Hornets Can't Escape Mediocrity

[HeatCheck]

Good Charlotte? The Hornets and the Sliding Scale of NBA Mediocrity - Zach Lowe

Zach Lowe wrote an article today concerning the state of the Hornets and how they can't seem to get out of their state of mediocrity. In the article it talks about how you have to be good building through the draft especially when Top Tier FAs won't be coming to Charlotte. We clearly haven't drafted well and this is what has put us in this position. It also touches on the relationship between Cho and Jordan. It seems like there's an implied rift but Cho is saying all the right things to say it's natural.

I loved this quote by Cho concerning Boston's proposed deal to us this past draft

“If it was such a no-brainer for us, why would another team want to do it?”

 

 

[TheRed]

But Kaminsky is not a star, and the players Charlotte could have grabbed with those four picks will almost certainly produce more combined over their careers than Kaminsky.

Really?

These "analysts" act like they have a crystal ball that they can use to see into the future. What a bunch of malarkey.

[bLACKpANTHER]

great read.. great great read

[cbarrier90]

Sure, everything move-wise can be justified, but that picture of the front office is just damning. Way too many cooks in the kitchen when it was thought that wouldn't be the case when Cho was hired.

First it was "let's build via the draft like the Thunder."

Then it was "let's grind out wins like Memphis."

Now it's "let's just shoot like Golden State."

MJ will never win the championship he's trying so hard to get if he doesn't stick to a plan designed to get us there.

What's sad is that one could reasonably argargue the moves MJ favored were better than Cho's.

[davos]

If our starting 5 is Walker-Batum-MKG-Frank-Al as the season progresses with Lamb and Lin being productive, we could be in decent shape.  We're also set up to have a clean slate in case we suck and really have a crack at the open market next season.    

[Omega Atrocity]

Really?

These "analysts" act like they have a crystal ball that they can use to see into the future. What a bunch of malarkey.

That really isn't a bold prediction at all, 4 mid-to-late lottery players combined will have a better career than one lottery player? I don't see how you can have a problem with that, that's true 99% of the time.

[TheRed]

That really isn't a bold prediction at all, 4 mid-to-late lottery players combined will have a better career than one lottery player? I don't see how you can have a problem with that, that's true 99% of the time.

Speculation about those picks, and players we may have acquired who may or may not have panned out is just not even worth discussing. The various factors that you would have to take into account before even beginning to consider what contributions we may have gotten are ridiculous.

It's an unnecessary slight against Kaminsky, who hasn't even had an opportunity to play his first game as a Hornet with all his teammates yet.

Besides, we weren't the only team to turn down that rumored offer.

I'm just tired of seeing people poo on the guy. At least give him a chance to prove himself.

[pantherphan96]

The reason Boston was willing to give up that many picks is because we have like 20 draft picks over the next 3 years.

[pantherfan49]

So much truth in that article. 

 

I think it's fair to say that Charlotte only has one starter that is in the upper half for their position and he doesn't even have a college level jump shot. 

[HeatCheck]

I think what it comes down to, is this: we haven't drafted well so we then are forced to try and make moves via FA and trades. Some of those moves we've made I've supported and others I haven't. Bottom line, most of the acquisitions haven't worked out even if they have looked like good deals to begin.

I'm more interested in the relationship between Cho and MJ after reading this article. Although, I highly doubt more info will emerge other than speculation.

[pantherfan49]

I think what it comes down to, is this: we haven't drafted well so we then are forced to try and make moves via FA and trades. Some of those moves we've made I've supported and others I haven't. Bottom line, most of the acquisitions haven't worked out even if they have looked like good deals to begin.

I'm more interested in the relationship between Cho and MJ after reading this article. Although, I highly doubt more info will emerge other than speculation.

the truth is that I'm not sure we've drafted a single player in the past six or so drafts that has outperformed their draft position. And so you are correct, our drafting sucks ass and that's why we suck. 

[TheRed]

Good grief, this place is like a suicide hotline.

You can't live in the past forever. We're due some good luck.

[cbarrier90]

Good grief, this place is like a suicide hotline.

You can't live in the past forever. We're due some good luck.

I remember getting excited over Hurney's spending spree after 2-14 and alot of the moves he made, too. It's fan nature to try and justify the moves of the team you root for.

But this is exasperating. It's not so much a suicide hotline as it is coming to terms with the fact that 1. We don't have very good young talent  (and certainly not enough to justify passing up multiple first rounders) 2. We passed on Justise Winslow with offers on the table and most alarming 3. Our front office clearly doesn't have a cohesive direction, let alone know what it's doing.

I am all for being a homer, but eventually you gotta call it like it is. Lowe is not some Fansided hack. He's a good, fair writer and that's a good, fair piece. It's completely fair to question why this franchise has zero playoff wins in its existence and doesn't appear to be headed toward a title anytime soon.

But who am I kidding. This is the same board that has skewered Gettleman despite the great draft picks, savvy FA signings and willingness to make the tough, not-well-liked moves with an eye on the future.

[TheRed]

I remember getting excited over Hurney's spending spree after 2-14 and alot of the moves he made, too. It's fan nature to try and justify the moves of the team you root for.

But this is exasperating. It's not so much a suicide hotline as it is coming to terms with the fact that 1. We don't have very good young talent  (and certainly not enough to justify passing up multiple first rounders) 2. We passed on Justise Winslow with offers on the table and most alarming 3. Our front office clearly doesn't have a cohesive direction, let alone know what it's doing.

I am all for being a homer, but eventually you gotta call it like it is. Lowe is not some Fansided hack. He's a good, fair writer and that's a good, fair piece. It's completely fair to question why this franchise has zero playoff wins in its existence and doesn't appear to be headed toward a title anytime soon.

But who am I kidding. This is the same board that has skewered Gettleman despite the great draft picks, savvy FA signings and willingness to make the tough, not-well-liked moves with an eye on the future.

Minus the bit I pointed out, I'm not knocking the article, it's truth obviously.

This franchise has a bad history. We know that. Now you can either live in that history, and allow it to define you, or you can move forward.

I'm sorry, but anyone still moping around at this point about passing on Justice Winslow might need to get their life in order.

I'd rather be optimistic, and no I don't mean absurd expectations about winning, like a complete homer. Just being competitive.