AppHeel

Gelo is a Two-Way guy at best, maybe a Swarm regular. Would be absolutely shocked if he got one of the 15 roster spots.

@rippadonn there you go man

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.

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.

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.

The salary gymnastics to get him though aren't worth it. He's got like 3 years left on his deal at $31M, $33M & $36M each of those years. Hayward can be moved as a salary match, but Hayward is a better fit and player. Pass on Porzingis imo.

I'm open to trading the pick. But my guess is that we'd rather use FA or Trade to address the starting center spot anyways. If we keep the pick, there could be some intriguing wing options there to replace Monk in the event we don't re-sign him. Kispert is a guy I really like among others.

No thanks on Porzingis

Terry being an expiring contract at an $18M is probably the main trade chip we have at facilitating a trade for a starting center since there is a level of salary matching you have to do. I'd be interested in knowing how Mitch feels about a Terry extension given the other contracts that are both on the books and coming up. Trading Terry may make the most sense....

Picks 73 and 191 I think. One of those 6th's.

Called It

So much of the focus with the Panthers trading back was centered around round 1 with potential QB hungry teams. Based on how long the team took to make their pick, they clearly entertained calls, but obviously didn't move back. Fitterer said before the draft that they had 16 players on their board with round 1 grades. So I always assumed that if they did trade down in round 1, they were limited in how far they'd be willing to drop. Case and point with the Bears who traded up from 20. Yes, they gave up a future first round pick, BUT if the Panthers felt like they'd be drafting a player with round 2 value at 20 just for a future first, then essentially the future first doesn't give them an extra first, but purely evens out with what they already had. Fitterer also said that the second round in this draft was deep. As a run of tackles or defensive players happens early in round 2, I could see a team wanting to jump up and Carolina be willing to oblige understanding that they'd have a good shot to get a round 2 grade from their board later in the second round while accumulating more picks. Just a hunch - we shall see.

Crappy O-line and no CMC are valid, BUT he was also the only QB in the league with three 1,000 yd WR's. Still went 0-8 in games where we had the ball with a chance to win at the end.

Hope he's wearing a Panther uniform well beyond that 5th year

Tepper also doesn't get to where he is without hiring good people and letting them do their jobs. I'm sure Fitterer and Rhule have a pretty clear expectation on what Tepper wants and have a strategy in place based on their own philosophy on how to achieve that goal. As long as Fitterer and Rhule present a clear and valid case as to why the pick is who the pick is or why this trade offer is the best move, I can't imagine Tepper not agreeing to it even if the pick isn't his first choice.

Why would there be need to smokescreen the pick when picks 1 & 2 are all but confirmed? Not like they're trying to trade back after giving up all those picks to move up.

DJ Humphries - most on here should know this because he and Shaq were holding hands on Gettleman's board. Humphries went to Arizona one pick before we took Shaq Thompson.

If Monk is healthy by the 4/16 Brooklyn game, I'd still hold him out until that Knicks game on the 20th. Like you outlined, Brooklyn and Portland are likely losses so bring back a key role player for the NYK game and don't risk reinjury for those games we are outmatched regardless. If we can get Ball/Hayward back by May, that's a win imo.

https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1375163142309838848?s=20 Not sure why the tweet won't embed. Just says Charlotte made a push for Daniel Theis, but Boston took Mo Wagner return instead. Also says Charlotte will target Theis this summer.

Wannamaker is the caliber of player I assumed Mitch would acquire if he made a deal, I just thought it would be a big man though. Maybe feels Richards or Carey will be able to help lift that position group up before the end of the season.

On the board!

Mitch has been here 3 years now and still no in season trades. Interesting to see at what point in the future that mind set shifts.

So much for that

I actually feel good about this. I never wanted the team to give assets away in what's technically year two of a rebuild. LaMelo, Hayward, Terry's leap and other players improving have shown we are further along than we anticipated after last year ended, but I still think there is value to letting this thing take shape organically. Doesn't mean I'm opposed to a move. Think it would be a lower profile one though ie trading for a bench piece instead of an impact starter.

I definitely had zero expectations of big names given it's year 2 of a rebuild. I like the fact that we have moved quickly on getting depth at our biggest position of need (outside of QB). I bet we slow play most other positions.