bLACKpANTHER

The only Big Men I'd be interested in at #11 are Kai Jones (from Texas) and Sengun (Turkey).. Kai Jones has all the measurables and look and feel.. but he is a project, similar to Wiseman.. don't expect him to contribute a ton his rookie year.. he disapears in spots when he should be dominating with his size and athleticism.. Sengun is an offensive force but a defensive liability - which is mostly the case with Euro players - but he has shown interest in playing defense, which is key.. he has great offensive post moves and is working on developing a reliable 3pt shot.. I'd probably be more interested in a wing player.. and addressing the C position during free agency..

trading Terry is off the table for me - unless you are talking about getting back a multi-year Allstar.. after learning about the $14m kicker for trading Hayward - I am 100% sure he isn't going anywhere this offseason.. I am also more inclined to resign Graham than Monk at this point.. I am not sure who it will be - but I am willing to bet we get one of Turner, Holmes, Allen or Noel.. rumors of Towns have been thrown around as well

Rozier Extension: Monk Resign: Hayward Trade Possibility: Graham Resign Possibility:

I wasn't saying they are available - I was simply saying there still are BIGs in the game today that score in the post and gave a few examples.. the ones available this FA period are few - especially starter quality

I hear you - what I am looking for is more of a defensive presence overall and someone with good hands that can catch the lobs and entry passes - something we haven't had in 1 player.. Biz was a good defender and decent shot blocker - but had stone hands.. and Zeller could rim run but wasn't a lob threat and was def was a defensive problem for us.. just look at this past series of the 76ers vs Hawks - Embiid is a unicorn but Capela is someone I think fits exactly what we need.. others are Brooke Lopez, Zubac, Ayton, Valanciunas, Nurkic, Vucevic.. The ones available this FA are Richaun Holmes, Jarrett Allen and a few trades are rumored..

yeah i agree.. Hayward would have to be included.. that's why I wouldn't do it I think it is a high risk, high reward move.. we could get Porzingis and he could blossom with Melo, improve our post-scoring and we could come out smelling like roses.. but I doubt that would happen.. i don't think it would be a train wreck - but it would probably fall somewhere in the middle.. besides, Porzingis doesn't really address the areas of concern with our team.. shot-blocking, defense in the post, rebounding and post scoring.. Porzingis has moved away from using his size and skill down low and has sadly become more of a perimeter player.. he does get buckets down low, especially on the left elbow/baseline - but his defense is just sub-par and we need someone stronger.. getting a legit C and sliding PJ back to the PF position is the right way to go IMO I haven't seen a Hornets player that could get their own shot in a long, long time.. and when Hayward was healthy and able to operate in the mid-range - we were looking like one of the top 4 teams in the East.. I'd just like to run it back with Hayward and see if we can get some legit Post presence in FA without having to give up draft picks + players.. and if we do need to trade for someone - let's go for Turner before kicking the tires on Porzingis.. just my opinion

Terry is on a steal of a deal at $18m right now.. he has overplayed his contract IMO.. I broke down his numbers compared to other star SGs around the league and his numbers held up well.. P.George = $35.5m Thompson = $35.4m Booker = $29m McCollum = $29m Beal = $29m J.Brown = $24m Lavine = $19.5m

Huddle meltdown in 3.. 2.. 1..

How has Darnold looking throwing compared to Delhomme, Bridgewater & Cam? I haven't been to a ton of practices but I'm sure You can see a difference in starting caliber QBs compared to the Griers, Allens and David Carrs of the past.

In here to celebrate and eat crow.. I wanted Wiseman badly during the draft process and though Lamelo was a "me first", bad shot selector and always looking for the SportsCenter highlight pass when playing in Aussie.. How wrong I was.. the way he plays is so fun and you can see the team around him get juiced when he is on the floor.. he looks to get his guys involved 1st, he is much better at driving and finishing than I ever thought, he was actually more reluctant to shoot but when he does - his 3pt shot is now respectable.. I hope he continues to improve and get stronger, and improve his 3pt %.. I wish we had a CP3 type guy to mentor him along and develop his "floor general" mentality.. but anyways.. Today is a Day to Celebrate!!!

I wouldn't move Terry for anything other than an Allstar - as you can see from my other thread.. He is playing at an elite level or just under elite level.. Now- if you think this is an aberration and want to "sell high" and "sell now" on the Rozier stock market - I guess I understand, but I would want more than just Turner.. the Terry Stock is through the roof right now and you would have to get something more in return after the season he just had.

Terry was the only 'constant' we had all year.. He is due for a new contract next year and I was thinking about committing to him as our starting SG for the next 4 years.. I didn't know until I took a deep dive into the number on how good Terry actually was for us.. I had a few questions - How efficient was he? Cold > Mild > Warm > Hot Was he selfish - just getting his stats? Did he get the the free throw line (FTpg)? How did he stack up to other Allstar caliber SGs? Terry Rozier: 20.4ppg - 4.4rpg - 4.2apg - 38.9 3pt% - 45.0 FG% - 2FTpg ------------------------------------------------------------- Jaylen Brown: 24.7ppg - 6.0rpg - 3.4apg - 39.7 3pt% - 48.4 FG% - 4FTpg CJ McCollum: 23.1ppg - 3.9rpg - 4.7apg - 40.2 3pt% - 45.8 FG% - 3FTpg Bradley Beal: 31.3ppg - 4.7rpg - 4.4apg - 34.9 3pt% - 48.5 FG% - 8FTpg Klay Thompson (2019): 21.5ppg - 3.8rpg - 2.4apg - 40.2 3pt% - 46.7 FG% - 2FTpg Zack Lavine: 27.4ppg - 5.0rpg - 4.9apg - 41.9 3pt% - 50.7 FG% - 5FTpg Donavan Mitchell: 26.4ppg - 4.4rpg - 5.2apg - 38.6 3pt% - 43.8 FG% - 6FTpg Paul George (listed as SG but really SF): 23.3ppg - 6.6rpg - 5.2apg - 41.1 3pt% - 46.7 FG% - 4FTpg So in the end, I walked away impressed with Rozier. Even though he has more "Cooler" numbers compared to the others - he is right on par with them - even at his size (6'1 small for a SG).. I would like to see him get to the line more - That is one stat that most fans don't look at but that superstars regularly create points from the FT line - aggressively attacking the basket. From a team perspective, Rozier is on the higher side of Assists. His years in Boston as backup PG are evident in that area. He should be a great paring with Ball - especially if Ball improves his strength/frame/defense to counter Rozier's height.. The more and more I think about it - I am confident we should/will retain him next season. We just need to make the playoffs and win the important games.

I want us to grab a Center in FA rather than give up assets.. Even though this team is probably the best built team we have seen since we got the Hornets name back - We don't necessarily have a overflowing pool of talent where we can just give away pieces.. With that said - the FA pool is pretty shallow for starters.. Holmes and Jarrett are really the only starters from the bunch.. if we can't get Holmes or Jarrett, I am all for getting a Allstar caliber starting Center by any means (sans Ball/Rozier/Bridges).. In Mitch I Trust

a healthy Hayward helps this team way more than a healthy Porzingis.. everyone points to our biggest, glaring need of a Big man or 2 - which is accurate - but our 2nd biggest need are wing defenders/scorers.. When Hayward went down we were bailed out by Miles stepping up Bigtime but after him - it was VERY slim pickings.. The Martin Bros are not NBA starters or 2 unit players - they are solid "end of the bench" players I'd rather focus on these 3 areas this offseason: 1- Big men, x2 2- decide if Graham is the backup PG to Ball 3- wing defender/scorer

Sooo - let's force someone to come here by giving up multiple assets? Are we going to operate that no one wants to come here, ever..?

that is.. just.. bad - and impossible Malik Monk is a RFA and we need him to sign his qualifying offer of around $7m for this season - then he would be a UFA next year. He said in season ending interviews that "he wants to be wanted" - which I take as he wants a long term deal. He doesn't want another 'prove it to us' season. IMO, if he doesn't want to play on the $7m offer - then you let him walk. We can't trade Graham - he is a UFA. We need to decide if he is the backup PG we want to pair with Lamelo. Looking at the crop of free agent PGs - I don't see anyone truly better than Graham. CP3, Conley, Lowry, Dragic, Shroder, Dinwiddie, Lonzo - All of them would want a starting PG role and big $$.. Patty Mills, Dante Exum, Kris Dunn, Avery Bradley, Elfred Payton, Reggie Jackson, Austin Rivers - All of them are that 2nd crop of PGs that would possibly sign a reasonable deal to backup Lamelo. But non of them are better than Graham. Bridges is not a SG.. he is a tweener SF/PF.. and McD as the starting PF.. c'mon.. he DID surprise this year giving us quality mins off the bench but just no..

Honorable Mentions: Jarrett Allen (RFA) - Cleveland gave up a 1st Rnd pick to get him in the trade with HOU/BRK for Harden. We would have to throw Max $$ to him and cross our fingers that CLE doesn't match - which they 100% would. It ain't happening. Mitchell Robinson (RFA) - Coming off a fractured foot - Knicks will most definitely exercise their option to retain him. Zach Collins (RFA) - Injured his ankle in the Bubble and never returned after the short offseason OR all year. Had a 2nd surgery on the ankle. Portland could have really used him during the playoffs and he never saw the floor. I'm not willing to throw big $$ at someone like that - even with all his potential. Tier 1 - sure starter with Allstar potential: Richaun Holmes - He is the only UFA that is available that checks all the boxes for us. Rim protector, defensive minded, hustle player that can score in the paint. Doesn't have the 3 ball in his arsenal - so he is a bit of an oldschool Big but can switch and defend positions 3-5. Tier 2 - sure starter: Nerlens Noel - Rebounder & Rim protector with long arms that can also catch lobs and put-back dunks. No True offensive post game or 3 ball. Might have found his home in New York though. It'll be interesting if they decide to stay with Mitchell Robinson (coming off injury) or give a nice contract to keep Noel. Drummond - Oldschool Center that has never really proven to be a winner. Rebounds the hell out of the ball and can operate in the post but not highly efficient. Looking for a big payday I'm sure. Robin Lopez - Another throwback center that reminds me of Zeller but with more strength. Not a real rim protector but has a much bigger frame that defends. He has some decent post moves and rebounds well. Tier 3 - untapped potential: Harry Giles - I liked him for today's NBA. He signed a 1 year in Portland and they really didn't use him much, even with their injury woes throughout the year. He can pass with the best of the Bigs but had a bad shooting year. He rebounds and knows where to be in space. I think he could be an amazing get if he get's more of an opportunity. Doesn't have a 3pt shot though. Gorgui Dieng - Another weird player that should be sought after more. Has a good 3pt shot and rebounds and defends. Apparently he really likes the Spurs and turned down a lot of other teams to go there because of meeting RC Buford as a kid in Senegal. Don't know if he'd be open to going somewhere else unless we pay over the top. And for untapped potential - I'm not willing to hand out extra dollar$. Tier 4 - solid backup: Daniel Theis - Hustle player that can switch onto wings. Very versatile in today's NBA. Also can knock down the occasional 3pt shot. Not a starter IMO though, but someone that can come in off the bench and really help the 2nd unit. Almost the perfect backup. Whiteside - We all know this story. Has all the tools but the lights might not be on upstairs. Rebounder, shot blocker, some mild post moves - but never been consistent. Might fill up stat sheet but doesn't play winning basketball. Alex Len - Zeller clone. Rebounds okay, defends okay, some okay post moves and no reliable 3ball shot. Will not hurt the team but will not move the needle either. Boban - Would maybe an Allstar potential Center 10 years ago. Just a huge monster that rebounds and defends other Bigs only. Can NOT switch onto perimeter players. Uses his size well in the post and can score and knock down FTs efficiently. Tier 5 - retreads: Biz - Defends, Rebounds, and can put-back dunks. Zero hands and has trouble switching on quick wing players. Zeller - See Alex Len.. Dwight - See Drummond.. but add 7 years If I could take my pick of the litter - Our starter from Tier 1/2 and then our backup from Tier 3-5. So give me Richaun Holmes and Daniel Theis. Sadly - What I think we will end up with is 2 players from Tier 3-5, but hopefully no one from Tier 5.. The interesting thing is next year the UFA Bigs are really uninspiring. Outside of Valanciunas and Nurkic - the pickings are even more slim than this year. There's always trades (Myles Turner and James Wiseman rumors) but I wanted to focus on the FA class first. Plus, I'm not really willing to give up a 1st rounder + another young asset yet (which would be the starting asking price).

I'd rather grab someone in FA than have to give up assets to aquire our featured bigman: Holmes, Jarrett, Drummond, Noel

damn - thoughts are with his family right now..

wow.. I have interacted with him on Twitter concerning the Hornets quite a bit.. very sad to hear and thoughts are with the family..

Theis is someone I think we could get as the backup Center.. Grab a starting Center for the future (Holmes, Allen, Turner???) and then get a quality backup like Theis on the cheap

JB is good and has overachieved but has fallen short in big games.. has to prove next year he can get them ready and show ability to coach in crunchtime.. Kind of a "prove it to me" year for him.. because if we underachieve and miss the playoffs again - he will be gone

Turner would be a great 'get' but we would have to give up assets to get him.. probably PJ and a 1st.. I would much rather grab one of the Bigs in FA - Holmes is the one I salivate over.. then we are just throwing Zeller's expiring salary at him.. He supposedly wants a $20m @ year contract but I don't know if teams are willing to go that high.. $13-15m is doable for me and should be for the Hornets