Cody Zeller

Report: Jordan, Hornets turned down as many as six picks from Celtics to keep No. 9

Published Jun. 26, 2015 3:00 p.m. ET

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Michael Jordan's front office acumen has come into question many times. But Thursday night's NBA Draft might have been the low point for His Airness and the rest of the Charlotte Hornets brass.

The Hornets chose former Wisconsin forward Frank Kaminsky, even though former Duke swingman Justise Winslow was still on the board. Winslow was selected one pick later by Pat Riley and the Miami Heat.

But that might not have been MJ's biggest sin Thursday. According to ESPN, the Boston Celtics were eager to move up in the draft all night and offered the Hornets a package featuring as many as six draft picks, including four potential first-round selections.

This reported Herschel Walker-type trade proposal was made in order for the Celtics to select Winslow. But the Hornets, according to the report, were so set on Kaminsky that they turned down the deal.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said maybe it was best for the Celtics that their attempts to move up didn't occur.

"Maybe we were going too hard at it," he told ESPN. "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."

Jordan has a long list of poor draft picks on his resume. Jordan selected Kwame Brown with the No. 1 pick in 2001 as the Washington Wizards president of basketball operations. Other questionable lottery picks under Jordan's watch were Adam Morrison (No. 3 overall in 2006), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (No. 2 overall in 2012) and Cody Zeller (No. 4 overall in 2013).

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Cody Zeller

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