it really easy to forget all the ānext Jordansā etc al that absolutely did not pan out.
I know he is a canāt miss but I just canāt see past porzingis. Yes he could be a better version of Giannis but at 7ā4" I just see him not holding up.