Tanking ‘right?’ Makes no sense to worry about Hornets winning ‘too much’
Is there a “right” and a “wrong’ way to tank? In the NBA, do we even know with any precision what tanking is?
I get asked a lot about the Charlotte Hornets’ rebuild, and many of those questions have the subtext of banking on a high pick in the 2020 draft. That subject leads this week’s Hornets mailbag:
HOW SHOULD THE HORNETS TANK PROPERLY? THEY’RE NOT BAD ENOUGH THIS SEASON TO NEVER WIN, NOR GOOD ENOUGH TO WIN OFTEN.
Considering they have lost four of their last five and were blown out at home by a 5-17 Atlanta Hawks team Sunday, the evidence might be shifting in the opposite direction. However ...
I think there is too much hope/attention tied up in the 2020 draft. Particularly now that the NBA has flattened the draft-lottery odds, it’s questionable strategy to bank on losing-to-win.
Hornets’ coach James Borrego has done what he said he would: play the young guys in close decisions, and view playing time as an investment in the future. If the improvement of young guys, such as Devonte Graham and rookie P.J. Washington, results in a couple extra wins this season, I don’t see that as a negative.
Put it this way: I’d much rather see this season devoted to improving the young guys already under contract, even if that costs them a couple of chances in the draft lottery, than the other way around.
WHAT POSITIONS ARE MOST IN NEED OF UPGRADE?
I’d say center and shooting guard, although at this early stage of the rebuild, I wouldn’t get too wrapped up in positional balance.
They have two NBA-quality centers in Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo, but neither of those players at this stage of his career is a superior rim-protector. A guy like Memphis freshman James Wiseman would sure be a good investment in the future.
There are a lot of options at shooting guard (Terry Rozier, Dwayne Bacon, Nic Batum, etc.) without anyone yet emerging as an obvious candidate as a long-term starter. If they could find someone with Rozier’s skill set, but Bacon’s size, it’d be ideal.
DO YOU THINK THE HORNETS REGRET SIGNING ROZIER TO THAT BIG CONTRACT?
No. While it’s true that Devonte Graham’s ascension has changed this team in ways that affect Rozier’s role, Rozier hasn’t become outmoded.
It’s a real credit to Rozier’s adapability that he has embraced being a combo guard — as much an off-the-ball scorer as a point guard — to blend what Graham is doing. Whether Rozier is the long-term answer as starting shooting guard is a different discussion, but he’s making a large contribution and posting career stats.
DOES IT FEEL LIKE THE HORNETS ARE OVERACHIEVING? THE ROSTER IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR HOW COMPETITIVE THEY HAVE BEEN SO FAR.
On those occasions when they’re in games late, they’ve been better in clutch time than I anticipated, even with the meltdowns in losses to the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns.
However, their deficit in talent is large most nights, probably wider than their record suggests. It’s telling that the only “good” team they have beaten this season is the Indiana Pacers, and that was on a night when the Pacers’ two best big men were both out with injuries.
In talent, they more resemble the team that lost four its last five than the one that won four of its first seven.
WHAT IS A MORE LIKELY USE OF HORNETS’ CAP SPACE NEXT SUMMER? ABSORBING A CONTRACT IN TRADE IN RETURN FOR A DRAFT PICK OR SIGNING FREE AGENTS?
Kupchak told me in a September interview that he does not see the Hornets being major players in the 2020 free-agent class. As he put it, they won’t be far enough along in building a core to be attractive to a “Big Fish.”
Based on what Kupchak said, cap space would be targeted for re-signing young talent and trades, possibly like what you mentioned as far as acquiring a future draft pick.
