Really David, Really?
I just want to know when this conversation took place..
(Phone Rings… )
Tom: Hello?
David: Tom Benson, it’s David Stern. I know things are a little rough for you right now with all this bounty-gate stuff going on, but I have a business opportunity for you, might take some of the focus away from the misguided wire-tapping stuff.
Tom: I am going to stop you right now. No way would I buy the Hornets. We’r a tourist town, the team is a bunch of nobodies, and we’re in a small market. I can sell football, but I will not even go watch the Hornets.
David: Well, what if I sweeten the deal for you..
Tom: You’re going to retro-actively un-trade Chris Paul and bring him back?
David: Already did that once and caught hell for it, but Eric Gordon is not bad, could be a star..
Tom: You’re stalling… tell me why I should buy this team?
David: You still have the Kentucky Billboard up from March? Might want to change the jersey on that Davis kid..
Tom: Really? But we only have a 13.7% chance… a long shot..
David: Tom, C’mon, I can make it happen, just make sure you look surprised as hell on May 30th. Besides, it’s just another chance for me to screw Jordan over.
Tom: Now, if you could just get the Jazz name back from Utah..
David: Hey, one “miracle” at a time. Let’s start with a franchise player. Hey, look how I hooked up the Spurs with Timmy boy.
Maybe I am just a bitter fan, or maybe I just suffered through the worst season in the history of the NBA, but I wanted hope, a building block for the future. Anthony Davis was that one guaranteed piece–he’s an 18-10-3 guy for his career at the worst. At best, he’s a cross between KG and Durant, KG’s defense and post moves, with some–BUT not all–of Durant’s outside game. Now we are left to look at what’s left. It’s like going to Morton’s and them telling you they are out of steak. You might still get a great meal, but you wanted the steak.
I grew up in Charlotte and when the Hornet’s left, it was brutal on the city, and now as we trying to build some sort of team back in Charlotte, the Hornet’s stole our hope again. It might not have been a fix, but it sure seems like it. Stern cannot for the life of him sell the Hornets. No buyers, no takers, then less than a month before the lottery, Tom Benson, embroiled in scandal, comes up with 338 million to buy the Hornets coming off a 21-45 season?!?!?!? Something is fishy as hell there. Now look at what Tom’s buying. Franchise low post presence (Davis), explosive but undersized 2-guard who, when he’s healthy, can easily drop 25 a night (Eric Gordon), two low post defensive stoppers (Kaman & Okafor), three young wings who can all contribute and develop (Belinelli, Ariza, and Aminu), and some decent role players (Carl Landry, Greivis Vasquez, and Jarrett Jack). If you added a quality point guard to the mix, they are in the playoffs. Oh,they have the 10th pick as well–hello Kendall Marshall. Now there is not a businessman that would not turn that team down. A young nucleus under 25, scoring, defense, and a point guard that could facilitate everyone else and not need to shoot (yea, I am looking at you, Russell Westbrook). Cue the Marshall to Davis alley oopps for the next ten years. I am going to go vomit.
As for the Bobcats, we are left with a consolation prize? But what? This was a one player draft, and we have the second pick. There is another star out there, but who knows who it is. I know two things–one, we still need a piece, and second, Harrison Barnes is not the answer. Barnes does one thing well and that is shoot. He cannot create his own shot, his athleticism is average, his handle is terrible, and, to be blunt, he was terrible without Kendall Marshall. If the Bobcats go this direction it is a massive mistake. He is a joke and will not amount to more than a Mike Miller in the NBA, if that. Go find the last high scoring, sweet shooting UNC player to come out. Good luck finding Joe Forte ANYWHERE. So that leaves us with a really two options–Michael Kidd Gilchrest and Andre Drummond. Sorry, Bradley Beal and Thomas Robinson, I think undersized an PF can play in the league, but you’re going to measure in at 6’7″ (if he doesn’t, then I don’t mind the pick, but, seriously, how do you not play over the Morris twins, look at what they HAVEN’T done in the NBA).
Why MKG and Drummond? Upside–Drummond has the size and athleticism to be a beast in the post and provide Biyambo some help down there. He also could be a bust, which is why I think the pick has to be MKG. He is leader and a winner in college. He stepped up in big games, wanted the ball and the moment. He is an outstanding athlete and, most importantly, he is already an outstanding defender. The knock on him is his outside shooting. Still, he shot 49% from the field and a jump shot is something you can work on. You can teach his tenacity, defensive ability, and his ability to get to the rim (something that Harrison Barnes lacks). The pick has to be Michael Kidd Gilchrest.
