Make a play for Hornets pick (#27)?

LPKingsFan

All-Star
There's a Hornets blog out there with an interesting analysis on who the Hornets have been working out. According to the blog, most of the guys they've been looking at are in the midde/late 2nd round range, not anywhere close to what they'd be seeing at #27. Could they be planning on dealing their first rounder?

And if so, what would we have that would interest them? Would #42 and 43 be enough? One of our vets?

I could see Petrie nabbing #27 and getting a guy like Jason Thompson or Ryan Anderson. Depends on what it would take, though...
 
What about Mikki Moore and one or both of the second round picks for Mike James and the 27?

Hornets need someone to back up both West and Chandler. Hilton Armstrong is their only other big man under contract (although Wright may play some minutes at the 4) and if they're looking to make a championship push they need some help there. Mikki would fit well with that team.

Mike James barely got off the bench in NO and I'm sure they'd like to move him for anything useful. While he pretty much sucks, we currently don't have a point guard under contract, and he could act as a placeholder at the 1 who will expire in 2010 in leiu of committing to Beno for the 5 years at the MLE or something like that.

Contract-wise its even besides Mikki only being partially gauranteed for 09-10, where if we were to cut Mikki after this year we'd save about 3 million or so, which is about what buying an extra 1st costs anyway. So basically, we move one guy who isn't going to be around for the long term for another who fills a current need and may help to curb unnecessary spending, and turn 1 (possibly 2) mid second rounders for a late 1st.
 
It would be nice to pick up another pick in the first round. I love Thompson's game, and Anderson would also be great. I'm not a big fan of Mike James, but, if we're able to resign Beno, he would be an adequate backup. They may be trying to avoid guarranteed money, and they can probably get a player in the second round to fill their need..
 
I'm not so sure the #27 pick is actually worth that much more than the second round picks we already have. At least with the second round picks they're not guaranteed contracts, so we can take a look at the guys before signing them. But better yet, with a second round pick you can take a European player, and if he turns out to be extremely good you're not limited to the first round salary structure to pay him. So you can offer a competitive salary to a budding European star. That's probably what's going to happen with Nikola Pekovic, for instance, depending on who drafts him.
 
I'm not so sure the #27 pick is actually worth that much more than the second round picks we already have. At least with the second round picks they're not guaranteed contracts, so we can take a look at the guys before signing them. But better yet, with a second round pick you can take a European player, and if he turns out to be extremely good you're not limited to the first round salary structure to pay him. So you can offer a competitive salary to a budding European star. That's probably what's going to happen with Nikola Pekovic, for instance, depending on who drafts him.

Good points, and I do beleive that Petrie will probably use one of the second round picks on a euro and leave him develop there. However, if there's a player you really think that help brighten the future of the team, then try and aquire the pick.
 
Well, looks like the Blazers went out and nabbed this pick for "cash considerations." It must be nice to have an aggressive GM...
 
Well, looks like the Blazers went out and nabbed this pick for "cash considerations." It must be nice to have an aggressive GM...

Can't believe how good a job Pritchard is doing. Buying picks is ridiculously good, no risk involved at all, particularly first rounders. I just do not understand why Petrie won't do the same. It's making me go crazy!
 
More like, nice to have a rich owner willing to spend his money.

we have those, the maloofs have done more than enough to prove they arent stingy. I 100% beleive if GP told them buying a pick was the best move they would do it.
 
we have those, the maloofs have done more than enough to prove they arent stingy. I 100% beleive if GP told them buying a pick was the best move they would do it.

Uh, no. Every GM in the league would tell their owners to buy a pick. Paul Allen seems to be the only one willing to pony up the cash.
 
Uh, no. Every GM in the league would tell their owners to buy a pick. Paul Allen seems to be the only one willing to pony up the cash.


That seems like wild congecture to me. The maloofs have always pushed the tax threshold, reupped stars, and pretty much supported GP in all his decisions. If this was purely about owners ponying up money, the Knicks would have extra picks almost yearly. This isn't about Allen being willing to spend more, it's about Portlands GM doing a better job than most other GMs in the league.
 
That seems like wild congecture to me. The maloofs have always pushed the tax threshold, reupped stars, and pretty much supported GP in all his decisions. If this was purely about owners ponying up money, the Knicks would have extra picks almost yearly. This isn't about Allen being willing to spend more, it's about Portlands GM doing a better job than most other GMs in the league.

Do you really think it's the GM who gets to decide how to spend $3 million of the owners' money? Pritchard definitely makes deals, but Paul Allen is the only one who is willing to spend $3 million on the uncertain return of a late draft pick. Period.
 
Do you really think it's the GM who gets to decide how to spend $3 million of the owners' money? Pritchard definitely makes deals, but Paul Allen is the only one who is willing to spend $3 million on the uncertain return of a late draft pick. Period.


call me crazy but I'd say it quite literally IS the GMs job to decide how to spend $3 million of the owners' money. Maybe I've misunderstood the whole concept of the NBA GM all these years though and they're more media relations guys than decision makers.

The fact is neither of us know for sure why the Kings aren't buying picks. My argument is:

- the maloofs have never been cheap before, spending money on risks to improve their team and extending proven stars at high prices. Even building a practice facility from their own pockets.

- throughout the summer the Maloofs have reiterated their faith in GP and pretty much said it's his show to run.

seeing those two facts, I choose to beleive if GP wanted to buy the pick they would say yes. You simply think they are either too cheap, or too poor to do so.

To me, knowing what I know about the maloofs, I choose to beleive it's more likely Petrie won't risk his reputation and job security by asking the owners to buy a pick he might miss on than to beleive that the owners would tell the GM they didnt have the money to buy another pick. To you, the former is more likely, as you beleive no one in the NBA except the Blazers can afford to buy picks.

Anyways it's clear we see things differently on this point so the argument will end here on my side of things. I could definitely be wrong, all i can go on is the facts as I see them, and what I think looks to be the more likely reason.
 
Do you really think it's the GM who gets to decide how to spend $3 million of the owners' money? Pritchard definitely makes deals, but Paul Allen is the only one who is willing to spend $3 million on the uncertain return of a late draft pick. Period.

Exactly right, I remember during last year's draft they were talking with Paul Allen about the aggressive moves on draft day. He said it is his favorite night of the year, he always loves to load up on picks, encourage draft pick trades, etc.

He is a big fan and he is willing to spend to enjoy his night, another reason why I would expect Portland to trade down and acquire some more picks...it's the excitement baby!
 
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