The TrueHoop Network has come together to host one mega live chat during Thursday's NBA Draft. Ryan and I may not be able to partake due to other commitments, but there will be plenty of good commentry and insight from the other infamous Network bloggers (check the roster via the drop-down menu at the top of the page).
You can follow the chat via the window below. It all gets going at around 4 p.m. Central. The draft itself kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Central, and you can watch it live online at ESPN 360. You'll also be able to watch ESPN's Draft Preview Show live online here. That's set for 6 p.m. Central.
61 thoughtful comments post your own
YoungFella
06/25/09 09:12 AM
Ryan Schwan's "prior commitment: Star Wars convention
#1
Ryan Schwan
06/25/09 11:55 AM
Nope - I couldn't go to the convention. Too busy re-enacting the battle of Endor with my ewok action figures.
www.hornets247.com #2
Niall Doherty
06/25/09 03:59 PM
Keep an eye on our Twitter feed this evening:
http://twitter.com/hornets247
I'll be posting updates and rumors as I hear them. Some interesting stuff out there already:
http://www.hornets247.com/news/lagniappe/2009/06/25/ben-wallace-for-tyson-chandler
http://www.hornets247.com/news/2009/06/25/new-orleans-hornets-fielding-trade-offers-for-center-tyson-chandler-again
www.ndoherty.com #3
Diane
06/25/09 05:54 PM
I'm so happy you guys have a real life too.
#4
Mark
06/25/09 08:28 PM
I'm scared for DeJuan's knees if we take him
www.dogpile.com/ #5
bigindian15
06/25/09 08:30 PM
I'd feel so much better right now if Mullens was off the board...3 mins left til we know I guess
#6
Mark
06/25/09 08:37 PM
DeJuan better have some knee issues, otherwise this is a Mavericks Detlef Schrempf -> Karl Malone situation.
www.dogpile.com/ #7
johnny_utah
06/25/09 08:44 PM
Why didnt we draft Blair and just sign Pargo instead of Collison? Is Collison decent? I'm not that aware of him.
#8
Mark
06/25/09 08:46 PM
Mavericks with Blair! Come on!
www.dogpile.com/ #9
johnny_utah
06/25/09 08:47 PM
I mean if Collison is a perimeter defender than I just can't see a Pargo return. Feels like we could've filled 2 needs in that position.
#10
bigindian15
06/25/09 08:48 PM
Yeah I think this has to rule out a Pargo return. Either that, or there's a trade to Phoenix lurking. Chandler and Collison for Wallace and whoever they picked?
#11
Mark
06/25/09 09:07 PM
Uhh... Blair? Young? I thought these two were very esteemed coming into the draft.
www.dogpile.com/ #12
johnny_utah
06/25/09 09:20 PM
If only we had an early 2nd round pick.
#13
joe
06/25/09 09:21 PM
I'm just waitin for us to trade the pick for two second rounders (aka Thornton and blair amazing that he fell this far) this is unbelivable that the hornets could find a way to draft for a non-need on a team that has so many needs
#14
Mark
06/25/09 09:21 PM
247's twitter says Bower/management are a little busy. Could we be trying to rectify this Blair freefall situation with a second rounder?
Maybe everybody's waiting for second round so he's not guaranteed, injuries and all.
www.dogpile.com/ #15
Terence
06/25/09 09:25 PM
i been following this website for a LONG time, huge hornets fan.. and needless 2 say,, i was very dissapointed with this pick. Bower had bust pull a "superstar out of the hat" manuever.
#16
Mark
06/25/09 09:26 PM
Come on management: Trade! Trade! Trade!
www.dogpile.com/ #17
Mark
06/25/09 09:28 PM
Blazers and Pistons with two so-so position second round picks. Let's see where the chips fall...
www.dogpile.com/ #18
joe
06/25/09 09:28 PM
Is anyone happy with this pick? Be serious did anyone say man if we get Darren collison were over the top? God all we had to do was select Blair or Thornton and i'd be happy
#19
urgmasdaughter
06/25/09 09:40 PM
Absolutely not Collison was on NO ONE'S board. If they don't trade up here there better be a major overhaul through free agency
#20
johnny_utah
06/25/09 09:47 PM
Not at all. I remembered Ryan comparing him to Steve Blake and it hit me. I think I've lost faith in the Hornet's management, not to be theatrical or anything, but it was said by someone on here not long ago, you never see the Hornet's pull that sweet deal that gets you really excited.
#21
bigindian15
06/25/09 09:48 PM
This is ridiculous. What the hell happened in Pittsburgh this year that the gm's know that we don't?
Collison was a decent pick. I'd be perfectly fine with it if Blair wasn't on the board, but I'll be really happy if we trade back in to get Blair or Young...or Thornton...or, better yet, all 3! lol
#22
Niall Doherty
06/25/09 09:48 PM
Ryan had Collison ranked behind Lawson, Teague and Maynor. Check this post:
http://www.hornets247.com/blog/2009/06/19/deep-list-of-guard-prospects-may-fill-a-hornets-need
I'm underwhelmed by the pick. I don't think Collison will make much of a difference, hope I'm wrong.
Still waiting on Bower here at the Alario Center. Chad Shinn's in the house too.
www.ndoherty.com #23
bigindian15
06/25/09 09:50 PM
Also, this clearly means trades are coming. Now Daniels and his contract are expendable, and that's a valuable trade piece with the way the other trades are going.
DAMN Memphis just took Young.
Anyway, we probably won't get Pargo now though, but hey, that's just more cap room to sign someone lol
#24
bigindian15
06/25/09 09:51 PM
NOOOOOOOO Spurs just got Blair. Just shoot me next time
#25
joe
06/25/09 09:53 PM
Blair gone . . . . To the spurs, thanks alot hornets management just get me thornton and then maybei can start to forgive you for messing up this future season
#26
Mark
06/25/09 10:01 PM
It's alright guys, we still have Devin Brown.
www.dogpile.com/ #27
winze
06/25/09 10:02 PM
LOL!!!!!!!
#28
winze
06/25/09 10:06 PM
i have been supporting the hornets since their days in Charlotte, been reading this site for a long time as well. Great for someone not in the US, having this all in one source of Hornets matters, thanks guys :)
Listening to the draft on ESPN Radio and i am shocked at this pick.... what is going on, still have hopes for some trade or something out of the blue.... i feel really bad for Thornton... the guy looked so hopeful and really looks like he wants to play for the Hornets (a desire which half our guys this year who are being PAID TO DO don't seem to share)....
Maybe we can change DEVIN BROWN into a 2nd round pick LOL....... gawd MEEKS is still on the board as well wth....
I will fall off my chair if we could pull off and get someone like Thornton and Meeks in 2nd round together.
Can anyone explain how it works with someone who isn't drafted but has an agent? How do teams go about signing them up?
#29
joe
06/25/09 10:06 PM
@mark
that makes me feel so much better thank you
#30
BeesGivingEffort
06/25/09 10:06 PM
i am so pissed right now. so pissed.
#31
winze
06/25/09 10:06 PM
Meeks just went.....
#32
bigindian15
06/25/09 10:10 PM
I'm not gonna say I'm happy about this pick, but it really could have been worse. We could have picked Mullens or one of these random Congolese guys who won't ever be in the NBA because they're "stashed away" for "two years." At least Collison is a good, proven prospect who fits a legit need.
Also, I really think there was something about Blair that we don't know. Other teams that could have used him, like Portland, Chicago, Sacramento, et al. had multiple shots at him and passed each time.
#33
winze
06/25/09 10:12 PM
...........................................
Thornton just went to Miami..........
i am going to die under my desk now
#34
joe
06/25/09 10:12 PM
Thorntons gone man I'm done . . . Go thunder (joking but not as much as you think)
#35
Mark
06/25/09 10:13 PM
winze: Don't quote me on this, but I think as long as they're not in the first round, they're never guaranteed a contract. So you can sign them whenever you want after the draft if they're still on the market, or if the drafting team does not agree on a contract. However, if the player decides on an agent, they no longer have the ability to go to NCAA basketball.
@ joe: Glad to help :)
www.dogpile.com/ #36
winze
06/25/09 10:13 PM
i'm just about ready to say trade the whole team except Chris Paul and reset!!!!
#37
winze
06/25/09 10:16 PM
thanks Mark
Thornton just went though, so i'm waiting for an explanation now from Bower and Shinn on what they are thinking
#38
lilrip133
06/25/09 10:18 PM
what a craptastic draft pick... maybe we could dump devin brown, get a second round pick, and still patti mills while he's still there.
and i dont think there's anything we dont know about blair that kept him from getting picked earlier. i think it was the simple fact that he's "undersized". blair, mills, and young all on the board and we take collison? ugh...
#39
benreed1088
06/25/09 10:24 PM
I am about to go to sleep and im really hoping that when i wake up we make a trade or do something so i can wake up and enjoy tomorrow and not wake up and realize that this wasnt just a nightmare
#40
joe
06/25/09 10:24 PM
@Lilrip133:
don't forget Thornton he was also available
#41
winze
06/25/09 10:25 PM
maybe Devin Brown can change into the guy Piston got in the 2nd round Derrick Brown :P
we'll just call it a typo and pretend his gone
#42
Ryan Schwan
06/25/09 10:25 PM
Hey guys - just wanted to weigh in while I have a moment.
I'm not terribly upset by the Collison Pick. Neither am I excited about it. I would have preferred DeJuan Blair or Thornton - though the fact that Blair fell so far really makes me wonder what was in that report about his knees.
Of course, the fact Blair was then taken by the Spurs makes me what to beat my head on the wall.
I'm feeling a bit ho-hum.
www.hornets247.com #43
winze
06/25/09 10:27 PM
Detroit has a crapload of Rookies at the moment, maybe we can make something happen with them
#44
winze
06/25/09 10:28 PM
well if the reports on blair really are that bad maybe Timmy can give him advice on how to manager your knees
#45
bigindian15
06/25/09 10:35 PM
The report on Blair is that he literally does not have ACL's anymore after surgeries on both knees in high school. Couple that with his being undersized and having to play against guys that are all as big or bigger than him, plus his alleged weight problem which he has only recently kicked (always a danger sign, see Traylor, Robert), and you have the Hornets drafting Collison. Really, you're all acting like they just drafted Kwame Brown (or Devin Brown) or something. Collison will legitimately be able to help right away and spell CP so he hopefully won't have to play 45 minutes per game this year, and maybe we could even have the Pargo-CP chemistry again for half the price
#46
Ryan Schwan
06/25/09 10:37 PM
Yes! The Hornets just acquired Marcus Thornton for two future draft picks.
Yes! Now I'm good.
www.hornets247.com #47
lilrip133
06/25/09 10:37 PM
@ joe:
o yeah AND thornton. man we screwed this draft royally, just like we did last year. im just praying we trade collison for something respectable, then dump brown for a 2nd round pick and snag patti mills. ugh, i may as well just go to sleep and pray for good news in the morning
#48
benreed1088
06/25/09 10:38 PM
YES!!!
#49
bigindian15
06/25/09 10:39 PM
Man, this same time next year we're gonna be begging to trade into the second round to grab someone who fell because we traded the pick this year lol
#50
lilrip133
06/25/09 10:39 PM
sweet! ok i feel SLIGHTLY better. but why the heck didnt we just get him in the first place and not waste our future? the staff is RETARDED
#51
winze
06/25/09 10:40 PM
i guess the problem is there were bigger needs than a backup point guard based on reports leading up to the draft.
it just seems like they are "hoping" everyone is fully fit and they drafted a backup for CP3. Thing is we STILL do not have a legit starting shooting guard, Rasual for all the props given to him this year is a bench player at best. Mo is in the doghouse, and we have no bigmen on our bench that should even be in the NBA other than Marks.
Only rationale i can see to this is that our roster is LOADED with wings and drafting another one will just lead to nothing.
Positives i can see after thinking this through is AD's contract just became a 6 mil trading chip that could go a long way to getting us what we need.
Could we take a shot at Gortat? now that Orlando just took on more salary with Carter trade?
#52
winze
06/25/09 10:40 PM
OMGOMGOMG ok i am a believer again :P
#53
winze
06/25/09 10:42 PM
backup for CP + Thornton...... wow..... i hang my head in shame, that is not a bad deal at all
as for future picks, well we hope that Hornets during the CP3 era will NEVER be a lottery team so the picks will never be worth that much
but omgomgomgomgomg
#54
Niall Doherty
06/25/09 10:51 PM
Does anyone know if the future picks we gave up for Thornton are first or second round? If even one of them is a first round pick, then we just spent it on a guy that was passed up 42 times in a mediocre draft class. That wouldn't make sense to me.
They have to be second round picks we traded, right?
www.ndoherty.com #55
winze
06/25/09 10:57 PM
2nd rounders Niall according to ESPN
• The Miami Heat traded the rights to No. 43 pick Marcus Thornton to the New Orleans Hornets for two future second-round picks.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/news/story?id=4287786
#56
Niall Doherty
06/25/09 10:58 PM
Nevermind, got the word on Twitter. Good news:
RT @hornetsdotcom The Hornets have traded their second round picks for 2010 and 2012 for the draft rights to Marcus Thornton!
www.ndoherty.com #57
BeesGivingEffort
06/25/09 10:59 PM
Just went from mega pissed to super excited. Two future 2nds for marcus is a steal. Thanks Miami. My faith is restored in Hornets management momentarily.
#58
joe
06/25/09 10:59 PM
@bigindian15: remember that for next year and bring it up during the second round because I agree 100%
thank you hornet staff for getting Thornton but if we picked Blair with the first and traded for Thornton while signing pargo back we couldve had a much better bench
don't get me wrong I want to beleive in Darren collison so let's just cross our fingers and hope he becomes our version of mario chalmers
#59
winze
06/25/09 11:01 PM
Same, i went from pissed to happy once i saw the Thornton news. The fact that we got CP a back up as well is a nice turnout from this draft.
#60
Niall Doherty
06/25/09 11:21 PM
Hey, thanks for all the comments tonight, everyone. Felt like game day!
www.ndoherty.com #61