The Hornets worked out seven draft prospects on Friday, headlined by UConn guard James Bouknight, P.J. Morales of the Charlotte Observer writes. Bouknight is rated as the No. 8 overall prospect on ESPN’s Best Available list. Auburn guard Sharife Cooper (No. 18 on ESPN’s list), Tennessee guard Jaden Springer (No. 27), and Auburn forward JT Thor (No. 28) were some of the other potential first-rounders who visited. The group also included Iowa center Luka Garza, Howard center Makur Maker, and Croatian forward Roko Prkacin (No. 37).
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- Not surprisingly, Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal are the players most likely to remain on the Wizards‘ roster heading into next season, Fred Katz of The Athletic anticipates. Katz takes a look at every player on the roster and projects the odds they’ll return with Washington for the 2021/22 campaign.
- Mavericks assistant Jamahl Mosley was interviewed for the Magic’s head coaching job on Thursday, Josh Robbins of The Athletic tweets. Orlando’s desire to interview Mosley was previously reported. Mosley is likely to leave Dallas after being passed over for the head coaching job that went to Jason Kidd.
- Nate McMillan has far exceeded all expectations as the Hawks’ interim coach and Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal Constitution notes how the veteran coach has connected with his players in ways that previous coach Lloyd Pierce failed to do.
And just like last season Westbrook will have more triple-doubles than his team’s win total.
And just like last season you will change your name, then start trashing Wall and Wood after the Rockets trade them as part of the rebuild. And it will be hilarious.
This!
hornets going for another guard first? which of graham or rozier on the way out then? i’m keeping scary. could wait till late 2nd and pick up als guy david duke.
Don’t forget Monk as well –
I think they take the value on a Sign and trade w Graham, don’t trade Roz, and agree to a deal w Monk
Draft – I like the idea of thinking defensively with the pick this year – Wagner or Garuba would add a nice touch, can find plenty offence w the cap room if need be-
Only way I’d keep Monk is on a cheap deal. Don’t trust that 40%. If he signs like a 4/24 type of deal ok.
Agreed, he’s an end of rotation guy. Although some team will probably take the gamble which might make it too costly for Charlotte to keep him.
Graham is more interesting. Last season he looked like a backup to me. But two seasons ago he looked like a starter. Will he get offered a starter contract or a bench contract, I wonder. I could see NY throwing a bid in.
I was thinking 3/24 Philly
I think Monk has a little extra left in the tank than most tho probably .. Was a fan outta college, went thru the disappointed phase and now want to see a revival
No shade intended…
Rehab changed everything for Monk. He’s been a completely different player ever since.
Graham is a FA, they probably let him walk
With Ball and Rozier in tow, he’s kind of redundant.
Maybe the ways that McMillan connected with his players was by being a real basketball coach.
Bouknight is the easiest talented guy to pass on in this draft. If the Hornets taking him loosens their grip on Graham, that’s good for the PG shoppers this off season (including the Knicks).
Posters keep talking about development from coaches… They are advocating coaches that serious professionals want no part of… Look at the Hawks. They get a leader that tells truth, that has integrity, McMillan, they start winning.
The GL is for development.
Yep, and reporters keep talking about the importance of coaches connecting with players, as though it’s separate from his coaching role, i.e., age, cultural leanings, etc. Pierce was a young, woke AC, who worked in “player development” (lol); so the media assumed he’d connect with players. McMillan is an old school coach, who only knows how to coach; so the media assumes he won’t connect with today’s players. Thus, it requires an investigation when it’s the opposite. Never occurs to them that coaches like McMillan show the players how to be their best, and that’s all that’s needed for the only connection that matters, buy-in. In the modern NBA, it’s just rare for players to encounter coaches like him. The league keeps running front men at them.
Westbrook is so dum.b for leaving OKC. He actually did Presti and OKC a favor by leaving, and now is literally a journeyman. Lilliard should think twice about leaving as well.
No definition of “literally a journeyman” fits Westbrook. His arrival probably phases out the games of Bertans and Ish Smith though and they just contracted Bertans.
The WAS link indicates one of Ish or Raul Neto will be available. But the short PGs have fine stats and Smith plays good defense. Good buys and Bertans is a good dump acquisition if there’s money.
So you callin’ a guy like Russ who had a 1st All-NBA type of a season a journeyman?????
Boy oh boy, my man, I don’t wanna know what you call the bums of the league like Dimwiddie, Beverley, R-Jax, Bledsoe, & so on…
Three teams in three years sounds like a journey to me. The only reason it won’t be four in four is because his contract is not good.
Nah, takes more, and they can’t be rolling out the red carpet every time. Plus, literally a journeyman would mean he has a journeyman’s license, which I really doubt, as those go to tradesmen. ‘Literally’ is not a random intensifier, it’s a word with meaning.
He is leaving because housten takes a trade with OKC.
Westbrook was traded to Houston because management told him they were starting a rebuild. Houston traded him because of the same reason.
Is Beal the least likely to *not* be in Washington next year?
Maybe we should see how these extension talks go before making that assertion.