Let’s focus on #17

I'm hoping for a defensive wing with this pick, but I'll be happy with BPA no matter what position. Drafting purely on need doesn't always work out anyway. We drafted one of the best defensive prospects last year in Garuba and he hasn't panned out so far at all. If Banchero gets drafted #1 or 2 and we manage to draft Chet or Jabari with the 3rd pick that should already boost our defense. Maybe someone like Hardy or Jovic would be a better fit than the defensive prospects we've been leaning towards in that scenario.

 

Need to make this happen.

Maybe even steal one of Kai or JT Thor as well.

Hornets are clueless.

 

It's above your pay grade banana man....and I don't fall for the banana up the tail pipe trick.

Put you on ignore......you will learn about the importance of spacing and how
teammates matter in a team sport on your own.

F'ing jackalope

 

Unfortunately Garuba was behind the curve and then he got injured. He showed promise near the end of the season. A strong off season will prepare him well. He's only 6'9 in shoes despite his long arms. We need an additional center. Let's hope for the best.

 

Wood + Gordon for Hayward and #13

Paolo #3
Eason #13
Kessler #17

 

That definitely could make sense for Charlotte if they want to move on from Hayward after he had another major injury. Might not be a great return for Houston though with him being locked in at 31.5 mil for the 23-24 season.

 

It’s not ideal, but they could still have around $45M available that summer even with Hayward. I’m not sure there will be a free agent available worth offering the max. They might be better served just using the space to fill the more glaring needs.

 

Kessler is end of 1st pick.

 

Hornets also need to give up Kai or Thor too if they want to unload that contract.

But Heyward still has value methinks.

 

Is Charlotte desperate to get off the extra year of Hayward’s contract? I’d do you’re trade in a second, but think it would probably require we throw in 17. I’d still do it if Eason was available at that slot although it would eat into our cap room in 24. Hayward would actually be a decent piece off the bench and provide some vet leadership.

 

I’ve read a couple of places that said he was likely to be moved. It gives them players to make a playoff push next year and gives them free agency options a year early. It doesn’t give us the huge windfall next year, but I’d sacrifice that for Eason since since I’m not really enamored with the list of free agents anyway (though we would still have room to offer the max).

Here’s an article on Charlotte’s situation.

 

I think we can all appreciate falling in love with a prospect and maybe having a little tunnel vision on a young kid we just really like. I get it.

But it's pretty hard to get excited about a kid who isn't showing up in first rounds of mock drafts, can't really create for himself at the moment, didn't have a great combine and averaged awful numbers as a freshman for a middling college program.

If the Rockets really like the kid, maybe they could acquire an early second rounder to go after him, but it seems really unlikely that he's playing for Houston next season. But if he's the breakout rookie next season you think he's going to be, feel free to bust out the "I told you so" and I'm sure many of us will be willing to eat some crow.

 

Not in love with the kid.

Just saying this past season was an anomaly.

He may need surgery on an ankle or both and can't or isn't hiding that.
Could or would he have surgery after being drafted and ready to play
by January. More than likely he would be used like Bassey or Kai Jones
as a G-league player year one (Nerlens Noel rehab year one) but it's
what will we get after that?

How much did COVID effect him?

No excuse for combine numbers, but I pointed out Banchero can
leap and P Baldwin can not but the blocks per game were 0.9 (Banchero)
and 0.8 (Baldwin).....1.1 (Banchero per 40-mins) and 1.1 (Baldwin per 40-mins).

Baldwin defensive numbers were actually some of the best in the nation.
Both Banchero and Baldwin were asked to play on the perimeter during their
time on the defensive end. So both were drilled for their guarding quicker
guards on the perimeter and I've seen both completely loose track of their
assignments.

I'm not saying he is better than Banchero, I'm just saying I like Baldwin
for his spot shooting much like I like Jabari Smith for his spot shooting.
You can't leave him open and in all videos Baldwin for the most part is being
guarded close 30-feet from the basket. You don't guard 26% 3-point shooters
close 30-feet from the basket unless you are scared of them.

*And if you notice the defense set up against him when he has the ball
on the perimeter......defenders let their assignments get behind them.
In man-to-man you keep yourself between the man and the rim.
They are playing man-to-man in most clips but also a form of zone in
which they can easily jump to swarm Baldwin as he starts his dribble.
Defenders let their assignments thru so that they don't get between
them and their swarm towards Baldwin.

I've said many times here, "It's hard to soar like an eagle when you are surrounded
by turkeys." If Baldwin played at Duke as originally set, he would have had the
luxury of AJ Griffin shooting 45% from 3 and Weldon shooting 41% from 3 and Mark
Williams ready to accept lob catches. Baldwin numbers would have been just fine
as he would have had space and additional scoring threats.

He was 1st, 2nd, and 3rd option. Someone asked about Steph Curry?
Steph scored 20 points a game at Davidson his freshman season
but his team was 7th in the nation in points per game. If Steph
gets triple and quadruple teamed others would score. Milwaukee
was 323 in the nation in points per game. When Baldwin was
clamped down and triple teamed.....the others couldn't score.


I've said if Baldwin played at Duke, he would probably go around #10.....we
pick #17. The Rockets have interviewed him as they have done their due diligence.
I believe the Rockets would go Mark Williams, Tari Eason, EJ Liddell, Sochan if
available, Kendall Brown. But P Baldwin may be an option over someone like Kessler
in my opinion. Or if we obtain extra picks.

Here is Baldwin vs Banchero in highschool. Other than Baldwin
letting Banchero go right (I've stressed don't let Banchero go right)
and getting a massive dunk along the baseline. Does his little left
side of rim up and under.........I don't see a big
difference in the two. Baldwin can put the ball on the floor as well.

.

And for those who respect coach K..he said, "Patrick Baldwin is like the perfect recruit."
Was recruiting Baldwin since he was a Sophomore.

 

Kessler? Maybe somebody else lol. If we take on Hayward's it should also include 15 for 17 imo.

 

For someone who is not in love with Baldwin, you have compared him to Luka, Dirk, Steph Curry and now top 3 pick Paolo Banchero.

Man I'd like to see what you'd post if you are in love with a kid lol.

Do you even have any story or proof he is needing ankle surgery on both ankles? And why isnt that a red flag to you if true? He aint going in the top 10 if he needs surgery in both ankles right after getting drafted even if he went to Duke.

 

my lord that first play of the video....

 

Exactly. I wouldn't do it.

 

It might be a little early for him, but I would really like to get a traditional rim protecting center to close out two really solid back-to-back drafts that addressed every position except PG. Personally, that’s a position I would prefer to address through trade or FA.

 

Prob is Kessler is too immobile to switdh on the perimeter we see guys like that are useless now. I it's just a traditional big you want we already got two prospects, Bruno Fernando and Usman Garuba.

 

I'd do this in a heartbeat. But I'd try to package 13 and 17 to move into the top 10 and target either a wing (Sochan, Griffin, etc.) or a a center prospect (Duren or Williams).