(Re-posted with permission from the St. Paul Pioneer Press.)
ST. PAUL — The Minnesnowta Chill sent a representative to the COMO Draft Lottery as a formality. The Chill had technically traded away their 2020 first-round pick as part of a deal for DeAndre Jordan in December. But GM Matthew Taylor made sure to slap a protection on the pick on the off chance that (1) his team made the lottery and (2) his team won said lottery with an 8-to-1 ticket. So, with that 12.5 percent chance hanging in the air, 'Snowta was present. If only they would've brought champagne. A dramatic lottery reveal came down to Chaska and St. Louis for the second straight year. In 2019, Chaska earned the right to take Zion Williamson in a controversial ending. This time, Chaska was selected for the No. 2 slot, which would normally be cause for celebration in St. Louis; however, the lottery victory was actually a win for Minnesnowta, and instead of holding a prime pick this season, the Hornets must take another spin of the wheel with Snowta's (unprotected) pick next summer. "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME," wrote GM Aaron Connolly. "IT HAPPENED AGAIN." (St. Louis did, however, come away with the No. 5 overall pick thanks to their own lottery slip. And the Hornets still own a total of five picks in 2020.) This is not a particularly exciting draft class, but Minnesnowta will have some good options at the No. 1 slot—and maybe even an opportunity to trade the pick if another franchise is enamored with LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman, Anthony Edwards, or another player. Here is the official order of the 2020 COMO Draft, which will be held the morning of Sat., Dec. 5 on Twitter @COMOLeague.
*Lottery pick
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ST. LOUIS — The Gateway to the West just sucked a COMO team back out. Months after the NFL's St. Louis Rams picked up and moved to the Los Angeles area, Hollywood Hornets owner Aaron Connolly-Nutting decided to move his basketball franchise to the Midwest as a replacement. The Hornets spent three seasons in Hollywood; two under the leadership of Curt Clauss, and one under Connolly-Nutting. After a playoff run in 2013-2014, the team has failed to reach the postseason in each of the past two years. Connolly-Nutting has been pursuing a move for roughly a year, with Washington, D.C., and Milwaukee both emerging as candidates. But St. Louis was the final choice, and ownership decided to keep the "Hornets" name while rebranding. This year's squad should be a big improvement over last year's 19-63 team; Connolly-Nutting swung a pair of draft-day trades that netted him point guard John Wall, center Nikola Vucevic and former Providence star Kris Dunn. Add those guys to a roster that already included Jimmy Butler and Hassan Whiteside, and the Hornets look like a playoff team. "The Hornets, prepared to bring in their first title this upcoming season, finally broke all ties from former ownership today," a statement read. "By moving to St. Louis, they will never be associated with Mr. Clauss' poor management, horrible leadership, and incomprehensible use of hashtags ever again. Thank God that is over with." (Clauss was kicked out of the league last year after failing to keep up with basic managerial duties in Hollywood. His awful attention to detail is universally recognized as the reason the 2013-2014 Hornets — featuring Anthony Davis, Chris Paul and other stars — did not win a league title.) With cut day approaching, the new season is set to begin, and the Hornets appear to be bringing a winning product to the city of St. Louis. |
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