Welcome to the Hornets Highcast, present it by Charlotte I ear nosen Throat Associates, the official I ear nosen throat Care provider of the Charlotte Hornets. Here's your host, Sam Farber.

Welcome to the Hornets Highcast, present it by Charlotte I ear nosen Throat Associates, the official I ear nosen throat Care provider of the Charlotte Hornets. Here's your host, Sam Farber.

Welcome to another edition of the Hornets Podcast, your Hornets podcast with all the notes, quotes, and daily buzz around your favorite NBA team. I'm Sam Farber and it is a pleasure and a privileged have you with us here once again, all the hornetsode Cast brought to you by Santa Charlotte, Ie ear Nose and Throat Associates, the official I ear nosen throat care provider of the Charlotte Hornets.

Welcome to another edition of the Hornets Podcast, your Hornets podcast with all the notes, quotes, and daily buzz around your favorite NBA team. I'm Sam Farber and it is a pleasure and a privileged have you with us here once again, all the hornetsode Cast brought to you by Santa Charlotte, Ie ear Nose and Throat Associates, the official I ear nosen throat care provider of the Charlotte Hornets.

It is mock draft season.

It is mock draft season.

Last time out here on the HHC, we were talking with Jeremy Wou of ESPN about the number two overall pick, and he's kind enough to join us again here today talking about the draft as a whole, and specifically more so looking towards the back half of the first round, the non lottery portion, as well as the second round of the NBA Draft in general. There's a great history of some great players being drafted by the Charlotte horne and it's in this section. Think Devonte Graham, Cody Martin who have gotten second contracts. Jayalen McDaniels has had a lot of success in the NBA. These we're all Mitch cup Checks selections. Here post a lottery portions of the NBA draft, and then historically there are some huge names currently playing significant roles, to say the least in the NBA playoffs that were not selected in the lottery. So what goes into process of evaluating these types of picks. What should the Hornets or any NBA team be looking for? No one better to help us decipher that than Jeremy Wu, who's back with us once again.

Last time out here on the HHC, we were talking with Jeremy Wou of ESPN about the number two overall pick, and he's kind enough to join us again here today talking about the draft as a whole, and specifically more so looking towards the back half of the first round, the non lottery portion, as well as the second round of the NBA Draft in general. There's a great history of some great players being drafted by the Charlotte horne and it's in this section. Think Devonte Graham, Cody Martin who have gotten second contracts. Jayalen McDaniels has had a lot of success in the NBA. These we're all Mitch cup Checks selections. Here post a lottery portions of the NBA draft, and then historically there are some huge names currently playing significant roles, to say the least in the NBA playoffs that were not selected in the lottery. So what goes into process of evaluating these types of picks. What should the Hornets or any NBA team be looking for? No one better to help us decipher that than Jeremy Wu, who's back with us once again.

He's an ESPN contributor.

He's an ESPN contributor.

He covers the NBA draft as well as basketball prospects as a whole. You can find him on Twitter at Jeremy Wu, and you can find him right now right here on the HC. Jeremy, thanks so much for joining us once again here twice in one week on the Hornet Iive.

He covers the NBA draft as well as basketball prospects as a whole. You can find him on Twitter at Jeremy Wu, and you can find him right now right here on the HC. Jeremy, thanks so much for joining us once again here twice in one week on the Hornet Iive.

Cast had no problem, happy kind enough.

Cast had no problem, happy kind enough.

To join us.

To join us.

The other day, really focusing more on the number two pick and what that might mean for the franchise. Today, we want to stretch it out a little bit. It has five total picks in this draft, another first rounder at number twenty seven, three high seconds, all in the top half thirty four to thirty nine, and forty one, giving them the flexibility and theory to move around in the draft and target specific players or completely remake a third of the franchise in a matter of speaking, by adding five of potentially the fifteen or seventeen I guess, with two way players spots on the roster. How big of a draft is this for the Charlotte Hornets with that plethora of picks and all of them being as of this moment here in the top forty five, compared to other teams that have had this kind of opportunity historically.

The other day, really focusing more on the number two pick and what that might mean for the franchise. Today, we want to stretch it out a little bit. It has five total picks in this draft, another first rounder at number twenty seven, three high seconds, all in the top half thirty four to thirty nine, and forty one, giving them the flexibility and theory to move around in the draft and target specific players or completely remake a third of the franchise in a matter of speaking, by adding five of potentially the fifteen or seventeen I guess, with two way players spots on the roster. How big of a draft is this for the Charlotte Hornets with that plethora of picks and all of them being as of this moment here in the top forty five, compared to other teams that have had this kind of opportunity historically.

Yeah, well, I think it's definitely a juncture where the goal is younger and adding some depths and finding a few guys you like to develop. This is a good opportunity to do that in this draft class. You know, I think twenty seven is a pretty interesting pick. You know, once you get into the second round, you know, I don't know necessarily that you're going to get someone who is going to be, you know, ready to step in and give you minutes right away. It obviously depends on you know what direction you go. But I think just from the from the angle of you know, who can we add that addresses, you know, whatever the concerns are or you know, depth questions are, or who they want to which bots they want to upgrade, hopefully in the long term. Obviously, with with so many picks in that range, you can you can take a swing on a player's high upside, you know, you can. You can be a little bit riskier in terms of, you know what if it doesn't pan out right, because you have more bites at Apple I think in that range. So I think it'll be interesting. And also, you know, I think it's with any team picking that many times, it's probably unlikely they keep every single one of those picks. But you know, you can always move try to combine and pick the trade up or move around or whatever. You know. So they definitely will have options and a lots to consider.

Yeah, well, I think it's definitely a juncture where the goal is younger and adding some depths and finding a few guys you like to develop. This is a good opportunity to do that in this draft class. You know, I think twenty seven is a pretty interesting pick. You know, once you get into the second round, you know, I don't know necessarily that you're going to get someone who is going to be, you know, ready to step in and give you minutes right away. It obviously depends on you know what direction you go. But I think just from the from the angle of you know, who can we add that addresses, you know, whatever the concerns are or you know, depth questions are, or who they want to which bots they want to upgrade, hopefully in the long term. Obviously, with with so many picks in that range, you can you can take a swing on a player's high upside, you know, you can. You can be a little bit riskier in terms of, you know what if it doesn't pan out right, because you have more bites at Apple I think in that range. So I think it'll be interesting. And also, you know, I think it's with any team picking that many times, it's probably unlikely they keep every single one of those picks. But you know, you can always move try to combine and pick the trade up or move around or whatever. You know. So they definitely will have options and a lots to consider.

All of the general managers in the NBA, they're going to go through their process what they're looking for in terms of late first round, second round picks in general. As you someone who evaluates prospects all season long, all year long, how do you evaluate someone who who maybe in that late first round second round range as compared to a.

All of the general managers in the NBA, they're going to go through their process what they're looking for in terms of late first round, second round picks in general. As you someone who evaluates prospects all season long, all year long, how do you evaluate someone who who maybe in that late first round second round range as compared to a.

Top five pick. What do those top five picks.

Top five pick. What do those top five picks.

Generally have that maybe you're not quite clear enough yet on players that are gonna last twenty and beyond.

Generally have that maybe you're not quite clear enough yet on players that are gonna last twenty and beyond.

Yeah, well, I mean, look, there's always a hierarchy with the this type of thing, and you always start from the top and work down in terms of like who would you rather have, And it's going to vary from team the team based on you know, what you value and what you need. I think I guess to generalize when you're picking late first round, early second round, I would say generally they are like two types of picks. It's either the you know, experienced college players who are maybe more ready to plug in and help or might be a little bit older. Teams might be them as having a little bit less upside just because they are further along in their development. Sometimes you can get those guys a little bit later in the draft and get really really good bargains where they're ready to come in and play right away and they and they give you immediate value. The other type of player you often will kind of see in that late first round, early second round guaranteed money range, so is often there are freshmen who slipped who are younger and maybe less proven, but might you know, have flashed talent in the past in high school or for whatever reason, you know that the their stock is slipped somewhat. Or guys who have you know, are really great athletes who needs more skill development, like that type of thing. Those guys are often viewed as higher upside kicks, if maybe riskier because they are a little bit younger, right, So I think those are often the two types of just speaking very broadly, the two types of picks that you see sort of in the twenty five to forty range, and then you know, once you get further down in the drafts, oftentimes now it's guys are agreeing to two A contracts in order to get drafted, and then that's sort of dipping into the roughly more undrafted type of player.

Yeah, well, I mean, look, there's always a hierarchy with the this type of thing, and you always start from the top and work down in terms of like who would you rather have, And it's going to vary from team the team based on you know, what you value and what you need. I think I guess to generalize when you're picking late first round, early second round, I would say generally they are like two types of picks. It's either the you know, experienced college players who are maybe more ready to plug in and help or might be a little bit older. Teams might be them as having a little bit less upside just because they are further along in their development. Sometimes you can get those guys a little bit later in the draft and get really really good bargains where they're ready to come in and play right away and they and they give you immediate value. The other type of player you often will kind of see in that late first round, early second round guaranteed money range, so is often there are freshmen who slipped who are younger and maybe less proven, but might you know, have flashed talent in the past in high school or for whatever reason, you know that the their stock is slipped somewhat. Or guys who have you know, are really great athletes who needs more skill development, like that type of thing. Those guys are often viewed as higher upside kicks, if maybe riskier because they are a little bit younger, right, So I think those are often the two types of just speaking very broadly, the two types of picks that you see sort of in the twenty five to forty range, and then you know, once you get further down in the drafts, oftentimes now it's guys are agreeing to two A contracts in order to get drafted, and then that's sort of dipping into the roughly more undrafted type of player.

What, in your opinion, is the right way to go about it, because we look at Charlotte's recent history, particularly under Mitch cup Check, and he is is a very good track record of drafting guys in the second round, like Devonte Graham, like Cody Martin who have not just gone on to be contributors on their initial contract but earn second contracts and maintain their status within the NBA. But then, on the other hand, it's been a little while since we've had one, but there is a history of all Stars, if not all nbas if not MVP caliber players being found in the second round. Nicole Jokic was the second round pick. Of course, Chris Middleton, Draymond Green, these were second round picks. So is there a right way to go about in terms of In Draymond Green's case, he was not the young nineteen year old when he came into the NBA, had a little bit more experienced as a senior out of Michigan State. Chris Middleton had played a couple of years of college. Jokic himself was a teenager coming from overseas. So maybe in asking the question, I've answered it myself that there isn't a really right way to go about this. But what would you say is the best way to target these later non lottery type picks.

What, in your opinion, is the right way to go about it, because we look at Charlotte's recent history, particularly under Mitch cup Check, and he is is a very good track record of drafting guys in the second round, like Devonte Graham, like Cody Martin who have not just gone on to be contributors on their initial contract but earn second contracts and maintain their status within the NBA. But then, on the other hand, it's been a little while since we've had one, but there is a history of all Stars, if not all nbas if not MVP caliber players being found in the second round. Nicole Jokic was the second round pick. Of course, Chris Middleton, Draymond Green, these were second round picks. So is there a right way to go about in terms of In Draymond Green's case, he was not the young nineteen year old when he came into the NBA, had a little bit more experienced as a senior out of Michigan State. Chris Middleton had played a couple of years of college. Jokic himself was a teenager coming from overseas. So maybe in asking the question, I've answered it myself that there isn't a really right way to go about this. But what would you say is the best way to target these later non lottery type picks.

Yeah, well, I think it really depends a lot on you know, each visual team and what their risk tolerance is, what their needs are. For example, if you are a team like the Hornets and you are sort of still young and still building out your roster, you might be inclined to, you know, grab someone who's younger and try to develop them in a way that it's the team. On the flip side, you could say, well, you know, they've taken that route in recent years, taking younger guys with you. Look at the Nick Richard's or Bryce Mcallen's and they have these young guys in the roster already, So you might say, well, maybe it does make sense to grab an older player who you can plug in and might be able to give you minutes right away.

Yeah, well, I think it really depends a lot on you know, each visual team and what their risk tolerance is, what their needs are. For example, if you are a team like the Hornets and you are sort of still young and still building out your roster, you might be inclined to, you know, grab someone who's younger and try to develop them in a way that it's the team. On the flip side, you could say, well, you know, they've taken that route in recent years, taking younger guys with you. Look at the Nick Richard's or Bryce Mcallen's and they have these young guys in the roster already, So you might say, well, maybe it does make sense to grab an older player who you can plug in and might be able to give you minutes right away.

Right.

Right.

So, again, it really depends on each situation. I don't think there's necessarily a philosophical like right or wrong answer to that, but that's what i'd say in terms of approach.

So, again, it really depends on each situation. I don't think there's necessarily a philosophical like right or wrong answer to that, but that's what i'd say in terms of approach.

Has the profile of a non lottery pick changed since you've been doing this? I mean, we're in an era right now where so many of the top guys are one and done's really young players teenagers in almost every case. Is there a different type of player now that's lasting outside the lottery that wouldn't have fifteen years ago.

Has the profile of a non lottery pick changed since you've been doing this? I mean, we're in an era right now where so many of the top guys are one and done's really young players teenagers in almost every case. Is there a different type of player now that's lasting outside the lottery that wouldn't have fifteen years ago.

That's an interesting question, I guess off the top of my head, I don't know if I have an answer to that I think, I think the things that teams are valuing has maybe changed a little bit. Like there's certainly heavy have a priority on shooting, just because it's so much of kind of what makes a good offense go. Now, it doesn't have to even be your stars, right, I mean, you need to have guys who make shots and play off those guys, and you know, I think traditional size is something that matters. The bigger guys often trickle up and so that kind of you know, maybe sometimes that pushes down. Maybe if you are not a super athletic guard, you know, you're like a scoring guard. Those guys sometimes we'll fall a little bit. But it's I think it's hard to generalize just because the shape of every draft is so different in terms of you know, who is available and who is taking where and what their needs are.

That's an interesting question, I guess off the top of my head, I don't know if I have an answer to that I think, I think the things that teams are valuing has maybe changed a little bit. Like there's certainly heavy have a priority on shooting, just because it's so much of kind of what makes a good offense go. Now, it doesn't have to even be your stars, right, I mean, you need to have guys who make shots and play off those guys, and you know, I think traditional size is something that matters. The bigger guys often trickle up and so that kind of you know, maybe sometimes that pushes down. Maybe if you are not a super athletic guard, you know, you're like a scoring guard. Those guys sometimes we'll fall a little bit. But it's I think it's hard to generalize just because the shape of every draft is so different in terms of you know, who is available and who is taking where and what their needs are.

Right.

Right.

So, like, I know it sounds like I keep repeating that, but it's it's I think it's very hard to make without really looking at a whole data set of five ten years. Mega generalization.

So, like, I know it sounds like I keep repeating that, but it's it's I think it's very hard to make without really looking at a whole data set of five ten years. Mega generalization.

Jeremy Woo our guest today here on the Hornets. I've cast ESPN contributor covering basketball prospects as well as the NBA draft. You just talked about how the ten to fifteen year timeline maybe is the better way to assess how right or wrong the general managers are from draft day. How much more difficult is that now? We just talked about how the profile of a lottery pick has shifted to younger and younger. But also you look deeper into the draft, there's a lot of guys that are going one and done and making that immediate jump into the professional ranks. How much time does it really take to discern whether or not you or your brethren is a mock draft experts were correct in your projections, and the general managers who are paid to make the picks as well, when you have to go down and really drill down see who was successful or not. Is it the day after the draft, is it after their rookie the seasons? Is it five to ten years down the line?

Jeremy Woo our guest today here on the Hornets. I've cast ESPN contributor covering basketball prospects as well as the NBA draft. You just talked about how the ten to fifteen year timeline maybe is the better way to assess how right or wrong the general managers are from draft day. How much more difficult is that now? We just talked about how the profile of a lottery pick has shifted to younger and younger. But also you look deeper into the draft, there's a lot of guys that are going one and done and making that immediate jump into the professional ranks. How much time does it really take to discern whether or not you or your brethren is a mock draft experts were correct in your projections, and the general managers who are paid to make the picks as well, when you have to go down and really drill down see who was successful or not. Is it the day after the draft, is it after their rookie the seasons? Is it five to ten years down the line?

Yeah, I mean, I think it just depends on what you want to assess. I mean, you know, if you're looking at, well, how accurate was my mock draft? You know you can find that out the day half of the draft, right, But in terms of you know, it's your own rankings or your own inclinations on players. I mean that does take time to bear out. I do think there's probably a lot of knee jerk reactions in terms of evaluating picks nowadays. I think that's just part of like the online coverage sort of cycle. SIT's off in looking for answers when there might not be the you know, the story hasn't played out yet, and guys do figure it out later. So I don't know. For me, I just I think the key is not obsessed over being right because of all the different factors that go into a player succeeding and sailing. You know, you can nail the evaluation, something else can happen that you know derails it right. So I just think it's important to keep that perspective in mind when you when you go through it. You can't be too hard on yourself at the end of the day. It's easy for me to say because I don't have to pick anybody, but but I think that's probably philosophically the way to go about it.

Yeah, I mean, I think it just depends on what you want to assess. I mean, you know, if you're looking at, well, how accurate was my mock draft? You know you can find that out the day half of the draft, right, But in terms of you know, it's your own rankings or your own inclinations on players. I mean that does take time to bear out. I do think there's probably a lot of knee jerk reactions in terms of evaluating picks nowadays. I think that's just part of like the online coverage sort of cycle. SIT's off in looking for answers when there might not be the you know, the story hasn't played out yet, and guys do figure it out later. So I don't know. For me, I just I think the key is not obsessed over being right because of all the different factors that go into a player succeeding and sailing. You know, you can nail the evaluation, something else can happen that you know derails it right. So I just think it's important to keep that perspective in mind when you when you go through it. You can't be too hard on yourself at the end of the day. It's easy for me to say because I don't have to pick anybody, but but I think that's probably philosophically the way to go about it.

No, but I think that's interesting because I think we've seen, and not just in basketball, but in a lot of sports, sometimes the reaction of the crowd on draft day would lead you to believe that the fan base is not happy or is overjoyed about a particular pick, and then you know, for whatever circumstances later on down the line, the perception of the pick is completely different.

No, but I think that's interesting because I think we've seen, and not just in basketball, but in a lot of sports, sometimes the reaction of the crowd on draft day would lead you to believe that the fan base is not happy or is overjoyed about a particular pick, and then you know, for whatever circumstances later on down the line, the perception of the pick is completely different.

But in the moment, there might be a right play to make.

But in the moment, there might be a right play to make.

We all like to think, oh, Denver was a genius for drafting Nicola Jokic in the second round, and everyone got it wrong for not doing in the first round, But maybe that was the right pick at that time, that it would have been foolish in the moment to have made him the number one overall pick, although I feel foolish saying that because he's the two time MVP just led the Nuggets into the finals right now.

We all like to think, oh, Denver was a genius for drafting Nicola Jokic in the second round, and everyone got it wrong for not doing in the first round, But maybe that was the right pick at that time, that it would have been foolish in the moment to have made him the number one overall pick, although I feel foolish saying that because he's the two time MVP just led the Nuggets into the finals right now.

But totally, I mean, you're right there. I mean, you know, it's one thing to be like, oh, if we redrafted, it would go this way, But it's another thing they're like we write history and be like, oh, yeah, he should have been the number one pick. You know, you don't know what happens if a player goes to a different situation right then. That's not to say that in Nicole's case, he wouldn't have been really good somewhere else, But sometimes the landing's really matters. It's times that can benefit guys in summer sets to follow in the draft in terms of motivation or fit or having to earn it. You know, like there are so many different factors that go into player development, and we could talk about it for hours really, but yeah, there's always a tendency to be like, oh, yeah, this guy Draymond, how was he not a top five pick? But again, he had to go to Golden State and he had to find himself there and he was paired with players who really fit around him, and he was well coached and they used him perfectly, and there there's so many things that go into having a career like he's had that are pretty impossible to predict when we're looking at this is just in a vacuum, right of who are the top thirty prospects? And you know what I mean, it's just that it can be so relative and subjective, and it's always fascinating to see one of the commonalities between these sort of outlier case studies and second rounders who who break out. But it's you know, it happens very rarely, right, I mean, we're talking about the bandful of his cases where it's really happened.

But totally, I mean, you're right there. I mean, you know, it's one thing to be like, oh, if we redrafted, it would go this way, But it's another thing they're like we write history and be like, oh, yeah, he should have been the number one pick. You know, you don't know what happens if a player goes to a different situation right then. That's not to say that in Nicole's case, he wouldn't have been really good somewhere else, But sometimes the landing's really matters. It's times that can benefit guys in summer sets to follow in the draft in terms of motivation or fit or having to earn it. You know, like there are so many different factors that go into player development, and we could talk about it for hours really, but yeah, there's always a tendency to be like, oh, yeah, this guy Draymond, how was he not a top five pick? But again, he had to go to Golden State and he had to find himself there and he was paired with players who really fit around him, and he was well coached and they used him perfectly, and there there's so many things that go into having a career like he's had that are pretty impossible to predict when we're looking at this is just in a vacuum, right of who are the top thirty prospects? And you know what I mean, it's just that it can be so relative and subjective, and it's always fascinating to see one of the commonalities between these sort of outlier case studies and second rounders who who break out. But it's you know, it happens very rarely, right, I mean, we're talking about the bandful of his cases where it's really happened.

Two more questions for you, Jeremy, before we'll let you go. One, is you mention fit?

Two more questions for you, Jeremy, before we'll let you go. One, is you mention fit?

And how?

And how?

For Nikola Jokic, the fit and denver ended up being perfect, The situation ended up being right. It allowed him to excel early and often, all the way out to the present, where he's now a two time MVP and has led his team to the NBA Finals. When you look at the Hornets and what is there to support not just the number two overall pick, but anyone else that is selected in this upcoming draft. How well set up are the Hornets right now? With an already all star level player in LaMelo Ball and some key veterans under contract at other positions. How well set up are they to support not just a rookie, but maybe several rookies to have successful seasons in early portions of their career.

For Nikola Jokic, the fit and denver ended up being perfect, The situation ended up being right. It allowed him to excel early and often, all the way out to the present, where he's now a two time MVP and has led his team to the NBA Finals. When you look at the Hornets and what is there to support not just the number two overall pick, but anyone else that is selected in this upcoming draft. How well set up are the Hornets right now? With an already all star level player in LaMelo Ball and some key veterans under contract at other positions. How well set up are they to support not just a rookie, but maybe several rookies to have successful seasons in early portions of their career.

Well, you know, I think it always helps to have a flint garden place. I mean, just generally speaking, I mean, LaMelo is a great excellent passer, you know, like having a guy like that who can draw, you know, the attention of defenses and who can find open guys. I mean that can be really helpful if you're a young guy and you have someone to help create those opportunities for you. So I think that onto it side itself can be a good step in the right direction to start. I think it also depends on what position you're trying to fill, right, I mean, if you're a point guard and you go to the Hornets, you're probably backing up the mellow for a bit, right, You're probably not starting, so that can be a hindrance. But if you're you know, say you're a power forward, and you know they don't bring those guys back, they don't bring back Ridges or Washington, then you you know, have you know, some opportunity for minutes there that can be great. So again, it can really depend on how they draft and you know, how they approach these picks. But I think certainly, you know, having having some veterans there and having established point guard to you distribute can be can be very helpful.

Well, you know, I think it always helps to have a flint garden place. I mean, just generally speaking, I mean, LaMelo is a great excellent passer, you know, like having a guy like that who can draw, you know, the attention of defenses and who can find open guys. I mean that can be really helpful if you're a young guy and you have someone to help create those opportunities for you. So I think that onto it side itself can be a good step in the right direction to start. I think it also depends on what position you're trying to fill, right, I mean, if you're a point guard and you go to the Hornets, you're probably backing up the mellow for a bit, right, You're probably not starting, so that can be a hindrance. But if you're you know, say you're a power forward, and you know they don't bring those guys back, they don't bring back Ridges or Washington, then you you know, have you know, some opportunity for minutes there that can be great. So again, it can really depend on how they draft and you know, how they approach these picks. But I think certainly, you know, having having some veterans there and having established point guard to you distribute can be can be very helpful.

Last one for you here, Jeremy.

Last one for you here, Jeremy.

The goal for so many Hornets fans and the desire is to see this team take a step and make it into the playoffs. And it is difficult for rookies at any point in NBA history to make a significant impact for that kind of jump. But when you look at even last year's draft, Keegan Marie was a tip five pick for Sacramento. They clearly had a lot of other pieces in place already, including an all star level talent that was already on the roster that probably had as much as anything to do with why they made the jump into the playoffs, but Keegan Murray was able to contribute towards that success. Then you've got other teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder who had the number two overall pick, didn't play the entire season, and they too made a significant jump. So that kept in mind. What do you think the chances are for the Hornets and their draft picks multiple to have an impact on making that jump next year? Or are the answers to that question already in house or already out there as restricted or unrestricted free agents for Charlotte in terms of making that move towards the postseason.

The goal for so many Hornets fans and the desire is to see this team take a step and make it into the playoffs. And it is difficult for rookies at any point in NBA history to make a significant impact for that kind of jump. But when you look at even last year's draft, Keegan Marie was a tip five pick for Sacramento. They clearly had a lot of other pieces in place already, including an all star level talent that was already on the roster that probably had as much as anything to do with why they made the jump into the playoffs, but Keegan Murray was able to contribute towards that success. Then you've got other teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder who had the number two overall pick, didn't play the entire season, and they too made a significant jump. So that kept in mind. What do you think the chances are for the Hornets and their draft picks multiple to have an impact on making that jump next year? Or are the answers to that question already in house or already out there as restricted or unrestricted free agents for Charlotte in terms of making that move towards the postseason.

Yeah, well, I don't think any one player is necessarily going to be the answer to, you know, turning it around. I mean, as you know we mentioned before, like being healthy is very helpful and going to be crucial for them. Yeah, there is opportunity here for whoever they draft to be impactful. Their bench was not the most productive, you know, it's one of the lesser in terms of scoring benches in the league. So I think naturally, when you have these picks and you are looking at you know, maybe you're looking for someone who can help right away and there is going to be opportunity in minutes available. So I think that can be attractive. Again, a lot of it depends on if they're going to make push to the playoffs. You know, how how do these guys improve internally? Who do they bring back? Can they add players via other means to sort of keep up with the rest of the East, because it is kind of you know, even with the play in opening up spots. I mean, you have these other young teams. You look around the league and the East. You know, Orlando is getting better, Indiana is getting better. Like it's a challenge to keep up. And so I don't know if there's one right answer, because there it's really an all around approach question, right but certainly I think there at least there's step to work within the roster where they can conceivably, you know, push for one of those playing spots that they put the resources in.

Yeah, well, I don't think any one player is necessarily going to be the answer to, you know, turning it around. I mean, as you know we mentioned before, like being healthy is very helpful and going to be crucial for them. Yeah, there is opportunity here for whoever they draft to be impactful. Their bench was not the most productive, you know, it's one of the lesser in terms of scoring benches in the league. So I think naturally, when you have these picks and you are looking at you know, maybe you're looking for someone who can help right away and there is going to be opportunity in minutes available. So I think that can be attractive. Again, a lot of it depends on if they're going to make push to the playoffs. You know, how how do these guys improve internally? Who do they bring back? Can they add players via other means to sort of keep up with the rest of the East, because it is kind of you know, even with the play in opening up spots. I mean, you have these other young teams. You look around the league and the East. You know, Orlando is getting better, Indiana is getting better. Like it's a challenge to keep up. And so I don't know if there's one right answer, because there it's really an all around approach question, right but certainly I think there at least there's step to work within the roster where they can conceivably, you know, push for one of those playing spots that they put the resources in.

Well Jeremy, we want to thank you for spending so much time with us this week talking about the mock draft. So we know that as an NBA team, we have different restrictions on us and not saying too much specifically out there, but you've given us some really great insight and one thing that we do we encourage all the fans to do as well, is continue to check out your great work on ESPN. You tweet out a lot of it at Jeremy Wu. We look forward to seeing your coverage here over the next few weeks and hopefully seeing some great picks come here to Charlotte. But thank you so much for joining us here this week on the Hornet.

Well Jeremy, we want to thank you for spending so much time with us this week talking about the mock draft. So we know that as an NBA team, we have different restrictions on us and not saying too much specifically out there, but you've given us some really great insight and one thing that we do we encourage all the fans to do as well, is continue to check out your great work on ESPN. You tweet out a lot of it at Jeremy Wu. We look forward to seeing your coverage here over the next few weeks and hopefully seeing some great picks come here to Charlotte. But thank you so much for joining us here this week on the Hornet.

Time Cast and a problem Thanks a lot.

Time Cast and a problem Thanks a lot.

That's going to do it for this edition of the Hornet Time Cast. Thanks once again to Jeremy Wu of ESPN for joining us. We are going to have many more experts in the mock draft world joining us here on the HHC talking about the number two pick, the draft as a whole, what might be possible for the Hornets moving forward here on a draft that really could reset things for the entire franchise looking into the future. It's a big one. We're looking forward to it. Draft Day, of course, is June twenty second. To make sure you're keeping an eye on Hornet social media as well as Hornets dot com for all the latest on draft watch parties and events that will be coming up on a very very exciting and very very important date for the Hornets franchise. Thanks again to Jeremy Woo of ESPN. Find him on social media at Jeremy wo. Thanks to our producer Rob Longo for putting this podcast together. Most of all, thanks to all of you for tuning in today. For everyone here, I'm Sam Farber saying it's been a pleasure and a privilege having you along. We will talk to you again next week with more mock draft analysis right here on the Hornets Hypecast.

That's going to do it for this edition of the Hornet Time Cast. Thanks once again to Jeremy Wu of ESPN for joining us. We are going to have many more experts in the mock draft world joining us here on the HHC talking about the number two pick, the draft as a whole, what might be possible for the Hornets moving forward here on a draft that really could reset things for the entire franchise looking into the future. It's a big one. We're looking forward to it. Draft Day, of course, is June twenty second. To make sure you're keeping an eye on Hornet social media as well as Hornets dot com for all the latest on draft watch parties and events that will be coming up on a very very exciting and very very important date for the Hornets franchise. Thanks again to Jeremy Woo of ESPN. Find him on social media at Jeremy wo. Thanks to our producer Rob Longo for putting this podcast together. Most of all, thanks to all of you for tuning in today. For everyone here, I'm Sam Farber saying it's been a pleasure and a privilege having you along. We will talk to you again next week with more mock draft analysis right here on the Hornets Hypecast.

Thank you for listening to the Hornets Hypecast, brought to you by Senta, the official i ere Nosen throatcare provider of the Charlotte Hornets. For more coverage, visit Hornets dot com.

Thank you for listening to the Hornets Hypecast, brought to you by Senta, the official i ere Nosen throatcare provider of the Charlotte Hornets. For more coverage, visit Hornets dot com.