What If We Don't Get The #1 Pick? What If We Miss On Our Pick?

[TylerDurden]

After enduring such a horrible season... What if we don't get the #1 pick in the lottery and there is no Anthony Davis?

I don't see Kidd-Gilchrist, Robinson, or any other player available in those next 3 picks that would be a huge difference maker. I could see one of those guys being a 20 point scorer but not a difference maker and franchise player.

I hate to be so pessimistic about this, but I've always felt the draft lottery was rigged and I just keep thinking what a nightmare it will be if we purposely endured this season to get the top pick and yet, we don't get it.

Anyone remember a few years back when the Celtics sucked and players even came out and said they were purposely tanking for the #1 pick and they caught a bunch of flak for it? Well, guess what happened. They didn't get the #1 pick, lol.

We are modeling ourselves after the Thunder and they hit big time on Durant, Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka, etc. But, their front office has proven with those picks to be incredible evaluators of talent, even later in the draft. We have Cho now, but he hasn't done a lot as the sole move maker in a front office and Higgins has been pretty horrible.

So, my next question is, what if we miss on our pick. The only reason the Thunder got Durant was because the Blazers took Oden. We are the team that takes Oden, lol.

I just hope we hit on Kemba and BB this year and we'll see that come to fruition in years to come, and I certainly hope we get the #1 pick and Davis this year. Otherwise, I don't see much changing in regards to wins/losses and franchise prestige and tradition.

[Panthro]

I like Robinson #2.6-10 and built like a brick shithouse. If Davis isnt there this is your pick

[4Corners]

I'll say it again!

Bobcats will get screwed out of the 1st overall selection and I'm going to laugh my ass off when it happens.

PD, you are correct in your intuition. I also believe the NBA lottery is rigged. There is so much evidence..errr..mysterious coincidences that happen with it that you'd have to question the draft's integrity.

Hornets will mysteriously win the lottery and select Anthony Davis, then be sold 2 weeks later to the highest bidder.

NBA needs to sell the Hornets. Anthony Davis is going to be one of the most marketable players in the league next year and will give the team lucky enough to get him so much exposure and marketability it's going to be nuts. Not to mention how much love ESPN is going to have for this guy, that besides the Heat/Lakers/Celtics/Thunder/Derrick Rose, this guy will be all over TV.

I think Davis will get double the amount of exposure that Blake Griffen recieved last year based on the fact the Davis is a better overall player than BG.

Sure, the bobcats will still end up with a great prospect, as this draft is one of the best that we've seen in some while. Lot's of excellent prospects, but don't kid yourself...Davis is one of the best prospects to come along in two decades.

[TylerDurden]

@Panthro, I like Robinson but I just read last week that many scouts feel some other young kid (I think a freshman who plays the same style) who I hadn't heard much about projects to be better than Robinson in the pros and may go ahead of him. I can't remember the player's name now, but sounds like scouts think Robinson is limited and one thing I do hate about the NBA compared to all the other major sports is that potential trumps resumes.

@MrTD, I have long felt the lottery is rigged and so is big time games. People can say what they want about Donaghy being a bitter criminal looking to bring others down with him, but my whole outlook on NBA games changed when I bet a friend $20 on the Sacto/L.A. Western Conference Finals back in 2002. I have never seen such an atrocity in sports before and I doubt I ever will again. The refs completely took control of those games and put the team the league office wanted in the finals there. It was disgusting and part of the reason I hate Kobe, although I do respect him.

Anyway, yeah... I just don't see things shaking out in our favor and you have a pretty solid reason there.

[4Corners]

I think it's becoming more and more difficult to currupt games based on the fact that these athletes are such freaks with ability it's hard for a 65 year old...fug a 40 year old to keep pace with guys. Sometimes, especially in the NFL/NBA I think refs make questionable calls just to slow the fuging game down for them and let them catch their breath.

But the refs can and will always be able to deeply influence games. I can name more than a handful of referee names in the NBA/NFL and that is never, ever a good thing.

If people think Donaghy was the only easily influenced official, I have some lake front property you may be interested in.

[King Taharqa]

Man you guys cry about everything and swear the NBA or this person has it out for you. I swear yall love playing the helpless victim.

[4Corners]

Man you guys cry about everything and swear the NBA or this person has it out for you. I swear yall love playing the helpless victim.

Very ironic post from someone who brings race or inequality into every discussion no matter how irrelevant it is pertaining to the original argument.

"Helpless victim?" .....I'm actually pulling for the NBA to screw the bobcats.

[TylerDurden]

Cleveland fans cry too. And with their long and storied history of winning championships, they have no reason to either.

Hopefully with Cho in there we'll see the right moves made and a change in culture - from losing to winning. But, until those things start falling into place, we'll expect more of the same. We made some awesome moves pre-draft last year once Cho came on, but this season kind of blurs all of that.

KT, you weren't all unicorns and rainbows either until we got Cam. Not many people were... I'm just saying, with a season this bad, we DESERVE the #1 pick. If we don't get it, we miss out on a virtual sure-fire franchise player that this whole season was basically planned for. That's tough looking at next year...

[SOJA]

if we don't get the number one pick I want MKG, Robinson, then Bradley Beal

[TylerDurden]

DX has MKG projected as Gerald Wallace at best and Corey Brewer at worst. Either way, that's not a franchise player in most places.

[4Corners]

DX has MKG projected as Gerald Wallace at best and Corey Brewer at worst. Either way, that's not a franchise player in most places.

Gerald Wallace has been the bobcats only "franchise player"....that's part of the reason they've only been to the playoffs once.

[TylerDurden]

Gerald Wallace has been the bobcats only "franchise player"....that's part of the reason they've only been to the playoffs once.

That's my point. Gerald was our franchise player here. I was a fan of his since I read about him when I was like 14 in Slam, when he was still in high school... And I was so pissed when we traded him, but there was a reason we only went to the playoffs once and got swept like we had no business being there. And we didn't get there until we brought in another guy that was equal to him in production.

[carolina-chuck]

Trade down

[MadHatter]

That's my point. Gerald was our franchise player here. I was a fan of his since I read about him when I was like 14 in Slam, when he was still in high school... And I was so pissed when we traded him, but there was a reason we only went to the playoffs once and got swept like we had no business being there. And we didn't get there until we brought in another guy that was equal to him in production.

He was our only franchise player. However, he was still NOT a game changer or franchise changer.

With the lack of talent on this team....a small market....and an owner to was the primary for and leader pushing for a hard salary cap (I do agree with him, but it may have alienated the players)....Charlotte MUST get lucky and draft a Durant/Kobe/LaBron style franchise changer.

If they are unable to....they will continue to only aspire for even mediocrity.