Hornets decline Bouknight's fourth-year option

[JohnFSilver]

Hindsight being 20/20 and all, it's much easier to see the red flags, but for all of his physical skill, I remember thinking that Bouknight needed another season to sort out the head game.

That said, and maybe the glimmer of the National Championship is blinding reality, but perhaps he was encouraged to enter the draft by Hurley to relieve the program of a degree of toxicity.

What would another season have done? He might have blown his chance tbh. His demeanor when he fell in the draft was the first pro red flag. He was pissed about going to Charlotte and acted like someone died.

Hurkey may have been the only one who could talk to him, but sometimes maturity can only be gained from school of hard knocks. The fact he is so awful in the g league is also a red flag. Not talent. Motivation.

 

[Husky25]

What would another season have done? He might have blown his chance tbh. His demeanor when he fell in the draft was the first pro red flag. He was pissed about going to Charlotte and acted like someone died.

Actually, the red flags popped prior to Game 1 of his freshman year when he ran over a stop sign and fled the scene, but that is neither here, nor there. I believe we are on the same page.

Hurkey may have been the only one who could talk to him, but sometimes maturity can only be gained from school of hard knocks. The fact he is so awful in the g league is also a red flag. Not talent. Motivation.

Which is why maybe Hurley didn't feel an overwhelming desire to stand in his way.

 

[Waquoit]

Reading the tea leaves, that 40 point game was the worst thing that ever happened to him.

 

[Chuck]

I certainly rooted for Bouk. He helped bring UConn back to the tournament and the national stage. But it's not like I know him personally. I don't know if he's a good guy, has a substance abuse issue, mental health issues, if he's immature or just a jerk. He definitely seems to have some issues that I hope he deals with.

When watching him sporadically for the past few years as well as checking box scores, the big thing that stands out is that he sucked. He just did. I wouldn't want him on my favorite team. He shot terribly and didn't bring anything else to the court. Doesn't mean he doesn't have talent or can't ever put it together, but not having his fourth year picked up is a product of sucking as much or more than off court stuff.

One great thing about Bouk making it three years with Charlotte is that it appears he is pension eligible. From what I quickly found, that gives him a monthly payment ($2,400 per month starting at age 50 and more if he starts taking later), lifetime healthcare coverage, college tuition reimbursement ($33k per year) and other stuff. That may be just as important as the money he made over his three years.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Actually, the red flags popped prior to Game 1 of his freshman year when he ran over a stop sign and fled the scene, but that is neither here, nor there. I believe we are on the same page.


Which is why maybe Hurley didn't feel an overwhelming desire to stand in his way.

I remember joking with someone at the time in the administration about it. I said…Bouknight running away was first time running from the cops actually worked out for the better.

It was a pithy unserious line, but may have been true. He would have faced much worse with a dui than evading.

 

[Madmannsucks]

Reading James Plowright's opinion piece was pretty painful, but not because it offered very little I did not know. If anybody doubts that this type of "SI" post gets published without proofreading or editing, then they either haven't read with care or cannot write well enough to recognize so many errors that it'd be difficult to regard this as a meaningful story from a trustworthy source.

I'm not shocked that Charlotte made their unfavorable decision about the 4th year contract, and current circumstances make Bouknight's road ahead an uphill climb.

Still, I always root for former UConn players to do well, so the news makes for unhappy reading.

But I don't feel any need to add to the criticism, prescribe what he needs to do, or make any predictions. If he's able to marshal resources to improve things, I'll be happy for him, and I imagine others will feel similarly. If he doesn't or can't, I won't feel badly that I missed out on an opportunity to say, "Told ya so."

THIS. So many seem to enjoy piling on. Because THEY were making all great decisions at that point in their lives.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Maybe Bouk should have taken advantage of his full scholarship to UConn, stayed for two more years, grown up some, and helped the Huskies win their National Championship.

 

[husky429]

THIS. So many seem to enjoy piling on. Because THEY were making all great decisions at that point in their lives.

I was a less-than-stellar decision maker at 21. I was also bright enough not to get black out drunk driving a car while holding a gun.

I'm not sure this can be chalked up to youthful indiscretion.

 

[Madmannsucks]

I was a less-than-stellar decision maker at 21. I was also bright enough not to get black out drunk driving a car while holding a gun.

I'm not sure this can be chalked up to youthful indiscretion.

Theoretically, what would our mistakes have looked like is we had several million dollars at the time. I think it's a fair question. As for the reaction to him getting ejected at the UCONN game....you would have thought he committed 9 felonies by some of the reactions.

 

[husky429]

Theoretically, what would our mistakes have looked like is we had several million dollars at the time. I think it's a fair question. As for the reaction to him getting ejected at the UCONN game....you would have thought he committed 9 felonies by some of the reactions.

I didn't really care about the UConn game ejection. At the end of the day, it was kind of dumb but whatever.

It doesn't take millions to pass out drunk in your car with a gun in your hand. I had guns, a car and liqour at 21, and opted not to mix them. That's a personal problem.

 

[JohnFSilver]

I didn't really care about the UConn game ejection. At the end of the day, it was kind of dumb but whatever.

It doesn't take millions to pass out drunk in your car with a gun in your hand. I had guns, a car and liqour at 21, and opted not to mix them. That's a personal problem.

The UConn ejection where he went into stands embarrassed Hurley and administration.

 

[husky429]

The UConn ejection where he went into stands embarrassed Hurley and administration.

They may have felt embarassed, but there's no reason for it. I don't see anyone blaming Hurley or UConn--only Bouk. He was a grown adult and not enrolled in the school any more. He made his own decisions.

 

[Madmannsucks]

I didn't really care about the UConn game ejection. At the end of the day, it was kind of dumb but whatever.

It doesn't take millions to pass out drunk in your car with a gun in your hand. I had guns, a car and liqour at 21, and opted not to mix them. That's a personal problem.

Totally missed the point. Not what it takes...more like what it allows. And many things we did that we got away with could have potentially turned out much worse. No one is excusing just some come across as high and mighty. "When I was a kid"..."My parents raised me right"....blah blah blah.

 

[husky429]

Totally missed the point. Not what it takes...more like what it allows. And many things we did that we got away with could have potentially turned out much worse. No one is excusing just some come across as high and mighty. "When I was a kid"..."My parents raised me right"....blah blah blah.

Money has little to do with this. He had enough money for alcohol, cars, and guns before he ever went to the NBA. And had issues with 2/3 multiple times on campus before being drafted.

My parents didn't raise me right--they were terrible parents. I'm also not saying "the good old days" or "when I was a kid." You're just putting words in my mouth here and attempting the most tangential straw man imaginable.

Good effort though, big guy.

 

[Madmannsucks]

Money has little to do with this. He had enough money for alcohol, cars, and guns before he ever went to the NBA. And had issues with 2/3 multiple times on campus before being drafted.

My parents didn't raise me right--they were terrible parents. I'm also not saying "the good old days" or "when I was a kid." You're just putting words in my mouth here and attempting the most tangential straw man imaginable.

Good effort though, big guy.

One thing, I was not referring to you specifically. The posts in here like none of these people did anything wrong. Did you ever in your life get behind the wheel after drinking or smoking?

 

[husky429]

One thing, I was not referring to you specifically. The posts in here like none of these people did anything wrong. Did you ever in your life get behind the wheel after drinking or smoking?

No.

 

[Madmannsucks]

No.

43% of Americans admit to having driven under the influence of alcohol, and 45% have gotten a ride from someone who had been drinking. 56% of men admitted to drinking and driving, versus 29% of women.Jan 4, 2021

Try not to keep making this about you. "I" "I"...etc etc.

 

[husky429]

43% of Americans admit to having driven under the influence of alcohol, and 45% have gotten a ride from someone who had been drinking. 56% of men admitted to drinking and driving, versus 29% of women.Jan 4, 2021

Try not to keep making this about you. "I" "I"...etc etc.

I was answering your question. Literally. Could you get any more dense dude? Why would I assume you're asking about national drunk driving rates when you ask if I have driven under the influence?

What a monumentally stupid thing to say.

And you do realize that Bouk did a bit more than drink and drive, as bad as that is to start with? What relevance does that even have to this conversation? Do all 43% of people drive drunk multiple times, run from the police, or illegally carry guns around while drunk driving? Steal cars?

Chalking this up to being a dumb kid continues to be a bad take.

Side note: you're better than copying amd pasting from your first result on Google. Do a little more digging and get some real research next time, eh?