The Hornets are unlikely to trade the 11th overall pick, new president of basketball operations Mitch Kupchak said today, according to Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer. While Kupchak wouldn’t be surprised to see some deals made in the top 10, it sounds like he expects his club to remain out of the fray and use the No. 11 selection.
As for which prospect the Hornets might draft with that pick, Kupchak didn’t tip his hand, suggesting that the front office will opt for the best player available. However, he did speculate that the player who fits that bill will be a guard or a wing. As Bonnell explains, Kupchak expects the top five big men in this year’s draft to come off the board in the top 10, leaving guards and wings as the best players available by No. 11.
Here’s more on the Hornets:
- Asked whether the Hornets have any pressing needs that have to be addressed prior to training camp, Kupchak said he wants to add at least one more ball-handling guard, writes Bonnell. That player could be acquired in the draft, free agency, or a trade.
- If the Hornets didn’t get a chance to bring in a player for an individual workout, that doesn’t mean the club won’t draft that player, Kupchak said today, according to Bonnell. That stance could apply to someone like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a projected lottery pick who reportedly hasn’t had any pre-draft workouts with NBA teams.
- Kupchak said it’s very possible that the Hornets will use their No. 55 pick to nab and draft-and-stash prospect, per Bonnell.
- The Pelicans granted the Hornets and Suns permission to speak to lead assistant Chris Finch about their head coaching jobs this spring, tweets Marc Stein of The New York Times. While Finch’s interview with Phoenix was reported in April, he hadn’t previously been identified as a candidate for the Charlotte job. The Hornets ultimately hired James Borrego to replace Steve Clifford.
Anyway they have already too many bigs, better stick with a guard or forward, makes the most sense.
Charlotte has needed – and continues to need – wing scoring.
The fact that the first thing out of Kupchak’s mouth were “ball handling guard” is a pretty good indicator that Kemba Walker will be traded tomorrow.
I predict a multi-team deal in which Kawhi goes to Philly, Kemba Walker becomes a Spur, and Markelle Fultz comes to Charlotte.
The Hornets need star power. What better way to energize the rebuild than with last year’s #1 overall pick. He’s relatively cheap. He’s dynamic. And he’s got star power. If he can get healthy, he’s the perfect piece for the Hornets to build around.
SAS/CHA/PHL Kawhi trade.
Reason: more choices to get Kawhi matched; SAS wants to send Kawhi to the EC, to where he is liable to re-up & stay there.
*PHL has 5 cheap players to choose from, 4 at about $1.6mil: Holmes, Oconnell, Korkmaz, Cabarrot plus JAnderson $2.5.
SAS: Out Kawhi; In Walker, Saric, from Philly 1of5*, #10, #26.
CHA: Out Walker; In Fultz, 3of5*.
PHL: Out Fultz, Saric, 4of5*, #10, #26; In Kawhi.
In theory PHL could still sign Lebron by stretching Bayless and the last cheap player but its cutting it real close.
Detail:
CHA only needs to receive 1of5 of the cheap players; but PHL needs to send 4 total. SAS and CHA could split 2 & 2 instead of 1 & 3.
Okay trade machine says 3of5 needs to go to Spurs, reason being I was using next year’s salaries. We are still this year until July 1.
I used Anderson, Holmes and Korkmaz to SAS, Oconnell and Cabarrot to CHA. There is probably some flexibility but SAS doesn’t need Oconnell and CHA doesn’t need Holmes, given the present rosters.