Even when chaos happens in the Draft Lottery, we still get screwed with the 12th pick.

[kungfoodude]

33 minutes ago, rhyslloyd said:

Barring other-worldly miracles, franchises like the Hornets are destined to be mediocre at best.  The disparity in the NBA is absolutely shocking.  In any given year, there are no more than 3-4 teams you could make a realistic case for winning a championship.  

Teams like the Bobnets will be medicore because of mismanagement. Even since the real Hornets left with all of our talent, we have had multiple opportunities to acquire talent that could have turned around the fortunes of the franchise. Instead we draft atrociously, sign large contracts to mid-level players and just generally make Charlotte an unattractive option for any major free agents.

The NBA has always had a stark difference between the haves and have nots but that doesn't make it impossible to have a successful franchise. Look at Toronto, look at Milwaukee. We just don't know how to be successful or don't want to. It's hard to figure out which, considering how effective and consistent we have been with our poor decision making.

[rhyslloyd]

6 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

Teams like the Bobnets will be medicore because of mismanagement. Even since the real Hornets left with all of our talent, we have had multiple opportunities to acquire talent that could have turned around the fortunes of the franchise. Instead we draft atrociously, sign large contracts to mid-level players and just generally make Charlotte an unattractive option for any major free agents.

The NBA has always had a stark difference between the haves and have nots but that doesn't make it impossible to have a successful franchise. Look at Toronto, look at Milwaukee. We just don't know how to be successful or don't want to. It's hard to figure out which, considering how effective and consistent we have been with our poor decision making.

I definitely agree that the drafting has been beyond pathetic, and I certainly have no confidence that Michael Jordan has any clue how to run a successful franchise.  However, teams like us are being forced to sign those mid-level guys to huge deals just to get to the point of being mediocre while the elite teams have elite players lining up to play for pennies on the dollar.  It's a cycle that I don't think is going to be sustainable for the NBA.  Eventually, fans of the other 25 or so teams will get to the point of complete disinterest if they haven't already.  It's a recipe for disaster.

[kungfoodude]

30 minutes ago, rhyslloyd said:

I definitely agree that the drafting has been beyond pathetic, and I certainly have no confidence that Michael Jordan has any clue how to run a successful franchise.  However, teams like us are being forced to sign those mid-level guys to huge deals just to get to the point of being mediocre while the elite teams have elite players lining up to play for pennies on the dollar.  It's a cycle that I don't think is going to be sustainable for the NBA.  Eventually, fans of the other 25 or so teams will get to the point of complete disinterest if they haven't already.  It's a recipe for disaster.

No one forced us to sign Batum, Biyombo, Williams, etc to bloated contracts. We did that of our own free will when better or cheaper options existed(this is assuming that they even had interest in us). That's the problem, we are in this New York Knicks cycle of signing these atrocious and bloated contracts. But the difference is that at least the Knicks will leave this draft with a chance at another franchise player. We are at 12, where we will be almost certainly be drafting our next role/depth player. I literally don't even get why any Hornets fan even wants to sneak into the playoffs as an 8 seed. For what? We are not capable of beating a top seed in a 7 game series. Not with this roster. 

As for sustainability, the NBA has existed this way for decades. As you said, it's a haves and have nots league. But, all it takes is some good draft picks, some good coaching and some good management. You think that the league planned to have Golden State be the face of the league?? No. But they put together a great roster, got a good coach and have managed that roster fantastically. You think the league planned on Milwaukee being the power in the East? No. The NBA is cyclical. Teams rise and fall over time as new elite talent comes into the league or moves around. The NBA, although it may not have as much upside domestically, has an ever growing international following and a solid track record of profitability.  It's a very sustainable model.

[Daddy_Uncle]

Wish Tepper would buy them team from MJ so we can have a successfully ran organization where people actually answer for their fug ups

[Proudiddy]

Welp.  EL. OH. EL.

 

 

[OldNorthPowell]

Lol at Zion. So, which average player are we drafting to keep us at pick 12 for the next few years? Sooooooooooo exciting. I cannot wait.

[Chaos]

In 2012, the Pels (then Hornets) "win" the lottery to get A.D. on the heels of CP3 demanding a trade from that shithole and the NBA thanking Tom Benson for buying the club so it's no longer managed by the league.  I guess it's just a coincidence they landed the number one pick that summer and the draft rights to the far-and-away best player in the draft.  And then when their prized possession from that draft also wants out of the same shithole 7 years later, look at what happens.

Sorry, it's a crock of poo and the NBA can fug the hell off.

[kungfoodude]

7 hours ago, Luuuuuuke! said:

You hit on 3 great points there....

1.  You are correct, Mike Jordan willingly offered up all those stupid contracts that now has the team completely boxed in.

2.  Golden State sucked for 37 years.....UNTIL.....a new owner took over in 2010 (Joe Lacob).  The line of demarcation was an ownership change.

3.  The Milwaukee Bucks, DITTO.  Sucked forever until new owners took over in 2014.

Until Mike Jordan sells the Bobcat/Hornets will always suck.

That is one thing that holds up across almost every professional sport. If you have ownership that is dedicated to winning, you will eventually win. 

On the other side of that coin, if you are a franchise that has languished in mediocrity forever, it is almost always indifferent or bad ownership that is the issue.

[djp14]

Some guy was live-blogging the draft on a Knicks site. I had to laugh when I read this:

Quote

Charlotte will pick 12th. I cannot think of a more Hornets-y sentence.

 

[TheMaulClaw]

I love the Hornets. Hate the NBA. Were doomed for a decade.