If we draft 5th...

[speedyG]

1. Burke
2. Shabazz
3. Porter

Oladipo's ceiling is kinda low to use a top 5 pick on a backup SG, I think we should plan to build with Gordon

[Pelicans78]

I really dislike Bennett's mentality defensively. His defense is atrocious.

He's not great or good defensively, but he has the tools to be good defensively. He definitely needs to greatly improve his attitude on defense.

[HornetGuru]

Is bennett really that bad defensively? he graded out as a good defender with a defensive rating of like 87

[Snarly]

Is bennett really that bad defensively? he graded out as a good defender with a defensive rating of like 87

If he was a good defender, he'd probably be considered for the #1 pick.

BTW: With the Pistons winning tonight, The Hornets have secured at least the 6th worst record in the league.

[HornetGuru]

Nice

[Snarly]

Looks like Sacramento is in full tank mode. None of their starters played starter minutes tonight.

[AUSSIE_PELICAN]

Looks like Sacramento is in full tank mode. None of their starters played starter minutes tonight.

Resting for their last home game against the Clappers I hope.
If we lose to Dallas we and up 5th out right....thanks to the Pistons winning tonight.

[nolaslim213]

I don't mean to be facetious at all and I feel like I have to state that bc tone can't be stated on here; but I'm a bit shocked you like Burke over Smart considering you've been the catalyst of the Eric Gordon is a going to blow it up next year campaign (hope you're right).

The reason I say this as a prelude is because is if Eric Gordon turns into what he was, his usage goes up and somewhat nullifies what Burke does best which is control the offense. With that being said, that's why I would think Smarts a better fit since he does so many other things, and if his defense translates to the NBA you can give Gordon a rest on defense since he's the catalyst to our offense. Which again is why size would matter IMO.

It's all good man. This is where we disagree. I think Gordon plays well off the ball, so he doesn't have to dominate the ball to be effective IMO. Same deal with Burke. I think they pair very well.

You say Smart does so many other things, but not offensively. I mean, he rebounds, but he can't space the floor for ****, and that leaves the defense collapsing on Gordon when he drives. I want our next PG to be able to hit the open 3.

[AD23forMVP]

I'm not singling you out, because a lot of people have said this, but I never understood this logic. 2 things:

1) So because our SG is 6'3, we need a big PG? How does that help? It's not like Gordon is going to guard the opposing PG and vice versa. Our PG will be guarding their PG, and our SG will be guarding their SG. Don't forget that Gordon is one of the strongest SGs in the league, and he has a 6'7 wingspan. He has never had any trouble guarding opposing SGs, so the point is irrelevant IMO.

2) For me, it's more about complementary skill sets than complimentary body sizes. I don't know where people get this notion that Gordon is a ball dominant guard. He isn't. Vasquez is. Gordon can play with out the ball, he spaces the floor, and he is great on the break. He is probably better on the ball, sure, but that doesn't mean he is a ball dominant guard. Moreover, Burke is a great shooter off the ball, so I don't know how he can be labeled a ball dominant guard as well. Sure, he handles the rock a lot, but that's because he is a PG. He is also great on the break, in transition, he can hit the 3, and he has great vision. They compliment each other perfectly in terms of skill set.

Smart, on the other hand, is a horrible pairing with Gordon because he can't shoot a lick, he is a ball dominant guard, and the spacing would be horrible. Burke is the opposite. He is a floor spacer who can take pressure off Gordon by running the offense, but he is a great passer who can drive and dish to Gordon, and Burke can also lead the break which would let Gordon run along side of him and finish at the rim.

I'm not saying size is the end all be all, but it does matter, and it also isn't about perimeter defense. Having Burke and Gordon wouldn't give you things that Smart and Gordon does. Smart helps you rebound (and when Gordon is your two you need a guy to pick up that slack), his length allows him to play the passing lanes and create steals, either Doc Rivers or Tom Thibodeau chart defensive deflections game by game. It's an important aspect of the game, obviously creates turnovers but even when it doesn't it hurts the opposing offense. Forces them to deal with the shot clock, throws off their rhythm, and other things of that nature. Though going back to the perimeter defense part of it, having a Smart/Gordon backcourt would be better than a Burke/Gordon backcourt defensively. I don't care how great your interior defense is, if your perimeter defense isn't good it's going to make your interior defense look bad.

Eric Gordon is a ball dominate guard when he's at his best. We've seen it this season, he's at his best when the ball is in his hands early in the possession and he can do what he wants to do with it. In seasons past, he's been a ball dominate guard. I won't get into why Vasquez has the ball in his hands so much, that's a different topic that I really don't care to talk about. I don't think he and Burke couldn't work together, but it's more about how Smart is just a better prospect than Burke, and is a better fit for what this team wants and needs.

I also have never agreed with the shooting argument. You aren't drafting players with the thought that they won't improve. Trey Burke only shot 43% from the field and 34% from three his Freshman season, before he raised his percentages to 46% and 38%. Those Freshman numbers are rarely something you hear people talk about, and for good reason. Shooting is arguably the easiest thing to improve upon. We aren't drafting him for now, we're drafting him for the future. And honestly if the plan is to play Ryan Anderson 30+ minutes a night you can stand to lose some of that shooting ability from your PG or swings. Lastly, pretty much everything you stated from running the offense, to passing, to leading the break Smart projects to be better at than Burke. He's a special prospect.

There's no question if we were on the clock and Smart and Burke were on the board who the pick would be.

[Snarly]

I can live with ball dominant guards. What I want to know is whether or not, these ball dominant guards can play off ball and spot up. Being ball dominant isn't bad thing as long as they show the ability to be effective without the ball. That's key.

[HornetGuru]

I can live with ball dominant guards. What I want to know is whether or not, these ball dominant guards can play off ball and spot up. Being ball dominant isn't bad thing as long as they show the ability to be effective without the ball. That's key.

yes, both burke and gordon can play with the ball, without the ball, spot up, pass, and create, which will make it very hard for opponent's defenses

[goat gorilla]

Good counterpoints. Size does matter, but to what extent? If you have a 6'0 PG and a 6'4 PG with the same exact skillsets, then you would surely go with the bigger guard. However, that isn't the case between Burke and Smart. Burke is proven and he carried a very young team to the championship. His game is way more advanced than Smart's is, and he is only a year older. It's the same argument that occurred between Deron Williams and CP. Now, I'm not trying to turn this into a Trey Burke = CP3 argument. That's not the point. The point is that I'd take a smaller guy who is more skilled and a better basketball player than the bigger guy who has more potential just because he is bigger.

I'm with you. I think the two would pair well together. I think both have the skill set to perform as passers and scorers/shooters. I believe both can play off ball and both can probably run nasty pick and roll offense. Gordon will take care of iso duties while burke can set us up in an offense. I would be very excited to see the pairing. With that said, if you pair the two, you have absolutely no room to sacrifice length or height at sf.

[MonsterMash]

We run so much pick and roll that you ideally want as many shooters off the ball as possible. That's where Smart would give us some trouble, because every time we run it with Gordon he's one less shooter to space the floor.

Teams are going so small these days in general that a smaller backcourt is becoming more and more acceptable (smaller front courts are becoming all the rage now, for that matter). Gordon's 6'3 but he's not one that gets abused by bigger 2 guards typically as far as I've seen. It's a smaller pairing than you'd like, but I want my guards to first be good at guard things - shooting, passing, running the P&R, avoiding turnovers - before I start concerning myself with them helping out our bigs.

If Davis can get to a weight where they feel comfortable with him playing longer stretches with Anderson, I think they're probably a Burke and a 3&D small forward in the Matt Barnes mold away from really doing some work offensively.

[MonsterMash]

Lastly, pretty much everything you stated from running the offense, to passing, to leading the break Smart projects to be better at than Burke. He's a special prospect.

There's no question if we were on the clock and Smart and Burke were on the board who the pick would be.

Smart has some really nice indicators that portend to being a good pro prospect. That said, there is doubt as to who the pick would be. IMO Burke's a better pick and I think the consensus mocks aren't going to be so slam dunk on the Smart side the closer we get to draft day.

And I'd argue the first part of your post is false. Smart looks to be a better defensive prospect, but right now Burke is light years ahead of him in terms of running an offense. Burke's assist to turnover ratio blows Smart's away. Smart has better measurables, but he's got a lot of work to do in order to even get to where Burke is currently.

[donato]

Oladipo's ceiling is kinda low to use a top 5 pick...

What is it that makes Oladipo's ceiling low? With his level of elite athleticism I'd think it would be the opposite- his ceiling should be as high or higher than anyone else's in the draft. What am I missing?

[nolaslim213]

What is it that makes Oladipo's ceiling low? With his level of elite athleticism I'd think it would be the opposite- his ceiling should be as high or higher than anyone else's in the draft. What am I missing?

I believe that he is referring to his ability (or lack thereof) to create his own shot. Not that I necessarily agree with him, but that is the general knock on the kid.

[Eman5805]

It's clear from this and every draft thread that there is absolutely no consensus here. Anthony Davis was almost a total lock at #1 in everyone's eyes but a precious few. But here? Not only is there no real commitment, you can hear the world of a guy and hear that the same guy will be a backup all in the space of a few posts.

This season is gonna be interesting.

[nikkoewan]

If we draft 5 and assuming these guys are gone: McLemore, Smart, Noel.. then it depends who the fourth player is picked:

If Porter, then Oladipo
If Oladipo, then Porter
If anybody else, then Oladipo.

[Snarly]

If we draft 5 and assuming these guys are gone: McLemore, Smart, Noel.. then it depends who the fourth player is picked:

If Porter, then Oladipo
If Oladipo, then Porter
If anybody else, then Oladipo.

I think there's a good chance Porter is there at 5 as long as Cleveland lands a top 3 pick.

[nikkoewan]

I think there's a good chance Porter is there at 5 as long as Cleveland lands a top 3 pick.

even if they didn't, and they picked Porter, we'd still have Oladipo. The offseason will be all about improvement (Rivers, Davis), health (Gordon, Davis and Smith) and looking for game changing defensive players. Oladipo will certainly help with #3.

[HornetGuru]

anyone against a lineup that looks like this?

Jeff Teague
Eric Gordon
Corey Brewer
Anthony Davis
Nerlens Noel?

Plus whoever we could get for Lopez and GV, hopefully a young SF.

[Kumar]

I don't think we are going to get him, but whatever team does is probably going to rest him (indirect tank) and make a play for the stacked draft coming up.

[luckyman]

even if they didn't, and they picked Porter, we'd still have Oladipo. The offseason will be all about improvement (Rivers, Davis), health (Gordon, Davis and Smith) and looking for game changing defensive players. Oladipo will certainly help with #3.

I think all of Monty's years here have suggested a continued search for well rounded basketball players for 1, then someone who can create their own shot for 2.

The defensive improvement will come with retaining players who have learned the defensive system or signing players already familiar with NBA defense, which has more to do with communicating and help. They don't have to go searching for it in the draft.

[wuggie]

Man, I found a fantastic article about Oladipo's work ethic and dedication to the game. He's got it in him to be something special...http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...draft/2028101/

[nikkoewan]

I think all of Monty's years here have suggested a continued search for well rounded basketball players for 1, then someone who can create their own shot for 2.

The defensive improvement will come with retaining players who have learned the defensive system or signing players already familiar with NBA defense, which has more to do with communicating and help. They don't have to go searching for it in the draft.

Agree with this although it would help if we had a couple more elite level athletes who are tenacious on the defensive end. Playing Lopez and Vasquez a lot of minutes (even with all their desires to follow the system) just won't do yes?