We weren’t in love with the Charlotte Hornets’ decision to draft Frank Kaminsky ninth overall. Not only does the former Wisconsin star possess a ceiling lower than most mid-lottery picks, but Justise Winslow’s draft night slip gave Charlotte the surprising opportunity to add a borderline elite prospect, too.
Michael Jordan stuck to his guns and brought in Kaminsky, though, a player he targeted long before the draft officially got underway on Thursday night. And as more details emerge surrounding context of the Hornets’ decision, it becomes less and less defensible.
ESPN’s Chris Forsberg writes that the Boston Celtics offered a whopping six(!) draft picks to Charlotte in exchange for the No. 9 choice before Jordan and company ultimately selected Kaminsky.
According to sources, the Celtics’ final offer to the Hornets was a package featuring as many as six draft picks, including four potential first-round selections (a combination of picks from this draft and in the future). But the Hornets could not be swayed and turned down multiple offers to select Wisconsin center Frank Kaminsky.
It was reported weeks ago that Danny Ainge sought to package his team’s pair of 2015 first-rounders with future assets to move into the lottery. Though ESPN didn’t specify exactly which picks were among the six(!) offered to the Hornets, it’s safe to assume both the 16th and 28th choices in last night’s draft were included.
And according to Jay King of MassLive.com, Charlotte could have had Boston’s prized unprotected 2018 first-rounder from the Brooklyn Nets, too.
According to a source inside the Celtics front office, the team targeted Justise Winslow as high as No. 4, and tried to grab him again when he was still available at No. 9. But a major offer loaded with draft picks – Ainge hinted it might have included at least one of Brooklyn’s future unprotected first-rounders – wasn’t enough to get the Charlotte Hornets to pass on the opportunity to draft Frank Kaminsky.
Ainge essentially admitted as much after the draft. Speaking of the Hornets indirectly, he said, “I think they may end up regretting not doing it.”
Well, yeah. Trading No. 9 for just Nos. 16 and 28 only would have been understandable for Charlotte. That Jordan turned down a deal involving two additional first-round picks, one of which is completely unprotected and owned by a fledgling franchise, is an absolutely puzzling and indefensible error.
Kaminsky could be a valuable contributor for the Hornets next season, and certainly has the skill-set to emerge as an impactful third big man over the long-haul. But barring the 22-year-old developing into the All-Star he’s highly unlikely to become, he’ll never be worth what Charlotte opted against taking from Boston to get him.
[Via ESPN, via MassLive.com]
