Who should become the first person to be drafted to the pelicans?

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Originally Posted by donato

I think Bogut has looked pretty great tonight really.

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I have to point out the fact that our team makes a lot of players look good this year.

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Originally Posted by kclaboy504

I also feel bogut is overrated but Len is young and already has a polished back to the basket offensive game. He is not just a big body. I've watched him play LOTS this year. When they get him involved good things always happen. If u notice when he has low outputs it's not like he's shooting 30% or sumn. He always goes 50% or better whether he's just 3-6 or 2-4 on nights when those trash guards just jack up shot After shot. He can get better and would make more of an impact on the offensive side of the ball than Noel while still being that shot blocking presence on defense. I understand Noel is athletic n all but I'm good on having another deandre Jordan on this team. We need more than a slam dunk lob guy to man the center position. IMO

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I did notice that checking his other games last night, which he is efficient with his shooting. My worry is that for big men in college sometimes it doesn't translate that well in the NBA where everyone else is 7'0" too.

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Originally Posted by NOLa.

I have to point out the fact that our team makes a lot of players look good this year.

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True...bogut is just starting to come around also tho sort of like Gordon for us. He's been injured for a extended period of time also so some slack has to be cut based on that. Pre injury he was pretty darn good actually.

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Originally Posted by NOLa.

I did notice that checking his other games last night, which he is efficient with his shooting. My worry is that for big men in college sometimes it doesn't translate that well in the NBA where everyone else is 7'0" too.

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For sure I understand. Again I'm no expert nor claim to be but I feel to have a pretty good feel for this kid and his game translating to the nba. I also feel landing with us would be a picture perfect spot for him with Davis at the 4.

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Originally Posted by Eman5805

The elite scorers tend to behave like they deserve every big shot. We need scorers in the worst way.

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This, its prob frustrating for a scorer like bazz to play for uclas terrible offensive system, he will be a good scorer and defender in the NBA, love to have him

we want no part of bogut, dude gets hurt more than gordon

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Originally Posted by HornetGuru

we want no part of bogut, dude gets hurt more than gordon

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For sure I don't think anyone here wants him tho lol..he just made a Len bogut comparison

dont like a Len Bogut comparison at all, totally different

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Originally Posted by HornetGuru

This, its prob frustrating for a scorer like bazz to play for uclas terrible offensive system, he will be a good scorer and defender in the NBA, love to have him

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I see a lot of Paul Pierce in him. Not overly athletic but gets it done.

I wonder if Shabazz will be an overrated chucker like Rudy Gay. Shabazz has an extremely high usage rate.

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Originally Posted by luckyman

I see a lot of Paul Pierce in him. Not overly athletic but gets it done.

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I also see paul pierce, but a better defender, they both have a nice jumpshot, arent quick but use their skills to create and body weight and strength to finish thru contact, shabazz is 18 so if he hits an inch im fine with a 6"7 SF who can score

Since we are doing big boards here is Chad Ford's big board, he is supposed to be the best in the business:
1. ben mclemore
2. nerlens noel
3. marcus smart
4. otto porter
5. anthony bennette
6. victor oladipo
7. shabazz muhammad
8. Cody Zeller
9. Alex Len
10. Gary Harris

my list is almost the same but a little different, i flipped shabazz and oladipo and put burke at 9 and have len and harris tied at 10.

1. ben mclemore
2. nerlens noel
3. marcus smart
4. otto porter
5. anthony bennette
6. shabazz muhamad
7. victor oladipo
8. cody zeller
9. trey burke
10a. alex len
10b. gary harris

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Originally Posted by Pelicans78

I wonder if Shabazz will be an overrated chucker like Rudy Gay. Shabazz has an extremely high usage rate.

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He dosent take many "bad" shots they're mostly shots around the rim to maybe the freethrow line.

bazz has a ton of potential, remember otto porter did not look great his freshmen year, when shabazz puts it together he will be a lethal scorer.

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Originally Posted by HornetGuru

I also see paul pierce, but a better defender, they both have a nice jumpshot, arent quick but use their skills to create and body weight and strength to finish thru contact, shabazz is 18 so if he hits an inch im fine with a 6"7 SF who can score

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I also see a tad bit of Carmelo(as 247's article stated) with his post game and around the rim moves and maybe a lil D West too(personality wise). He just has a potential to be a consistent and potent offensive player that you don't see often anymore.

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Originally Posted by wuggie

I also see a tad bit of Carmelo(as 247's article stated) with his post game and around the rim moves and maybe a lil D West too(personality wise). He just has a potential to be a consistent and potent offensive player that you don't see often anymore.

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ya, melo also doesnt have quickness but supreme strength and body control to finish, i can see it, if he comes anywhere close to pierce or melo ill be fine with it...

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Originally Posted by HornetGuru

ya, melo also doesnt have quickness but supreme strength and body control to finish, i can see it, if he comes anywhere close to pierce or melo ill be fine with it...

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Heck yeah. One possible problem is his attitude but its not too bad. He just puts a lot of responsibility on his self and expects a lot from himself and others, so for now#teamshabazz lol

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Originally Posted by wuggie

Heck yeah. One possible problem is his attitude but its not too bad. He just puts a lot of responsibility on his self and expects a lot from himself and others, so for now#teamshabazz lol

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Well I dont think bazz has any atitude at all, when he got mad he didnt get to take the last shot it wasnt because he is a ball hog, it is because he is just like kobe, a fierce competitor, and u know what they say, winners want the ball, i like hit competitive nature, it makes someone always give 110% kobe has it, cp3 has it, anthony davis has it, if bazz can grow another inch id be so happy to have him, and say gordon doesnt workout we can trade him and someone else for a draft pick and maybe luck out and land wiggins, parker or randle, next year's draft is absolutely stacked at the SF position.

Im not one for promoting losing, but i am one for developing our young guys because they are our future, i could care less if we win or lose now, all i care about is our players developing and getting better, this will make us a better team in the future rather than splurging on vets who are in their prime now instead of a couple years who will want to be ball dominant now which will decrease our development of our future stars, if we somehow luck out next year and somehow can get a decent lottery pick or use that pick and trade it with a valuable player or future draft pick and land someone like parker, wiggins or randle along with getting noel this year we can have a future roster that looks like this, not including all the money we will have in free agency!!

rivers
gordon
parker/wiggins/randle
davis/ryno
noel

this team in 3-4 years would be tops in the league

rivers can create, score and defend
gordon same as rivers
parker is the next melo and can score from anywhere on the court and his defense is ok, which im fine with since ad and noel will lock it down

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Originally Posted by HornetGuru

dont like a Len Bogut comparison at all, totally different

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They are very much alike when you compare their post game, a strength of both players. Of course Bogut does have that European style of flavor to his game since he came in.

Also, that whole thing with Bogut being a top defensive center.

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Originally Posted by Primetime

Assuming he comes out...

If we wind up in slot #2 and McLemore is the first pick, then I think the no-brainer is selecting Nerlens. I'll probably wind up posting this a trillion times before draft day, but Noel and McLemore are just so much more athletic than everyone else in this class. The others have question marks to the point where you have to wonder how they'll contribute in the NBA. But with McLemore and Nerlens, you know you're getting someone who won't be in over his head physically. Porter is a skilled swingman, Shabazz can score, but Nerlens is a freak athlete big man and that's just rare. The opportunity to pair Davis & Noel I think far, far outweighs any other option on the board. The NBA has evolved into a league where the big man's game is played above the rim; and if we can pair 2 guys who can run and jump like freaks, then I think we've set ourselves up for a situation where we enter every game with a distinct advantage. Hell, the Saints could even trot them out for hail mary situations.

Look back at last year's draft and look how those rookies are doing. The only 2 you can flat out say are future heavyweights in the NBA are Lillard and Davis. A big freak athlete and an athletic as all hell PG. No one foresaw Robinson's struggles, MKG's struggles, or Beal's struggles. Waiters is playing well, but there's no telling how he'll finish. I'm not saying those guys aren't any good, but just that if you redraft, Davis and Lillard are 1 & 2.

Davis and Lillard have the following in common; they were the 2 rookies who athletically were freakish. They possessed explosion + great feet.

So IMO, when in doubt, go with the blockbuster athletes who show good feet. It won't always work out well; if you look at the 2011 draft, you'd say go with the guys who come in skill-ready (Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson). But I standby my original point: Put Davis & Noel on the floor together and you give yourself at least the strength of entering every game with 2 of the most athletic big men to ever walk the earth.

New Orleans = Swat City

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Great post. I agree, you kind of have to take Noel if he's still on the board.

GV/Rivers
Gordon/Rivers
Brewer/Aminu
Davis/Anderson
Noel/Lopez

You could do MUCH worse in the middle of a rebuild.

If team's FOs aren't concerned about his knee (and they said it was a very clean tear) you have to pick Noel if he's there.



Just go to 4:10. Pretty much sums up Noel in one play. Insane athlete, fast feet, no jumper whatesoever.

If the knee checks out and we are in the position to draft him, you have to take Noel. If AD is Duncan/Garnett, then it would be a waste to move him to the center position full time. Robin Lopez was a nice pick up on a good contract but he has too many holes in his game to be full time starter. We need to pair AD with someone else to solidfy our frontcourt. Noel and AD would be dynamic. And call me silly, but I still believe Austin Rivers will turn out to be a really nice player in the near future whether his role turns out to be a full time point guard or combo guard off the bench.

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Originally Posted by HornetGuru

Im not one for promoting losing, but i am one for developing our young guys because they are our future, i could care less if we win or lose now, all i care about is our players developing and getting better, this will make us a better team in the future rather than splurging on vets who are in their prime now instead of a couple years who will want to be ball dominant now which will decrease our development of our future stars, if we somehow luck out next year and somehow can get a decent lottery pick or use that pick and trade it with a valuable player or future draft pick and land someone like parker, wiggins or randle along with getting noel this year we can have a future roster that looks like this, not including all the money we will have in free agency!!

rivers
gordon
parker/wiggins/randle
davis/ryno
noel

this team in 3-4 years would be tops in the league

rivers can create, score and defend
gordon same as rivers
parker is the next melo and can score from anywhere on the court and his defense is ok, which im fine with since ad and noel will lock it down

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Yeah this team has the potential be mind blowingly great. If Noel is there take him. Him AND Davis??? That's just unfair. He's gonna go number 1 though. You could throw a fricking brick and rim lol. I won't even begin to talk about those kids from next years draft at sf. Too much:hihi:

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Originally Posted by Kibner

Also, that whole thing with Bogut being a top defensive center.

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Wait, what?

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Originally Posted by NOLa.

Wait, what?

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When healthy...

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Originally Posted by NOLa.

Wait, what?

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At least before his injury, he was the second best defender at the center position. He's really good at that side of the ball.

greg oden is also a defensive monster when healthy, which is never

I just can't get behind Noel all the way. Just...can't. Don't know why.

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Originally Posted by HornetGuru

greg oden is also a defensive monster when healthy, which is never

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Nah, he fouled way too much even when he was able to play.

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Originally Posted by Eman5805

I just can't get behind Noel all the way. Just...can't. Don't know why.

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Only thing that scares me is the knee. Otherwise he'll be a 245 lb. defensive monster in two years. Might make losing out on Drummond worth it. :hihi:

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Originally Posted by Eman5805

I just can't get behind Noel all the way. Just...can't. Don't know why.

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Did you get to watch his last few weeks of play before his injury? Dude was beastin. I'd LOVE to pair him with AD.

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Originally Posted by Eman5805

I just can't get behind Noel all the way. Just...can't. Don't know why.

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I am the very same way and I just don't feel he is the one we need....

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Originally Posted by Eman5805

I just can't get behind Noel all the way. Just...can't. Don't know why.

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I posted that the obvious choice would be Nerlens if McLemore goes #1. However, I don't think the Hornets feel the same way and here's why...

The Hornets are tired of rebuilding. Taking Nerlens sets the rebuild back by an entire year, possibly more. He tore his ACL; that's not a bone bruise. As a comparison, Derrick Rose tore his ACL in late April. It's soon going to be a full 11 months since the injury and he's still not playing. * Nerlens tore his ACL in mid-February. The flipside is that they are projecting a 6-8 month recovery time for Nerlens, but you have to wonder if that's realistic. Rubio tore his ACL last March, and returned in December, but it's taken him a while to get back to normal. For him, it's pretty much been an 11 month process. Iman Shumpert tore his ACL the same day as Derrick Rose, and has already returned but says he's not 100%.

My point is that the Hornets may not be willing to wait. Our front office and coaching staff know better than anyone that if they suck again next year, they're going to be on the hot seat.

Add on to this that ultimately our frontcourt pairing will be Anderson and Davis. Both give you versatility + Jason Smith will be back. Adding another big would really muddy the frontcourt minutes.

Given what I've posted, I'd project the Hornets board to look something like this

1. McLemore -- flat out better than everyone else available
2. Smart -- competitive, and would add size/strength to our backcourt. + he plays defense and hits the glass
3. Oladipo -- adds energy and perimeter defense which we currently have none of + raw athlete
4. Porter -- fills a hole at SF. Not the best athlete, but skilled and we have 0 skilled swingmen with size
5. Nerlens/Shabazz -- I think neither fits Hornets for stated reasons, and the Hornets would look to trade.

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Originally Posted by Purple Haze

Only thing that scares me is the knee. Otherwise he'll be a 245 lb. defensive monster in two years. Might make losing out on Drummond worth it. :hihi:

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Na Drummond has a once in a generation level raw talent. 6'11 guys 275, with handles like a SF, touch around the basket, great hands and feet, lateral quickness like elite guards, 7'6 wing spans, with springs for legs may never be seen again for a long time. He's combo is Wilt/Shaq like when you consider where he is compared to any other big man right now. How he slipped to 9 when a guy like Kwame Brown once was taken 1st overall is a mystery.

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Originally Posted by da ThRONe

Na Drummond has a once in a generation level raw talent. 6'11 guys 275, with handles like a SF, touch around the basket, great hands and feet, lateral quickness like elite guards, 7'6 wing spans, with springs for legs may never be seen again for a long time. He's combo is Wilt/Shaq like when you consider where he is compared to any other big man right now. How he slipped to 9 when a guy like Kwame Brown once was taken 1st overall is a mystery.

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It really isn't.

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Originally Posted by da ThRONe

Na Drummond has a once in a generation level raw talent. 6'11 guys 275, with handles like a SF, touch around the basket, great hands and feet, lateral quickness like elite guards, 7'6 wing spans, with springs for legs may never be seen again for a long time. He's combo is Wilt/Shaq like when you consider where he is compared to any other big man right now. How he slipped to 9 when a guy like Kwame Brown once was taken 1st overall is a mystery.

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If only he could've dropped one more pick...

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Originally Posted by Primetime

Add on to this that ultimately our frontcourt pairing will be Anderson and Davis.

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There's no guarantee Davis will ever be a full-time center. Have there even been any reports that Monty/Dell want him there?

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Originally Posted by RUFshreve

If only he could've dropped one more pick...

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Agree, but I think people are too high on him right now. Let's see how he develops. I think there needs to be time before people even mention him in the same thread as Wilt and Shaq, even if they are talking about physical makeup.

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Originally Posted by Kibner

At least before his injury, he was the second best defender at the center position. He's really good at that side of the ball.

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Ah I see, yeah I agree to an extent then. He's been nowhere near as active ok that side of the ball since his Bucks days. I was thinking primarily at this moment Bogut is a offensive postup man now more than ever.

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Originally Posted by donato

There's no guarantee Davis will ever be a full-time center. Have there even been any reports that Monty/Dell want him there?

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No there hasn't, people are just making assumptions.

Drummond has crazy potential but his will and basketball instincts aren't really there. Where Shaq had all of this and wanted to destroy people. He just seems to lack a killer will to use his gifts. He has the gifts of superstar but like the mind of bench player or something. It's weird lol

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Originally Posted by RUFshreve

No there hasn't, people are just making assumptions.

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Definite assumption, but I don't think it's a crazy assumption. We can't play Ryan at the 3 because he becomes a perimeter defensive liability + he loses his advantage on the offensive end as well. Add on to this that he makes 8+ million a year so we wouldn't want to bench him.

I don't see anyway we don't have Davis and Anderson on the court when the game matters next year.

So 3 spots are taken:

Eric Gordon
Ryan Anderson
Anthony Davis

It simply makes more sense to me to add a PG and a swing man to that trio then it is to add a big man.

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Originally Posted by Primetime

Definite assumption, but I don't think it's a crazy assumption. We can't play Ryan at the 3 because he becomes a perimeter defensive liability + he loses his advantage on the offensive end as well. Add on to this that he makes 8+ million a year so we wouldn't want to bench him.

I don't see anyway we don't have Davis and Anderson on the court when the game matters next year.

So 3 spots are taken:

Eric Gordon
Ryan Anderson
Anthony Davis

It simply makes more sense to me to add a PG and a swing man to that trio then it is to add a big man.

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But is Smart that guy?

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Originally Posted by Purple Haze

But is Smart that guy?

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I personally am torn on how good Smart is but given how I think the Hornets may approach the building of this team, yea, I feel Smart would make sense. If we're gonna be small in the frontcourt, all 5 guys have to hit the glass. Rebounding is probably Smart's number one strength. That's the one thing I'm sure will carry over into the NBA for him.

Right now I'm looking at
Tier 1
1) Mclemore
2) Smart
3) Noel

Tier 2
4) Burke
5) Shabazz
6) Porter
7) Bennett (love his game but falls because of fit)

Tier 3
8) Oladipo
9) Cody Zeller
10) CJ McCollum
11) Alex Len
12) Poythress

I see a lot of boom or bust in the late first. I say we trade in with Lopez or others.

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Originally Posted by Eman5805

I just can't get behind Noel all the way. Just...can't. Don't know why.

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Exactly how I feel. I think him and Davis is a horrible pairing with both of those guys being so light in the azz. I want a true 7 footer with an offensive game that isn't a twig n hope he puts enough weight on. We have our shot blocking presence already on this teAm.Now we need OFFENSE. We need a guy we can put the ball in his hands down low and the other team has to respect his scoring ability to open it up for everyone else. Noel has no offense what so ever.

We are 3rd worse now all alone in that spot. If we stay there we are most def in the running for mclemore.

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Originally Posted by BeeBall Reasons

Right now I'm looking at
Tier 1
1) Mclemore
2) Smart
3) Noel

Tier 2
4) Burke
5) Shabazz
6) Porter
7) Bennett (love his game but falls because of fit)

Tier 3
8) Oladipo
9) Cody Zeller
10) CJ McCollum
11) Alex Len
12) Poythress

I see a lot of boom or bust in the late first. I say we trade in with Lopez or others.

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i like ur list a lot, when its ur turn to pick u always take the tier 1 player over 2 regardless of need, i just hope we land mclemore and noel and that will be 2 years in a row we land a top 2 player in the draft
last year it was davis and lillard
this year itll be mclemore or noel in my opinion