Pre-Draft Outlook
It was a gut-punch for the Hornets to fail to land a top-three pick. After some sleepless nights over that, the Hornets are confronting reality — the No. 4 pick isn’t so bad. This team remains under construction and appears to be sold on growing itself through the Draft, rather than sacrificing young players for veterans. Expect that to remain the same in June, to find the next LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.
The Way To Go
This looks like a slam dunk as the Hornets will likely choose either Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe or Rutgers forward Ace Bailey, whichever falls to the No. 4 pick. Neither holds a position of need, as the Hornets have Ball at point guard and Miller at small forward. But it’s all about collecting the best talent and figuring out the rest later.
— Shaun Powell
Here’s a quick look at Charlotte’s current roster entering the Draft:
Under Contract
G: Lonzo Ball
G: Damion Baugh
G: Josh Green
G: Josh Okogie
G: KJ Simpson
G: Nick Smith Jr.
G/F: DaQuan Jeffries
F: Miles Bridges
F: Moussa Diabaté
F: Brandon Miller
F: Tidjane Salaün
F: Grant Williams
C: Mark Williams
C: Jusuf Nurkić
Free Agents
G: Seth Curry
G: Tre Mann
G: Wendell Moore Jr.
F: Taj Gibson