A Bobcats Plan for the 2014 Draft (And Beyond)

2011 Edition
2012 Edition
2013 Edition

As hard as it is to believe, the once-interminable Bobcats rebuild is over. The 2014-2015 Hornets boast the following attributes:

• 43 regular season wins last year
• an All-NBA player on the roster (Al Jefferson)
• cap space ($41mm of committed contracts before addressing Josh McRoberts, Jeff Taylor, and the backup point guard situation)

So, with that out of the way, let's delve into the most optimistic post in the history of this blog regarding the Bobcats/Hornets. The roster looks like this as currently constituted:

• Point Guard: Kemba Walker, TBD
• Shooting Guard: Gary Neal, Gerald Henderson
• Small Forward: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Jeff Taylor
• Power Forward: Josh McRoberts, Cody Zeller
• Center: Al Jefferson, Brendan Haywood
• Other: Bismack Biyombo, TBD, TBD, TBD, TBD

The 2014-2015 Hornets have a few glaring issues to address. First, a crunch time lineup that can space the floor for Big Al. There's a reason that two midseason additions (Gary Neal, Chris Douglas-Roberts) played significant minutes in a playoff series. Second, a reliable backup big that can work effectively out of the low post. Third, a reliable backup point guard. Fourth, continuing to build depth and talent. Having one All-NBA player doesn't punch an automatic ticket to the 2nd round of the playoffs (ask the T-Wolves). So, what should the Hornets target in the draft?

There are a few players I've talked about at the top of the draft, and if they were to unexpectedly fall, you'd have to take them. But in the event that it doesn't happen...

DRAFT NIK STAUSKAS AT #9.

He's a natural shooter off a catch-and-shoot or off-the-dribble. He has natural instincts working as the ball-handler in pick-and-rolls, and has the ability to get to the rim and either finish or get fouled, especially when attacking closeouts. His wingspan and strength probably won't allow him to be more than an average individual defender, but he gives you everything you'd want on offense from a shooting guard. I'm so bullish on Stauskas, I think he has the potential to sneak into an All-Star game at some point, and at the very least, he's a skilled basketball player that will always have a place on an NBA roster.

Upside Picks If They Fall (in order of preference): Joel Embiid, Julius Randle, Andrew Wiggins, Dante Exum, Noah Vonleh, Aaron Gordon

The guys I didn't mention (Jabari Parker, Marcus Smart) are guys I honestly would not draft at #9. I legitimately prefer the talent/fit combo that Stauskas brings over both of those guys. If none of those guys are available, here are other directions I would go...

Other Fit Picks (in order of preference): Jusuf Nurkic, Zach LaVine, trade down

DRAFT JOHNNY O'BRYANT AT #24.

Good low post scoring instincts in a legit power forward body. Conditioning should be a fixable issue given the progress he's already made since entering college, and Al could be the perfect mentor to help him realize is still-impressive potential. He could be the backup low post scoring threat that the Hornets desperately need, and a nice frontcourt complement to Cody Zeller.

Other Picks (in order of preference): Cleanthony Early, K.J. McDaniels, Mitch McGary, Walter Tavares, Russ Smith

DRAFT RUSS SMITH AT #45.

Smith's athletic ability and penchant for clutch performances are known by everyone who watched college basketball. His size might preclude him from performing with starter minutes over 82 games, but unleashed as a two-way terror with the second unit? He could be an incredible complement to our starting unit, and the definition of a "change of pace" coming off the bench.

Other Picks (in order of preference): Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris 

After the draft, the depth chart would like this...

Point Guard: Kemba Walker, Russ Smith

Shooting Guards: Nik Stauskas, Gary Neal

Small Forwards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Jeff Taylor

Power Forwards: Josh McRoberts, Johnny O'Bryant

Centers: Al Jefferson, Cody Zeller

Bench: Gerald Henderson, Jeff Taylor, Bismack Biyombo

I like that roster's ability to space the floor, play both sides of the ball, and while there isn't a good answer to "what if Al Jefferson gets hurt," no team really has a good answer for replacing an All-NBA player. Besides, the team can still go get Gordon Hayward with a 4 yr, $50mm offer sheet when free agency starts.

Heat Pacers Summary

(all box score data compiled from www.basketball-reference.com)

Best Plus Minus: Lebron James (+53 in 191 minutes). If I had to guess, Lebron's foul trouble in Game 5 skews his per game numbers down, and probably extended the series by one game. In what was supposed to be a team tailor-made to match Miami, Lebron scored efficiently from the field and produced decent playmaking (by his ridiculously high standards) despite the challenge Paul George and Roy Hibbert were supposed to present.

Worst Plus Minus: Paul George (-30 in 243 minutes). After a whole season of debating whether Paul George belonged in the same class as Lebron and Kevin Durant, the result of the series seemed to be... no, not at this point. One of the best two way players in the game didn't make a noticeable dent in Wade or Lebron's scoring efficiency. A poorly diagnosed concussion may have taken a crucial 4th quarter stretch away from him, but regardless, he didn't seem to find another gear on either side of the floor to meet the Heat's challenge. Hopefully, a year free of runaway rumors will reveal the next evolution of his game.

Series MVP: George Hill (Net +35 in 215 minutes). It's easy to note George Hill's non-traditional point guard role in the Indiana offense and say, "if a true point guard occupied that role, Indiana could have an easier time scoring." However, he's a very good fit for the style of defense they play, and for the structure of offense they run, he played his role fairly well in this series. 44% from three in the series (albeit with a concerning 42% from two), reasonable assist and steal production, and most important of all: only in Games 4 and 6 were the Pacers outscored while he was on the floor.

Series LVP: Mario Chalmers (Net -57 in 166 minutes). I'll never question his role on this Heat team, because after four straight Finals appearances (and two wins so far), he provides something more than his stats suggest. Even more, the competent outside shooting normally required of the Heat's other players, he provided (40% for the series). However, it's hard to ignore the fact that Norris Cole's time in the lineup was far more productive in this series. Do I think that will affect his playing time at all against the Spurs? Absolutely not. Mario Chalmers is definitely capable of swinging a quarter or a half his team's way, and the Heat will probably need one or two of those to beat the Spurs.

Jerome James Award: The World Around The Pacers. No one outside of the locker room can explain what happened to this team over the last few months. It's hard to understand how a lineup that seemed so perfectly constructed, working well for such a prolonged period of time, could suddenly find itself so inept weeks before their most important playoff run. There's a part of me that thinks that, much like Lebron's infamous Game 5 against the Celtics in 2010, we'll never really know what happened here. But the only logical conclusion I can draw from what they showed the last two months is, something must have happened here. I just wonder what it was.