Is Charlotte most depressing NBA situation?

[celticsclay]

They are dominated by Vets (Howard, Batum, Walker, Williams)
Youngish guys with seemingly no upside (Kaminsky, MCW, MKG, Zeller)
and their round pick looks pretty bad (Monk). Barring some lottery magic they are going to get a later lottery pick in what some project to be a really good draft. Where do they go from here? That roster is such a mess!

[Donoghus]

That franchise has been nothing short of a disaster since coming back to the NBA.  3 playoff appearances in 14 years.  Never advancing past the first round.

[Monkhouse]

Yeah I don't get their plan... They should've done the tough thing, and traded Walker to the Knicks, maybe see if the Blazers would've been interested in Howard as their starting center.

[SHAQATTACK]

Danny tried to set them up in a good postion.  They turned down a warchest .   

[MJohnnyboy]

Outside of Walker, they have a collection of useful but not special players who are overpaid on long-term contracts.

The best scenario I came up for them was trading Kemba and Batum to the Clippers for Gallinari, Boban, and Beverley along with Detroit's first rounder.

They are pretty depressing, but I don't think anyone will ever top Sacramento for most depressing NBA situation.

[Donoghus]

Outside of Walker, they have a collection of useful but not special players who are overpaid on long-term contracts.

The best scenario I came up for them was trading Kemba and Batum to the Clippers for Gallinari, Boban, and Beverley along with Detroit's first rounder.

They are pretty depressing, but I don't think anyone will ever top Sacramento for most depressing NBA situation.

Just checked.  Bobcats/Hornets actually have more playoff appearances since coming into the  league in '04-05 than the Kings.  3-2.

That's real depressing.

[Monkhouse]

I think the best thing would be to see if the Blazers are interested in a Batum re-union. I think the Blazers would gladly give up 2 extra second rounders, or maybe a protected first round pick for Batum in exchange of Evan Turner. Obviously, they should add some extra picks to sweeten the deal, but I could see this happening in the future, plus Batum loves Portland.

[MJohnnyboy]

I think the best thing would be to see if the Blazers are interested in a Batum re-union. I think the Blazers would gladly give up 2 extra second rounders, or maybe a protected first round pick for Batum in exchange of Evan Turner. Obviously, they should add some extra picks to sweeten the deal, but I could see this happening in the future, plus Batum loves Portland.

Not a bad idea on paper but I think Portland will be trying to avoid the tax this off-season since they'll be re-signing Nurkic, so it's more likely in my mind that they will try to dump ET instead of trade him for an expensive upgrade. Batum is better than Turner but his contract is worse for the team long-term.

Batum's contract is so bad that I don't even think Charlotte would request second-rounders. They'd just want Batum off their payroll!

[PhoSita]

I don't think it's SO bad, though it could get a lot worse if Kemba leaves in free agency in a year or two when his contract is up.

Kemba Walker and Dwight Howard (yes, even now) isnt' the worst basis for a decent playoff team, they just need pieces that actually work well around them.

They way overpaid Batum, whose jumper has never really become consistent.  MKG doesn't appear to be developing into more than a bench hustle guy.  Kaminsky is an OK reserve big but nothing more. 

Jeremy Lamb is an OK scorer to have off the bench, but won't change your life.  Cody Zeller can't stay healthy and he's a limited player in today's league.


If you had Kemba, Dwight Howard, and a bunch of solid 2-3-4 type players who can shoot a bit, pass a bit, and defend a bit, I could see that working.  Provided everybody stayed reasonably healthy. 


They've really been hurt by their inability to identify above average players in the draft.

[tarheelsxxiii]

It's not pretty in Charlotte, but watching an Atlanta game is also a special experience.  An already dead fanbase has all but disappeared here in GA, and it has gotten worse with UGA's rise to top.  Memphis is also difficult to watch; Chandler Parson's injuries have set them back for years to come, and they've just chosen to ride it out with Gasol.

[Moranis]

I really have no idea why they are this bad.

[moiso]

Worst situation in the league.  Other teams who are horrible at least know where they stand and have gone young.

[moiso]

I really have no idea why they are this bad.

This from someone who thinks the Nets have a very good roster.

[GRADYCOLNON]

best thing they could do is move Kidd-gilchrist.  Get out of the contract and his terrible play.  His entire game was surrounded by his elevated defensive prowess, now he doesn't.  No offense and now no defense are hard to justify.  Maybe he could bounce back somewhere else.

[chilidawg]

I really have no idea why they are this bad.

It's been a long time since Howard was a winning basketball player.  That's certainly part of it.