Reel Access | Laying The Foundation

Reel Access | Laying The Foundation

[Music] I love this guy. Anytime you’re trying to build something special or build something great, it takes time. There you go. It’s no different if you’re building a house, right? You want to lay the foundation. So, right now, we have to make a decision. If you skip steps in, inevitably you’re not true to, you know, what your goals are, what you wanted to commit to in the first place. There’s like a I’d say 70 80% chance it gets moved. You may have short-term success by doing that, but again, we’re in it for the long game. Look, there’s going to be a time though that we cash in. We take all of our chips, assets, whatever it is, and we say we’re going to go get that guy. We’re ready to do that deal, right? That’s all he has to do right there. Yeah. So, that’s going to happen at some point. But again, I think right now, we have to stay uh very committed to our process. That’s how it gets there. We just don’t know. But to do that, you got to lay the foundation with with winners. Again, I will double down on we we’re not going to expedite anything. We’re not going to skip steps. I think there’s uh plenty of examples that we’ve seen around the league and other sports uh teams and franchises that when you try to try to skip steps and go too fast, that’s when big mistakes end up happening. We’re going to be patient, uh, diligent, opportunistic, very strategic in terms of how we build it. [Music] We’ll find out the order of the top four picks in the 2025 NBA draft. [Music] The fourth pick in the NBA draft goes to the Charlotte Hornets. All smiles. Know a lot of people when they come sit up here have something lucky. I’m surprised but but you’re going to a very very kind of built team already. That’s pretty unusual for for what I actually joined Kyrie Iring and Dallas together is one of them. Hey, reminding you that my draft I personally enjoy the combine more than anything because that’s when we first get to interact with the players one-on-one. When I got to Duke, I just wanted to play. I wanted toffect affect games, get on the court, and then once I realized I was going to have a big role, I knew something like this was a possibility. Prior to seeing them at the combine, we do a ton of background work talking to people in their circles and figuring out who they are as people, what they like, what they don’t like. I think what is most helpful for us is, you know, going back to the intel that we do on these guys. We do a lot of work on them and so when we walk in the room um to interview them, we feel like we know who they are, but to be able to sit across from them and confirm the work that we’ve gathered is always very comforting. Yeah, we got to spend time with Liam in Chicago, which again was very instructive, really helpful. Our scouting staff does a fantastic job of gathering intel on these individuals. And so we walked into that room feeling like we knew Liam, but walked away uh very comforted in that we what we what we knew about him was confirmed. Joe Tim, nice to meet you. Nice to meet you, Jeff. Nice to meet you, man. We really enjoyed watching you, not only this season, but even going back to high school as well. So to spend some time with you and get to know you a little bit is uh it’s really cool. Thank you for doing this with me. Living the journey. There’s an addiction to getting better and progress that keeps you in the gym because when you’re in the gym, you’re going to get better and keep getting reps and reps build confidence and it’s all an equation to get better. I can help the team in many different ways regardless of the system that I’m in. So, whatever team I’m blessed to be part of, I will do whatever it takes to make a immediate impact on winning. My intensity and my love for the game and the heart that I play with, I think that’s irreplaceable. One of the biggest things that we’ve tried to do is is change the culture. We talk a lot about like Hornets’s DNA and what the characteristics of Hornets’s DNA looks like. Before we start every film session, it’s the first slide and it lays out, you know, love and gratitude, consistent competitors, humble confidence, obsessed with daily improvement. So, like to hear you say some of these things just as you casually speak. We try to live that. It’s a lifestyle. Fantastic individual, extremely hard worker, someone that’s going to maximize himself as a player and someone who wants to be great. So, we feel really, really good about Liam and what he’s going to bring to our organization off the court um and on the court as well. [Music] The draft workouts, they range from anywhere from one’s to six players total in in the market. So, maybe three on threes. You know, it’s a chance to get to see them compete in a different setting. Another data point. Um it is a small sample, right? you get them on the floor for 60 minutes, 75 minutes. It’s instructive. You get to put them through things that maybe you want to test them on specifically. Um, so it is super, it’s super helpful, it is important. Um, but it is a small sample. Well, as a player, obviously being 7footer, I’m big rim protector. Um, you know, I I like to communicate a lot on defense, being the defensive anchor for my team. That’s what I take a lot of pride in. My offensive game is improved a lot since my freshman year, but I take a lot of pride in defense. That’s that’s kind of who I am and what I what I hang my hat on. Yeah, I’m a versatile player who can do a little bit of everything. Bring everything for you. I’ll always bring the physicality on both ends of the floor. I like getting to the paint and finishing and making plays for my teammates. Try to keep mistakes to a minimum and just make the right play for everyone. Uh, another very very good data point in in the draft workouts is just typically it’s the first time our our coaches get to see them and interact with them. So, of course during the the NBA season, it’s hard for the coaches to watch these guys uh cuz they’re so consumed with, you know, the NBA and and the Hornets and trying to make us better, but it’s the first time that they get to again truly get to engage with the draft prospects and coach them for, you know, for an hour or two and and see what it would like to be, you know, if they were part of the Hornets. I’ve been here a couple times. You been a couple. Okay. So, yeah. My uh my uncle refed the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Oh, okay. Early in the season, so he got us tickets. So, I came down here with one of my teammates last year. Oh, man. in the fall. Yeah. All righty. So, you [Music] crucial part of the process. Coming into the workout, he had been dealing with a bit of a ankle sprain. Um, you know, we actually gave him the out to to not, hey, listen, we’ve seen you play. If you just want to go to dinner. Um, but this speaks to who he is. He’s like, no, I’m playing. I’m working out. I want to do it. Um, I’m I’m going to get through it. And and he did. He was very impressive. Good to see you. It wasn’t too bad, was it? No, not at all. Good. Um, well, we’re excited to have you, man. I know a lot of eyes in here, but just try to black it out and just you and these coaches and gonna have a great workout, great time. Um, we’re here for you, so whatever you need throughout this process, just ask questions. Everyone in here has been been uh been through plenty of these workouts. I know this is your first one, but you’ll have a great one. All right, sweet. Break down here. What you got for us, Kyle? On you. Our workout three. One, two, three. [Music] You know, I think one of the thing we didn’t need to see if he can shoot the ball or not, right? We know he can shoot. Um, and he did shoot it very well in the workout. Those workouts are really difficult. Um, you know, I think some people think they may be easier cuz you’re not on the floor um with other people and you’re by yourself. You’re not competing against anybody. There you go. [Applause] But to to do those one-on-one workouts, it’s it’s you don’t get we don’t really get any breaks. You have these coaches who are really pushing you and they’re being physical and putting you in situations that you’re not used to because again, we’ve we’ve watched these players throughout their entire careers. And um we want to really maximize that time while they’re here. And so we we we have them do things we’ll have them do things we know that they’re they’re good at, but we also really push them in areas where we want to see, you know, what they can do um if they can get to this level down the road. at some point to see him get through some screens. I got some sort of variation before. John did one spin. He knew John was going to spin and then there you go. There you go. [Applause] He’s pissed. [Applause] Hello. You get a lift in. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Everything right. Hey, even your pres even your presence right now like this means a lot to me right there. Like that’s what you link right. Thank you. Um but like even the one that was interesting to me was like Kimble beat him. Yep. And instead of like sitting here pouting holding your head down or something like he kept competing and still try to get a block on the shot. 100%. No, no, no. That he’s so hard on himself which is exactly what you want. You know he cares. He cares to the highest level. We were getting physical with him and and maybe he was a bit fatigued, but you saw the fight, you saw the competitiveness. Um, and we think that’s what he’s going to bring every single day to the Hornets. Character, man, IQ just raises all that to even Bryce was saying how quick he picked things like when they said put an early high hand, he was able to all of a sudden do that. Adjust to it. The coaches said he can really shoot off the dribble. It’s just something that they didn’t have him do a ton of. So, he could play a game right now. 100%. 100%. That’s all he has to do right there. Good job, that was perfect. Good day. Just to see him push through and the grit that he has and um his perseverance, you know, just it it really stood out and after the workout, it it gave us all just a sense of relief and happiness and just more even more conviction that that he’s our guy. No, just appreciate you coming out. Obviously, I’ve enjoyed watching you play throughout your entire career to this point. So to have you here in our gym with our our organization is is great. So um you’ll get you’ll watch film with Coach Lee, uh Jeff, Coach Lee and I will take you to dinner later and we’ll spend more time together. But appreciate you fighting through. Appreciate you getting after it. It was great to get you here. So thank you. Y no problem. Let’s break it down. Break it down. What you got, boys? Sleep on three. Hard work. Yeah. Hard work on three. One, two, three. Come on. I can’t even think no more. Good boy. Love it. You killed it. Good work. How’s it going? I got Con right here. Good. How you doing, brother? Good. Feeling good now? Yeah, feel good. Yes. Good. Lunch right here for you. Sweet. Yes. Feel free to eat. Want to sit here? You can you can sit right there. That’s great. Um, as you kind of get yourself situated and stuff, what did you think of the workout today? How many other workouts have you had so far? What is that like intensity today compared to the other ones you’ve had? Yeah, I This is the first one. Oh, this is the first one? Yeah. So, know what to expect, but I uh I wanted it to be hard. So, I’m glad it was cuz I felt like that would be a good a good thing for me. Good. I didn’t feel like I did my best, but it was fun to be out there. I have a feeling when I watch you play and after interviewing you, you’re probably pretty you’re your hardest critic. Fair to say probably. But this is like really good understanding and like as we continue to talking that first step is a little bit of a where I’m like pushing out with my left foot. Like if you see look at my left foot something I see a lot and why am I pushing out my left foot there instead of pushing out with the right foot? Cut them off right away. your ability to shoot. You’re going to draw bigs up the floor. Yes. Exactly. And your nose be on his shoulder. I know my nose on your shoulder. I’m square. You’re going to keep trying to go this way. Like what can you be doing better? Trying to follow. Just get in front of him quick. So I’m wing. That’s the physicality. Come out. Well, I’m letting you I’m letting this I’m letting you let this fly next year. service just how would you describe yourself as a player? Yeah, I just think first and foremost uh competitiveness is big. You know, I want to go out there and I want to win and I think that’s the most important thing. Obviously a good shooter um but willing to affect the game in in other ways whether it’s defensively or offensively with the ball. Um just do a little bit of everything. Again, I think what’s most important is spending time with them. what interests them, their families, um their goals, their hopes, dreams, like those things are are really fun for us and and really help us um determine if that those individuals will fit within our locker room. You know, you don’t get to this point um as an NBA prospect if you aren’t a good player. All these guys are talented. What separates them is their mindset, the way they go about their work and their approach. What do you like off the court? You know, I’m probably would be described as chill, like to relax. Um big big time movie watcher. Um, I’ve been getting into some other some other hobbies, Legos and stuff like that as as I’ve been uh encouraged by other other teammates to find some stuff like that. It was it was a great dinner. Uh, we had a good time. Just easy easy conversation. But after that dinner, we knew that that uh you know, assuming he didn’t go before us, that there was a really good chance that he would be a Charlotte Hornet. [Music] It really comes down to how aggressive any decision that that I make or that we make as an organization. We want to be extremely diligent. At the same time, we know we’re going to have to take some risks. Uh but again, we know some of our non-negotiables, so we like to flush that out during the during the draft process. Uh everyone, because obviously we’re role playing, just you know your role for the night. So, we’ve simulated so many different iterations of what could happen, what’s going to happen. If this happens, this is how we’re going to do. So, how do we rank these three things? Clearly, this is above that because we did that. Yeah. Would you rather one, two, three? Is this so much better upside that we would live with this acceptable outcome and turn that down is my question. Essentially, we’ve practiced before, you know, and and then when the the the moment comes up, we’re ready to roll cuz we’ve already we’ve had so many reps of of going through it already. Roll on the clock. How are we feeling when you go to bed on Liam McN? Guys, this could happen. So, what do we like this? Not like this. Yeah, I’d probably do it. It’s riskier. Yeah. Porn DNA through and through. I’d consider it, but I’d ultimately meet an outright person. I I just want us to be prepared. So, if you know, the more that we can um kind of go through those uncomfortable moments before the draft hits, you know, then again, we’re essentially prepared for anything that may be thrown our way on the clock. This [Music] just making sure we are all aligned. There’s so much optionality there. I think you have to to do that deal. Like so we can’t just get caught up in making tons of deals and then you end up trading down and you get an asset that like is just not a question mark. We need to start to fill in some spots but at some you know there is a price you do things. So we’re ready to do it after you. Everyone looks at obviously the top three or top four guys but I I definitely think it’s a very deep draft the back end of the first round second round picks. There’s a lot of good players in this draft. But there’s a lot of talk out there that there are teams looking to move up possibly to four with Charlotte. I spoke with Jeff Peterson, the president of basketball operations for the Hornets. He said, “We’re having that discussion right now. We are open to talking to teams and seeing what’s out there for us. got to win the day. You know, I I don’t necessarily feel the pressure in the moment. Here we go. I think it just kind of goes back to we’ve done the work already. We’re already prepared. I think sometimes when you look too far ahead, you lose sight of what’s in front of you. And at the end of the day, we just got to trust our process and have some conviction. [Music] [Music] Hey, VJ is selected. You have 5 minutes. You’re on the clock. Okay. Thank you. You know, you do a lot of work as a group. Um, you spend a lot of time thinking about this. You go back and forth. Any decision that that I make or that we make as an organization. Yes, we want to be extremely diligent. At the same time, we know we’re going to have to take some risks. You know, a week before the draft, you’re thinking one thing. The next week, you’re thinking another thing. I think we ultimately just lean on our work. And once the draft starts, we feel really good about the work we’ve done and the decisions we make. I love this guy. I love this. But we always, again, we go back to Hornets’s DNA. And if they check those boxes, they possess those character traits. We’re going to bet on that every single day of the week. We said this is what we’re about. And this kid, let’s get ready to make our pick, fellas. Great. It’s a great pick. Great. Best shooter. Smartest kid. This is perfect. This play out. I’m gonna have Cliff do it. Okay. Does he know? No. Surprising. That’s sick. Yeah. Got our guy. Yep. Got our guy. Horn is there on the clock right now. They have the number four pick. They have multiple picks over the course of the next couple of days. Thank you. You got to make this pick for us. Come on. All right. We got it done. You got him. Yep. Beautiful. Yep. Beautiful. With the fourth pick in the 2025 NBA draft, the Charlotte Hornets select Khan Canipple University. Ah, just unbelievable. Super exciting. Your legacy lives on. You know, a little nervous uh ending in the night, but you know, being out there with my family uh was special. special time. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience and glad it wasn’t a long wait. So happy, man. Love you, bro. Oh, bro, I was so lit. That’s what she said. That’s funny. There’s no way. That was crazy, Connie. FaceTiming. We got the whole room here. Oh, let’s go. Let’s go. Oh, man. We’re excited to have you, man. Excited to have you. Oh, man. Excited. Excited that that you guys picked me, man. So happy. We’re gonna do some special things, man. You’re going to help change this place around. I’m I’mma hand you to Charles real quick. Okay. All right. Sounds great. You guess who just text me? Andy Dalton. Your Andy Dalton did. Yes, sir. We setting up the tennis match. What’s up, coach? How you doing, man? Oh, man. I’m doing great. I’m doing great. You enjoying the day with your family? Night with your family? Yeah. Special stuff. Special stuff. Well, welld deserved. You were highly impressive when you came through here and I just know how excited I am to get you with our group and our organization and you’re going to do great things, man. So, look forward to getting you here soon. Yeah. Can’t wait. Can’t wait to get to work. All right. See you soon. Yep. See you. Oh, man. That’s big time. Con two of two of Khan’s brothers have tournaments in Charlotte tomorrow. They’re flying here. Let’s go. I love it. Are you going? No, we got to got to drag. Are you going? He’s going. as you said, a quick celebration, but at the same time, the game’s still going on. I I just want to give you a heads up, Mark’s Mark, there’s like a I’d say 70 80% chance he gets moved as of right now. Trades aren’t the easiest to execute. Obviously, takes two sides to to ultimately come to an agreement. I’m pretty sure it’s going to happen. Yes, we were having some dialogue on on some of these trade talks and and conversations. So, we had a general sense of what could happen if we were to make the trade. 29 29 29. Now, the thing is, of course, you don’t know who’s going to be there in the draft. If we were to get back in like we did, you know, that kind of opens up another dialogue and another conversation of, okay, we’re going to execute this trade, then who are we, you know, who’s going to be the next hornet. So, right now, we have to make a decision. We got to we have to take Liam like we’ve we’ve put in this work. You know, we did have some some decisions to make uh some potential opportunities that maybe would have cut against the goals. We traded Mark Williams for Liam McNeely and a future first young player. No first. Yeah. And I just want to give credit to our group for staying disciplined um and and able to to execute our process. Yeah, we have to trust the process. I I agree. Yeah, we’re going to get it done. Cooper one. All right. All right. We felt like it was a very good deal for us and we were able still to, you know, with that pick, able to draft Liam, who uh quite frankly, we were very surprised that he was still on the board at that point cuz we had him ranked ranked really high. Um, so yeah, it it worked out at this point. And some, as Fanta pointed out, some big names still available. Adam Silver making his way to the podium with the 29th pick in the 2025 NBA draft. The Phoenix Suns select Liam McNeely from the University of Connecticut. I mean, this is a dream come true. I’m so grateful to to the Charlotte Hornet staff. I mean, I’m going to fall in love with the fans. I hope the fans fall in love with me. And uh I’m just a winner. I’m I’m going to try to win every time I can. What’s up, Leo? Got the hat on. Happy to have you, man. We’re excited you’re part of the family. Yeah. I just want to say thank you. I’m I’m so grateful and blessed. Um and you’re getting you’re getting the hardest worker you’re ever going to draft. I promise you that. I know it. Tell Tell your grandpa I said what’s up. All right. Yes, sir. I will. Can’t wait to meet the man. Welcome. You almost had me emotional out there tonight, too. You know, I I was trying to hold it together. But uh No, it’s a it’s a great moment. Welld deserved. Can’t wait to get you here. I appreciate it, man. Yeah, it’s funny. Um I woke up at 3:00 a.m. in the morning and I was thinking to myself, I feel really good about this draft. Not only because of the players that we got, but the human beings that we got. Call this. You’re on the clock. Great. Thanks. It’s actually kind of the benefit of having a two-day draft now. You get to kind of reset, see who else’s on the board, and then if so and so’s there and we get this offer, what are we doing? All right, we’re taking Seion James Duke. Oh, I love that mature competitor. I felt really good about the plan that we had going into the draft on the second night. Ultimately, we decided that, you know, we wanted to take those two guys. Pick is Ryan Calder. We’re going to have an incredible league team ever. And then Seion as well, you know, again, us scouting him at two lane, him being able to make the jump to Duke, assimilate, and and have a a real impact on that team. You know, I I think he’s a guy that is going to do whatever he can to to help the team win. [Applause] I mean, Ryan, look, four-time defensive player of the year in the Big East. You don’t win that award if you don’t play hard. You know, the intangibles, high IQ, really building something special and I think these four individuals that we brought in this year are going to be core to that going forward. Uh we’re just going to keep chipping away at it day after day, decision after decision. Um but these four guys are are a step in the right direction. Time will tell. Time will tell. One more one more. 1 2 3 Yeah, I think Jeff said it best. Um, we believe strongly that in order to have sustained success, you need to have a strong foundation. We believe these four players that we picked today will help us continue to build on that foundation. I love to win, but I hate losing. It bothers me more than anything. Um, and I know that’s how these four guys are wired as well. It’s going to burn when we lose. Great color. It looks good on us. Con bringing in high character guys that are about the right things, about playing together, about winning. Um, you know, it’s it’s going to take some time and and we’re all here and I I think bought in to be able to do that. But yeah, like Con said, I’m I’m super bought in and ready to give everything I have to this program. It’s twofold. One, it’s, you know, free agency is right around the corner. Um, but from a draft perspective, you close the book on 2025. You know, we’ll debrief on it as a group. You know, what do we feel we did well? What can we do better to improve going forward? And then you think about 2026. So, we’re, you know, whether it’s it’s me, it’s Jeff, it’s our our scouting staff, our amateur scouting staff, we’re we’re all thinking about 2026 now and those prospects and what that could look like. So, it’s just it’s on to the next

To build something great, it’s going to take time.
The Hornets know there is no skipping steps, as they showed in the 2025 NBA Draft and continued Laying the Foundation!

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