The draft was moving along as if the Charlotte Hornets had scripted it. Willie Cauley-Stein went early so somebody else had to go late. You know who was out there with only one team between him and the Hornets?
Justise Winslow of Duke was.
The Hornets drafted ninth, and if Winslow fell to them, he would be a gift. He’s tall, fast and selfless, plays very good defense, can go to the basket and hit from distance. Sure, he’s a small forward, and in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Charlotte has a good one. But the NBA is not about positions. It’s about talent. Winslow, who helped lead Duke to the NCAA championship, has it.
I ripped general manager Rich Cho in a column Thursday. But if Winslow fell to Charlotte, nobody could rip this pick. And he did fall. The Pistons inexplicably decided to take Stanley Johnson.
So go to the bench, Nicolas Batum. The Hornets have their man.
I left the press room at Time Warner Cable Arena to feel the excitement from fans. Oh, were fans excited. They tittered like kids. Commissioner Adam Silver walked to the lectern and announced that with the ninth pick the Hornets selected – Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky.
Thus did the excitement end. Fans were shocked and sad and really angry.
Miami took Winslow with the 10th pick. It’s almost as if Miami president Pat Riley knows what he’s doing.
I’m perplexed. No, that’s not true. I’m shocked. I fail to understand Charlotte’s rationale.
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