If Charlotte picks Miller at #2, how about a three-team trade sending Mikal Bridges to Portland, #4 plus next year's Brooklyn pick to the Nets, and Scoot Henderson to the Rockets? If Brooklyn goes ahead and tanks, that's essentially two top 5 draft picks for Bridges--can any team beat that offer?
I'm dying to get Scoot because aside from the talent the fit at PG is perfect, but that's just irrational feelings on my part. In reality I don't think there's a big enough difference between him and #5. Chances of these guys (#2 to #5) being best player in the long term is roughly the same regardless of my instinct telling me one of them might be head and shoulders better. Look at previous drafts. Everyone thinks the draft order matters a lot, but typically the best players come at random spaced out spots. I'll just advise that you guys are not being realistic about moving up. It's going to take the #4 and another amazing future pick to move up and get Scoot. Historically that's roughly the cost. The most I'd be willing to do is #4 and Brooklyn's 2024 pick unprotected. Anything more than that, I'd rather pick our own guy or trade the pick. Raptors would give us anything but Barnes for our pick btw. If those assets are useful to us or some other team (championship calibre role players), that's a good route to pursue.
I live in Portland. Over the next several weeks I’ll feed into the forum any credible local chatter I hear. But honestly, Portland will go in a franchise-changing direction depending on the packages they get offered for either Dame or the pick itself. I honestly think that something changed this year for Portland. They are no longer scared of trading Dame. This year’s disappointment on top of last year’s disappointment finally broke them. Dame putting up these historical numbers and they are still losing? They know they need to pivot. If Portland has Scoot as the 2nd best player in this draft, and somehow he gets to #3, I don’t see them letting him go. If Scoot is gone I could see them trading the pick for a guy like Bridges (we don’t have a player like that). They could also just take Miller and start the rebuild around him, Simons, and Sharpe. But regardless, I think it’s gonna be very hard to trade up with Portland; we just don’t have what they want. Trading up with Charlotte might be easier. I guess there’s a slight chance their top 2 prospects are off the board and the guy they like 3rd best is someone they can trade back for. But i just don’t see it relative to their alternatives.
Yes Lamelo can play off-ball. Also when Lamelo was too ball dominant, it's lot of work/responsibility for him. His efficiency diped somewhat last year. Having two playmakers make sense. From lurking on CHA's fanbase, they're ready to move on from Rozier. Think how a Brunson made Luka's life easier back in DAL. And people have mentioned too, if Lamelo is injured, their season(s) wouldn't be completely doomed, with Henderson as a backup primary ball handler. Through last few months; I kept saying CHA would have no issues picking Henderson. The 'oh they have a pg already, so they don't need Henderson' is a very simplistic view.
he’s a great fit in Charlotte. Now they don’t have to worry about LaMelo getting injured and LaMelo shoots and plays super well off-ball. Plus Scoot is the #2 BPA. I wouldn’t put any stock into what Mitch Kupcheck says. I think they’ll take Scoot or trade back. I have a hard time seeing them take Miller #2
Scoot Henderson's fit next to Lamelo is similar to what it would be next to KPJ.....and it's a LOT better to the fit next to Green since you have to have at least one of them that can shoot.
Yeah, my default expectation would still be that Charlotte takes Scoot and Portland either takes Miller or trades him to somebody else until proven otherwise. I would try to move up for Scoot but I wouldn't get your hopes up.
Yes, after their play-in failures, and changing of their coach, they're looking to acquire more talent. On their mind, they are in BPA > fit mode.... even then, Henderson still 'fits'. On RocketsWatch last night, people also bought up, well if they get Henderson, does this mean LaMelo is on the market. My read is NO, unless Lamelo (or his dad), are unhappy with the team. From Hornet's franchise view, they're looking to build with LaMelo (not replace him). From the outside we see his strengths (and weaknesses), but the team that drafted him, loves him, believes in him, and sees him as the franchise. Like any rebuild team, they're looking to keep ADD core pieces (not just swap out A for B).
Near consensus? Sounds familiar. After last year’s experience, I’m not buying any “consensus”. In any case, I think the case for trading up is slim. You want Charlotte to NOT want Henderson, but you also want what they actually want to be still at 4. It turns out to be increasingly likely that that person is Miller. Is that someone Portland covets? Or is that someone that whoever Portland trades with covets? The uncertainty at #3 is killing it, in my opinion. It’s a bit tragic that Hou slipped to 4 instead of 3. Henderson, Green, Sengun and Smith would fit so so well.
There no reason whatsoever to trade up, Hendricks, Walker, and Whitmore will all be there at 4.... and honestly I'm higher on them than either Thompson and they fit better than Henderson.
Hendricks, Walker and Whitmore fit better than Scoot Henderson lol?! This team is desperate for a PG.
No, certain fans are desperate for a different PG... not the team. Adding a PG that can't shoot, just to say you did would only make spacing even worse than it was last season. Don't let emotional fans make you think the team agrees with their narrative.
Based on what I heard from Lowe and Givony it sounds like Kupchack loves Brandon Miller. He was in attendance for Miller's 41 or whatever point game this year and is absolutely sold on him. Still could change pending workouts but there's a realistic chance they take Miller at 2. They're using the position thing as justification but he might just actually like Miller better. Edit: ok someone above me already mentioned it from the podcast. Just gonna add that while it's believed that they want Miller right now, Kupchack is a big believer in team workouts so Scoot still has a chance to sway him there.
