Tag: Charlotte Hornets

Hornets widely believed to be targeting a big man in the NBA draft

Charlotte has been linked to both James Wiseman and Onyeka Okongwu ahead of the NBA draft on Nov. 18.

[jwplayer k7zH6sSU]

When the Charlotte Hornets are on the clock with the third overall pick in the NBA draft, the prevailing thought around the league is the organization will be looking to select a big man, with James Wiseman and Onyeka Okongwu the most likely candidates.

The Hornets have been said to be highly interested in drafting Wiseman and believe his talent can be a big addition to the lineup. Charlotte has even been rumored into wanting to trade up in order to have the opportunity to take Wiseman.

Wiseman reportedly doesn’t want to be drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves, leaving the Golden State Warriors as the Hornets’ only likely competition to land the 19-year-old. As a result, the Hornets would likely only need to trade up one spot to take Wiseman.

However, if the Hornets prove unsuccessful in landing Wiseman, the organization would reportedly target Okongwu, according to Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated.

What exactly [the Hornets would] be willing to trade to [acquire the No. 2 pick] is unclear, and it’s worth noting the other player I’ve consistently heard linked to Charlotte is Onyeka Okongwu. Okongwu makes more sense in the event the Hornets find a way to trade back, but if they’re unable or unwilling to make a move for Wiseman, he’s a player to keep an eye on.

Of course, Okongwu emerged as perhaps the top defensive center in the country last season and projects to fill a lot of holes for the Hornets. Some teams have even preferred Okongwu to Wiseman so it will be worth monitoring to see what Charlotte does if both players are available.

[lawrence-related id=23677,23829,23523]

[listicle id=23482]

Why LaMelo Ball may be a perfect fit with the Charlotte Hornets

While not the most appealing landing spot, Charlotte may be the best landing spot in terms of system and fit for LaMelo Ball.

With the date for the 2020 NBA Draft set, we begin our look at each team in the lottery relative to LaMelo Ball. What’s the outlook of the team, how does Ball fit into their roster and plans and what’s the likelihood of him landing with the franchise? We continue our profiles with the Charlotte Hornets.

Boston Celtics profile
New Orleans profile
Sacramento Kings profile
San Antonio Spurs profile
Phoenix Suns profile
Washington Wizards profile
New York Knicks profile
Detroit Pistons profile
Atlanta Hawks profile
Cleveland Cavaliers profile
Chicago Bulls profile

The Team

One of the luckiest teams in the draft lottery was the Charlotte Hornets, who jumped five spots into the top three and into the conversation for LaMelo Ball. Though the team doesn’t have a need for a guard with both Devonte Graham and Terry Rozier on the roster, they do have a need for a player that will bring notoriety to the franchise, which Ball would do.

Unlike basically every other team profiled, there’s a realistic scenario in which the Hornets can land Ball without needing to trade up. The Timberwolves could draft Anthony Edwards and the Warriors could either not find a trade partner and draft someone that isn’t Ball or find a trade partner that moves up for James Wiseman or another non-Ball prospect. In that situation, the Hornets could be in prime position for Ball without having to give up assets.

There also is the possibility the team could move up to secure Ball while using one of Graham or Rozier as trade bait. The latter has established himself as a rotational guard in the league while the former was a Most Improved Player contender this season. Minnesota could view one of them as a better fit next to D’Angelo Russell than Ball while Golden State could view them as the type of win-now players they desire.

If it all adds up to Ball landing in Charlotte, it would be a huge boost for a franchise that has been stuck in mediocrity and irrelevancy for the better part of the last decade.

The Fit

Under the assumption the Hornets don’t move one of Graham or Rozier to land Ball, the backcourt is crowded. However, all three of the players are versatile enough to play on and off the ball. Last season, Graham spent 61% of his minutes as a shooting guard after spending 60% of his minutes at point guard the year prior. Rozier’s arrival changed Graham’s role, yet he still flourished.

Rozier, meanwhile, did spend the near entirety of his time last season as a point guard but had experience in Boston playing as a two-guard. Add in Ball, who spent time last season playing alongside point guard Aaron Brooks and all three have shown the versatility to play on and off the ball.

In many ways, having guards ahead of Ball could help lighten some of the burden on Ball, particularly as a scorer. Both Rozier and Graham were high-volume scorers last season. Ball could come in and be a playmaker in the offense without needing to score.

Charlotte head coach James Borrego also recently discussed Ball’s fit within the Hornets’ offense. His pass-first mindset would be a perfect fit for what Borrego is trying to accomplish.

The Likelihood

There is a not unlikely chance that Charlotte lands Ball without needing to even trade up. That alone is reason to have Charlotte as a probable landing spot.

Chances of Ball landing in Charlotte: 40%

LaMelo Ball goes No. 3 to Charlotte Hornets in Sporting News Australia mock draft

While there has been much discussion of whether LaMelo Ball should be the No. 1 pick, there’s been little discussion of where he goes if the Wolves pass.

As the talk with regards to LaMelo Ball in the 2020 NBA Draft has focused on whether he will go to the Timberwolves with the No. 1 pick, there has been little talked about where he would go if he isn’t the top pick.

The Golden State Warriors don’t appear to be a realistic option. There remains the possibility that the Warriors trade the pick themselves, opening the way for another team to draft Ball. Should he slip past the No. 2 pick, the possibilities quickly open up as the Hornets would have the next go at him.

The above scenario is what played out in the latest Sporting News Australia mock draft by Eric Fawcett. After the Timberwolves selected Anthony Edwards first and the Warriors drafted Deni Avdija, the Hornets selected Ball to add to their crowded backcourt.

“The most recent evolution in NBA basketball is the move from small, traditional point guards handling the rock to bigger wings being the primary initiators, a trend started by LeBron James and Kevin Durant and more recently advanced by Ben Simmons and Luka Doncic. In this draft class it’s LaMelo Ball who brings ball handling and offensive creation to the table at 6-foot-7 and his ability to read defenses and make the flashy pass or get into the paint and demonstrate his otherworldly touch around the rim makes him an enticing prospect at the top of the draft. Teams will be hoping his jump shot straightens out and his effort on defence will finally improve under the bright lights of the highest level of hoops but offensive instincts at 6-foot-7 are tough to ignore.”

Terry Rozier and Devonte Graham present interesting roadblocks in Ball’s path to starting in Charlotte. But even that has its benefits as it would take the pressure off Ball to contribute at a high level from day one. It would be just another wrinkle in the draft when it comes to Ball.

[lawrence-related id=26610,26593,26590]

Miles Bridges releases hip hop mixtape with teammate Dwayne Bacon

Miles Bridges is not only hammering home dunks on the court, but is also laying down bars in the studio.

[jwplayer 1tjDKyFK-PROpJzTY]

Miles Bridges is not only a professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets, but he is also a music artist also.  He released his first album in a collaboration with one of his teammates.

He teamed up with Charlotte Hornets guard Dwayne Bacon to produce this album called Flint to Lakeland.  Bridges is from Flint and Bacon is from Lakeland.  It features 10 songs plus two appearances from Baby T.  The album is well designed featuring Bridges love for gorillas, the area code for Flint and Lakeland, and the expressway signs for Flint and Lakeland.

The album is 21 minutes in length and available on Apple Music.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

Hornets head coach James Borrego compliments LaMelo Ball’s passing, vision

The Charlotte Hornets could be in line to draft LaMelo Ball in the 2020 NBA Draft, a move that could be a perfect fit for their style.

The Charlotte Hornets’ jump to the No. 3 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft could serve as a franchise-changing moment. After largely being stuck in mediocrity in recent years, a bit of good fortune for Charlotte now seems them with a chance to land one of the top prospects in the draft.

While the decision will be largely taken out of the Hornets’ hands, it doesn’t change the need for Charlotte to prepare. In a draft where the consensus is a drop-off after the top three picks, the Hornets find themselves in the perfect position to take the last of the top three remaining.

Whether that player ends up being Ball remains to be seen, but there may not be a better player for the system the Hornets are trying to build. Head coach James Borrego spoke on 102.5 FM WFNZ about a number of topics, including Ball.

“I think there’s a number of players, LaMelo is one of them, but I think there’s a number of young players at that spot that we’re looking at.  Obviously, we’re looking for a toughness, a physicality, a high IQ, I think that’s something that a player like LaMelo can bring any team, just the feel, the IQ, the ability to pass.

“As you know, last year we started to trend more towards a passing team. We were second in the league in passes per possession, fourth in the league in assist percentage. We believe in the pass. We believe in making the right play. The young kid you’re speaking about has that ability. He sees the floor at an extremely high level.”

From a playstyle standpoint, it appears Ball would be a great fit in Charlotte. As Borrego mentions, the Hornets ranked near the top of the league in a host of passing leaderboards. Charlotte was also fourth in passes per game last season, a further example of the type of offense they want to run.

Ball ticks all the boxes the Hornets are looking for. Borrego’s comments also bring into question Ball’s first with the current Hornets’ backcourt as well. While many have assumed squeezing Ball in alongside Devonte’ Graham and Terry Rozier would be difficult, but given how Borrego wants to play, Ball could find his way into the lineup after all.

It’s a question that Borrego and the Hornets will have to answer in the coming months. If Ball is such a perfect fit, the team could look to move up in the draft, a move that might have to come in order to make certain they can draft Ball.

[lawrence-related id=26271,26255,26198]

LaMelo Ball slotted to Warriors in newest CBS Sports mock draft

The Golden State Warriors remain at the No. 2 pick to take LaMelo Ball while two teams trade around them in CBS Sports’ latest mock draft.

CBS Sports’ Kyle Boone released his latest 2020 NBA mock draft this week and LaMelo Ball remained near the top. Boone projects Ball to go No. 2 overall to the Golden State Warriors.

“Golden State intends to use this draft asset aggressively in potential trade talks, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has reported. But it’s possible the best asset may be simply staying put and selecting LaMelo Ball if he’s available at No. 2. He has elite court vision and feel for the game and is considered a consensus top-three player in this draft. If his shot develops and he’s able to add weight to his frame he has a chance to be the standout star of this class.”

Ball going No. 2 is not the most interesting aspect of his mock draft. Boone also predicted a trade where the Hornets move up from the No. 3 pick to the No. 1 pick to draft Edwards. Minnesota still takes James Wiseman with the No. 3 pick, taking the last of the top three prospects in the draft.

Given how different franchises will view each prospect this year, it could be a draft where a team moves up to ensure it gets a prospect they view highly over one they have on the opposite end of the spectrum.

[lawrence-related id=25972,25970,25930]

LaMelo Ball goes No. 3 to Hornets in The Ringer’s first mock draft

In Kevin O’Connor’s first mock draft for the 2020 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets land LaMelo Ball with the No. 3 pick.

[jwplayer DaYxbLtx-z6KDnl0B]

One of the top draft analysts, Kevin O’Connor with The Ringer, released his first mock draft on Monday. While the site released a more collective mock draft, O’Connor’s personal mock draft saw Ball land No. 3 with the Charlotte Hornets.

“Don’t let Devonte’ Graham’s presence or Terry Rozier’s contract fool you. The Hornets are a blank canvas. Ball would immediately give them an identity as an up-tempo team with his flashy playmaking. That said, it’s a risk since Ball needs to prove he can shoot efficiently and put in effort on defense. He may lack some foundational skills, but his upside is clear.”

For the most part, O’Connor’s mock draft fell into line with many others but with one notable exception. While most admit that the top three prospects are poor fits in Golden State with the No. 2 pick, few are willing to mock anyone else to the Warriors.

O’Connor, though, slotted wing Deni Avdija to go second overall. After predicting Anthony Edwards to go No. 1 to Minnesota, that left James Wiseman to fall to No. 4 to the Chicago Bulls.

Back to Ball, though, O’Connor brings up a good point that hasn’t been mentioned before in that he would give Charlotte an identity they haven’t had in years. He would also bring them more publicity and national attention than potentially at any time in their franchise’s history.

[lawrence-related id=25972,25970,25927]

LaMelo Ball slotted No. 3 to Hornets in newest Yahoo Sports mock draft

Yahoo Sports’ newest mock draft is the latest to predict LaMelo Ball to land in Charlotte with the Hornets at the No. 3 pick.

On Friday, Yahoo Sports and Rotoworld’s Raphielle Johnson shared her first mock and joined the host of people predicting LaMelo Ball would slip a bit. Johnson slated Anthony Edwards to go No. 1 to Minnesota and James Wiseman No. 2 to Golden State, leaving Ball to go No. 3 to the Charlotte Hornets.

“In this scenario Ball would likely have to play without the ball in his hands more than he did in Australia, but it isn’t as if he has absolutely no experience doing so (remember, he played with older brother Lonzo on the grassroots circuit and at Chino Hills HS). And Hornets coach James Borrego had no issue utilizing lineups with both Rozier and Graham on the court at the same time this season. Given the struggles of Charlotte’s off-guards in recent years, taking a flier on Ball wouldn’t be the worst move to make. That being said, Wiseman dropping to three would be the better scenario due to Bismack Biyombo being a free agent and Cody Zeller heading into the final year of his deal.”

Golden State will determine much of this draft and if they hang onto the pick, it appears Ball won’t be their selection. In that case, it would leave the Hornets with the decision of a debate between the best player available (LaMelo Ball) or a less-talented, better-fitting prospect.

Potentially, the Hornets could select Ball and use either him, Devonte’ Graham or Terry Rozier in a trade to unclog the backcourt and balance the roster. There remains the possibility as well that they draft Ball, help build up his trade value and move him at a later date as well.

[lawrence-related id=25633,25560,25957]

Report: Multiple GMs view LaMelo Ball as ‘a really talented player’

LaMelo Ball’s potential could have many general managers ready to take a big risk and trade up for him in the 2020 NBA Draft.

LaMelo Ball is the type of prospect that general managers will fawn over for one simple reason: potential. Throughout the years, general managers have cemented and lost jobs by drafting players with loads of potential.

While there is room for debate with regards to just how low Ball’s floor is, there is little debate at how much potential he has. CBS Sports’ Bill Reiter, though, recently appeared on a local Charlotte radio show to discuss Ball, the Hornets and where he may fall in the upcoming draft.

“A few GM’s I have talked to like LaMelo Ball and say he is a really talented player and if the Hornets front office feels the same way and if Mello is there, you keep that pick…”

Depending on which and how many general managers view Ball in that light, it could lead to a bidding war for teams looking to trade down at the top of the 2020 NBA Draft. Various mock drafts and trade predictions have seen the Warriors trade down as well as the Hornets.

Given Charlotte’s current backcourt situation, it could be seen as a viable option to trade down and keep Devonte’ Graham and Terry Rozier moving forward. But it’s rare to have the chance to land a player with the star potential of Ball and that could be enough to persuade the team to take a shot at Ball.

Charlotte Hornets rank as most common landing spot for LaMelo Ball in 2020 NBA Draft

The perception of LaMelo Ball varies from analyst to analyst as evidenced by the wide variety of landing spots in 2020 NBA mock drafts.

The flurry of mock drafts for the 2020 NBA Draft in the weeks since the NBA Draft Lottery has offered little clarification as to where LaMelo Ball might land. One of the most polarizing prospects in the draft, Ball is seemingly guaranteed to be selected with one of the first three picks, but where he falls among those picks has been essentially anyone’s guess.

On HoopsHype, Bryan Kalbrosky broke down the most common landing spots for each prospect in the aggregate mock draft. The results for Ball were expectedly inconclusive.

Of the 25 mock drafts taken into consideration, the most common landing spot for Ball was Charlotte with the No. 3 pick, which Ball was drafted to nine times. Interestingly, the next most common landing spot is the Timberwolves with the No. 1 pick, where Ball was drafted eight times.

The Warriors with the No. 2 pick were the third most-common landing spot at five times while a trio of mock drafts saw Ball land in Chicago with the No. 4 pick.

Only Ball has this level of uncertainty in his landing spot among the top three picks. Georgia’s Anthony Edward’s most common team was Minnesota with the No. 1 pick with 16 of the 25 mock drafts projecting him there. Memphis’ James Wiseman’s most common landing spot was Golden State as 14 mock drafts slated him to the No. 2 pick.

While, ultimately, this has little impact on where Ball goes, it is an interesting look at how differently Ball is viewed by different people leading up to the draft.

[lawrence-related id=25686,25671,25667]