When a team loves a player and they are locked-in, there may be nothing that sways their opinion on ‘their guy’. The Charlotte Hornets had ‘their guy’ and that was Wisconsin big man Frank Kaminsky at the 9th pick.
While Hornets GM Rich Cho thought there would be a lot of movement on draft night, he decided not to be one of the GM’s to make a deal. He did make some moves earlier in the week to bring in some new talent so he might have been set on taking his guy in Kaminsky.
As the draft went along, some guys went higher than expected but there was one prospect that fell far from where he was projected to go by many people.
Duke wing Justise Winslow had been projected by some to go as high as four but he fell past four. Fell past five, six, seven and eight and there he was at nine with the Charlotte Hornets ready to take him and the Miami Heat at 10 licking their chops ready for Winslow to fall in their hands.
Charlotte had their guy and it was Kaminsky but how much did Charlotte love Kaminsky? It appears he might have been worth six draft picks, including four first round picks.
Following from Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com.
The Celtics made a strong final push to multiple teams in spots 4-9 on draft day. It culminated with an all-in effort in attempt to get Charlotte to deliver the No. 9 pick with Boston lusting for Duke forward Justise Winslow (the same player it coveted while trying to shuffle higher).
According to sources, the Celtics’ final offer to the Hornets was a package that could have featured 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.
Meeting with reporters in the aftermath of the draft, Ainge hinted at his team’s dogged pursuit. “Maybe we were going too hard at it,” he said. “There was a time when I thought, ‘Woah, this is getting a little out of control.’ We’re putting a lot of eggs in one young player’s basket. So I’m not frustrated. In the long run, maybe it’ll be the best.”
If the Hornets did this, they still could have ended up with a talented player but most likely not Kaminsky, who actually seems like a confusing choice. They traded for Spencer Hawes earlier in the week, so they have a stretch big man who can shoot but still, they take Kaminsky, a stretch big who can shoot.
Now Winslow is in Miami, a steal for the Heat, and the Celtics ended up with Terry Rozier and R.J. Hunter, another two guards added to the Celtics bringing their total guard number to six right now.
Who knows what could have been but we do know that the Hornets love Frank Kaminsky so get ready to see a lot of him.
