The Hornets are terrible, and the deals were designed to make them terrible. They will end up with a very high pick (mostly likely no1 with david sterns help). They will probably end up with another lottery pick from the twolves. The rockets are mediocre. They will most likely end with a 500 record maybe a little higher. They will most likely draft in 12-20 range. They have some solid pieces maybe even a super star in Europe. In five years whom will be more successful franchise in terms of wins and loses?
The draft isn't everything good sir. A high pick can just as easily be a bust as a star. To answer your question, it depends on what the rox do. The hornets wil also lose gordon because he won't want to resign
I am choosing the Rockets, primarily because we have a GM who is able to identify talent in the draft and on the benches of other teams better than all but 2 or 3 other GM's around the league. So, the hornets can pick in the lottery all they want, but unless they have someone at the helm to properly use that choice, then they are just as likely to end up with the next Olawakandi as they are to end up with the next Dream.
As much as I love this team, Hornets future looks brighter. And you would have to be a complete homer to deny it.
10 of their players are out of contract after next season. Most of them such as landry, ariza, jack, gordon would want to leave unless the hornets change fast.
Thats a tough choice .... even with a good GM and an owner willing to spend those early lottery picks can change the course of a franchise in the blink of an eye. Seattle/OKC select Durant and Westbrook in back to back years. The Spurs get Duncan and become dominant. The Rockets select Akeem and are contenders for 14 seasons. Portland picks Aldridge and have been tough to beat. Cleveland gets Lebron and were a top tier team for a few years prior to him leaving. The Clippers pick Griffin and the whole culture of the team has changed. Chicago gets Derrick Rose with the #1 overall and have been knocking on the door of a championship with him at the helm. Utah picks Canter and Alec Burks this past draft and have improved significantly. New Orleans took CP3 with the 4th overall pick and had some great seasons. Orlando takes Dwight Howard #1 overall and have been contenders ever since.
I had to go with Hornets. They have a great piece in Eric Gordon and this year's lottery pick. The Rockets have only Lowry that we can build around. The rest of the roster will probably be gone in 5 years. (though it's possible some role players like Patterson or Morris could still be here) The way they're set up, they can be the Timberwolves of the 90s/early 00s--always in playoffs, but always out in the first round.
Nothing is certain.. But finishing 8th place every year is likely to not have a big of a change as drafting 1-5th over the years.
