Several recent reports have stated that the Hornets were favoring Alabama’s Brandon Miller at No. 2 overall in tonight’s draft, but G League Ignite’s Scoot Henderson is building “serious momentum” with Charlotte for that selection, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Charania says the Hornets have been “torn” in the lead-up to the draft, with both players viewed as strong candidates. The organization has final meetings on Thursday to decide which prospect it will choose, Charania adds.
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie recently placed Henderson at No. 2 in his latest mock draft, expressing skepticism that the Hornets were truly favoring Miller over Henderson.
President of basketball operations Mitch Kupchak said on Wednesday that the Hornets would be choosing between two players, and while he didn’t mention them by name, they’re widely expected to be Henderson and Miller. He also said they’d be taking the best player available approach, as David Newton of ESPN relays.
“I don’t think we’re at the stage where we’re good enough to focus on fit,” Kupchak said. “Next year, knock on wood, we’re healthy, we might be getting close where we could look a little bit more to fit.
“But right now, it’s about adding the best player that we could possibly add to the team. … We’re going to take the player that we feel is best for this organization going forward.”
Kupchak also said the team was open to trading the pick, though the offer would likely have to be overwhelming. As of yesterday, he anticipated keeping the valuable selection.
Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report is another talent evaluator who has been skeptical of the rumors that Miller was the leading candidate to go No. 2. He says many people seem to favor Henderson as the second-best prospect in the draft (Twitter links). According to Wasserman, league insiders haven’t been able to trace the source of Charlotte’s rumored preference for Miller, since the team is known for being pretty tight-lipped.
As Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports tweets, other lottery teams believe Henderson is still receiving strong consideration, buoyed by support from the Hornets’ new ownership group, which is led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall, who are buying Michael Jordan‘s majority stake. However, Kupchak said at his press conference Wednesday that Jordan would have final say on basketball decisions, per Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer.
“Michael has the final say,” Kupchak said. “During the last month or two I would talk to Michael in the morning two or three times a week. With the sale of the organization, one of the new owners was in a couple of days ago and is in today, and I expect them to weigh in, whether it’s in-person or not.
“There’s a lot of texts going back and forth, there’s a lot of questions, there’s a lot of catch-up for a new owner. This is not a simple process. There’s a lot of research, testing, intel, opinion that goes into the decision. The new owners are catching up as quick as they can. So the debate will continue today, it might continue (Thursday), which is good. It’s healthy. I welcome that.”
Doesn’t matter whatever they do. It will be the wrong decision.
Lol agreed. They’re definitely taking Scoot and then will likely trade him.
The 2nd pick is the draft is coming down too.
A combo G who can’t shoot
Or
A 6ft 9in SF who best assist at Bama was bringing a G U N to a crime screen
Good luck Hornets
Scoot is the next great PG ……
Stick to steroid baseball ……. easier to see.
Lol yea sure. I have seen some of your takes. U are the last one who should be running his mouth.
Blazers need to think fast on trading the 3rd pick. Word on the street is that the Hornets are taking Scoot.
You should know by now that thinking fast and Portland should never be in the same sentence
POR is the winner if CHA picks Scoot, assuming that POR keeping both the pick and Lillard happy makes them a winner. I’ve never been convinced that Lillard gave any kind of ultimatum, and using the pick on either guy isn’t the best win-now option. Still, drafting Miller (who’s skill set is premium and near impossible to dupicate on the trade market) doesn’t signal rebuild in the same way as drafting Scoot.
I agree. The best case scenario if Portland keeps the pick is Miller falling to them.
I’m assuming they’d go Lillard, Sharpe/Simons, Miller/Thybulle (RS), Grant (RS)/Wattford, Nurkic
If they were going to upgrade it would be Nurkic or the bench. Maybe move Nurkic and #23 for Myles Turner. Pacers use #23 and #26 to move up on the draft or they use it to make another deal.
You’d only Little and Keon Johnson (9M) for matching. You could call the Wizards up for Tyus Jones or Monte Morris to back-up Dame.
I agree …. Miller is the guy they want with Dame. Only thing is Jerami plays the same position.
Scoot doesn’t even make sense in Charlotte. Believe they’re trying to squeeze assets from the blazers.
This is all a bluff. Scoot shot 27% from behind the arc in 2 years of G-League ball. You cannot play him and LaMelo together in the backcourt. Brandon Miller will slide in alongside of Miles Bridges and Mark Williams in the Charlotte frontcourt with LaMelo and Rozier in the backcourt.
The Scoot hype has gotten out of control. Good player. Really talented. Already has a mature body which gives him a ceiling. The lack of a 3 point shot is a major red flag toward being a franchise player.
The guy is 19 & his jumper has been improving, he has good form and shot 76% from the line.
Will he be steph? No but the guy has elite athleticism and that it factor mentality he’ll be fine.
Also, Ball is an excellent 3pt shooter. But on the flip side, he’s not great at finishing at the rim. If Scoot has an opposite skillset (which seems likely), they can play off each other very well. Scoot is said to have acceleration and strength not unlike a young Russ, right? A backcourt duo like that when both of them are strong playmakers sounds like it’d play pretty well. And given the sample size we’re working with (Scoot has a grand total of 45 G-league games including the showcase cup and exhibitions), it’s unlikely 27% is a truly representative number compared to his actual ability. LaMelo had a similar perception coming in, as he shot 25% with the Aussie league.
Well said Eon I agree their skill sets would complement very well. Not to mention Melo is bigger too for a guard so he can cover wings if needed on D
If you’re high on both, trade Ball to the Blazers and select both of these kids.
I put that out there a few weeks ago. It’s like starting a team with Westbrook and PG13. Those are the comps, and that’s what you’re hoping to get.
Ball + Martin + Bouknight for #3, #23, and Simons.
Hornets roll out Scoot, Simon’s, Miller, Bridges. They S&T PJ, Move Rozier, Move Hayward. Richards/Williams at the C pending other moves.
Please no. -Signed a Hornets fan.
Ugh! Just once can Charlotte not mess something up?! Just once! Either take Miller or try to trade the pick to New Orleans for BI.
I’m gonna keep saying it…….
Rockets should do all they can to move up to get Scoot. What is your issues .