bLACKpANTHER

thanks to all

LOW POST: Biz + Zeller avg = 15ppg - 12rpg - 1.5 bpg: Plumlee = 10ppg - 9rpg - 1bpg Can Kai/PJ play backup Center minutes and improve numbers from last year? BENCH SCORING: Graham + Monk avg = 26ppg: Ish Smith = 7ppg Oubre = 15ppg Can Bouknight provide 8-10ppg and improve numbers from last year? DISH ASSISTS: Graham + Wanamaker = 9apg: Ish Smith + Oubre = 5.5apg Can Lamelo be solely relied upon to get everyone involved? ============== INDIVIDUAL ================ Bridges Season = 13ppg // Bridges Apr/May = 20ppg Can Miles keep up his end of the season production? Hayward played 60% of Season Can Hayward play 80% of Season? Lamelo Season = 16ppg - 6apg - 6rpg How much can he improve on his ROY season? =============== TEAM =================== Charlotte ranked 30th in FG% and 19th in 3pt% ^^That tells me we were terrible in the midrange. Can we improve our percentages? Charlotte ranked 25th in FTA + 24th in FT% ^^That tells me we weren't attacking the basket. Can we get to the line more and make our shots? Charlotte ranked 26th in steals + 25th in blocks ^^Can our defensive intensity/hustle improve? Oubre should help, right?

Facts.. Tier 1: Contenders BRK - MIL Tier 2: Playoff locks PHI - MIA - ATL Tier 3: Play bubble BOS - TOR NYK - CHI WAS - CHA TOR - IND

2021-22 Hype Video

I think Bouknight will be a long-term improvement over Monk but this upcoming season will be a step back.. and I agree Ish will bring things Graham didn't on the defensive end - but the shot making ability will be sorely missed.. hopefully Oubre doesn't have another bad slump from 3pt land like he had in GS..

2022 --------------------- 2021 Ball - Smith -------- < --- Ball - Graham Rozier - Bouknight - < --- Rozier - Monk Hayward - Oubre --- > --- Hayward - McD Miles - Washington - > --- Washington - Miles Plumlee - Kai ------- > --- Zeller - Biz

thoughts up to their families and loved ones..

@MillionDollarCam @WOW!! i think we all liked Graham and we are all just a lil upset that Ish Smith is his "replacement" for him.. Ish should provide veteran ball security + the drive/kick game but he doesn't bring the ability to go 4/5 from 3pt line in a quarter that Graham did.. where i disagree a bit is Bouknight is more of Monk's replacement not Graham.. Graham > Ish Monk > Bouknight both of those are downgrades in the short term.. but Bouknight's size and defensive ability can help him develop into something better than Monk in the future but this year is prolly a step back for our backcourt behind Ball/Rozier..

you aren't arguing that Oubre was a bad signing are you..? naw... you can't be

The backup PGs with the largest contracts across the league are: Tyus Jones, MEM = 1yr @ $8.4m Monte Morris, DEN = 1yr @ $8.4m George Hill, MIL = 1yr deal @ $10m Jordan Clarkson, UTH = 3yr deal @ $12.5m (6th MOY) no way Graham was worth the same as the reigning 6th Man of the Year.. I just wish we got better stipulations on the lottery pick.. like Lottery protected > Top 10 protected > Top 5 > etc. etc.

if Mitch really wants to make this happen - I trust him.. not sure what we would have to give up but after learning about the protections around the 1st Rnd pick we got for Graham - I wouldn't mind throwing that into a sign & trade for Markkanen if it seals the deal.. that 1st Rnd pick will most likely turn into two 2nd Rounders..

there's some crazy ISH flying around.. I'm staying calm

you think it will be part of a bigger Lonzo-Graham deal?

an older regime would have drafted Sengun or Kai at #11, still probably have gone after Richaun Holmes and missed - then give Drummond $20m for 5 years and sunk our chances at retaining our young guys.. In Mitch I Trust

I think that the Oubre deal leaves Markkanen out in the cold.. we will probably waive 1 or Both Martin twins to make room on the roster but I don't think there is a trade brewing to net us Markkanen.. PG: Ball - Smith SG: Rozier - Bouknight SF: Hayward - Oubre PF: Miles - PJ - McD C- Plumlee - Kai Reserves: Vernon Jr., Richards, Thor will all probably see G-league time. The versatility we have on the wings is solid now. There's really only 3 players that are locks at there position; meaning everyone else can play multiple positions. Oubre can play 2-4, Miles 3-4, PJ 4-5, McD 3-4, Kai 4-5.. this roster is night and day from last year with Zeller and Biz being almost UNplayable in certain games.. i'm liking what i'm seeing

If we could get the T$unami Papi for around $8-10m @ year.. oh boi I like this fit way better than Markkanen.. seems like we have a bit of a logjam at the stretch 4/5 role with PJ, Kai, McD, Thor, Richards and Vernon Jr.. Markkanen might fit that role better than any of them but with the lack of depth behind Hayward and Miles on the wing - Oubre would be a great get.. just depends on price..

I'm as pessimistic as the next guy - but Lamelo hasn't even begun his sophomore year and we already afraid he gone..? thats a lil much for me.. I think the future is as bright as it has ever been here.. Miles took a step at the end of last year when everyone was injured - and has developed a good relationship with Melo.. PJ is solid - but needs to become more consistent THIS YEAR and if we keep him at the 4 instead of the 5 - he should improve.. I also agree Bouknight or Kai has to develop quickly (within 2 years) - my bet is on Bouk.. and I would also bet that one of the 3 Bigs [Vern, Richards or Thor] will develop into a contributor of some sort.. we will see, but there is a lot of potential/talent on the roster and JB's staff has shown the ability to develop the talent it is given.. Ball + Bouk + Miles is a good core with vet help from Hayward and Rozier.. I'm so interested to see if Melo takes another step this year..

that's the question Mitch has to deal with.. Miles and Terry hit the FA market next year.. Miles seems like he's in order for a decent payday next year but nowhere near the max.. Terry will be very expensive - and with us just investing a lottery 1st round pick into Bouknight - it seems like the writing is on the wall.. sadly , we might have to flip him at the trade deadline this year to make sure we get something back from him..

negotiations would have started around $7-8m a year with us and probably ended around $10m.. LA gets him for under $2m.. smgdh the league is messed up and the deck is stacked against the smaller markets

PG: Ball - ??? - ??? SG: Rozier - Bouknight - Martin1 SF: Hayward - Bridges - Martin2 PF: Washington - McDaniels - Thor C : Plumlee - Kai - Vern - Richards GREEN = good, BLUE = decent, YELLOW = unproven, GREY = low expectation Weird thing from last year is we now have bodies to throw in the front court and see what sticks.. I am concerned with our backcourt right now.. I heard that the Graham S&T might still be massaged with NO and CHI and we could end up walking away with Coby White.. not sure, but we obviously need a backup PG.. even if we bring back Wanamaker on a vet min deal for our 3rd PG slot - it would calm me down.. I'm looking at Schroder, Monk, Reggie Jackson maybe even Elfred Payton or Ish Smith.. ugh

I love Terry.. but now the addition of Bouknight as the heir apparent to the SG position makes Terry's days numbered.. I hope we don't just let Terry walk next year and we might have to get something for him at the trade deadline.. package Rozier and Plumlee for another quality bench Big with a 1st round pick from someone..?

we would have had to extend the qualifying offer to him to make him restricted.. we didn't - in which case - he walks because we put the qualifying offer on Graham - A) we can match any offer he is given by another team.. B) if no one offers him anything - he can play under that number and become a UFA next year.. C) we can also work on a long-term deal with him and his agent to lock him in and he never becomes a UFA.. Option C is the likely scenario - we just gotta figure out what the numbers and years are.. someone could come in a throw him a BAG $$$ but they would have to offer him something over $15m a year for us to start thinking about letting him walk and not matching - but I don't think teams have that type of space this year to offer a backup PG that type of coin..

I agree with a lot of what @AppHeel said.. however, I think Kai will get a good amount of bench minutes this year.. he is raw and will have to develop but I just don't think Plumlee/Carey/Richards will be getting the bulk of our center minutes.. maybe PJ gets some run in our small-ball lineup but well see.. if we do get a FA center that wud change things to expand on Bouknight - I 100% agree about the long-term fit next to Ball.. Bouknight brings everything that Monk brought to the table [shooting + finishing at the rim] but he also brings the sizes and defensive ability that kept Monk from becoming our starting SG.. Monk had improved but still would have lapses.. I hope we bring back Graham too.. $10m a year for 3-4 years sounds about right Terry for Myles Turner is interesting.. IF Bouknight is the heir apparent to Rozier - then we should flip him for an asset - but I wouldn't do it until mid-season when his value should be sky high..