Pre-Draft Outlook
Ah, they were so, so close. The Hornets grabbed the consolation prize in the draft lottery, which doesn’t sound so discouraging, except there’s a massive difference this year between choosing first and second overall. It’s too bad for a team that desperately could use a franchise player. Right now, LaMelo Ball is doing a decent job as the centerpiece, although ideally, the Hornets would be best served by drafting someone even better than him. Other than point guard, the Hornets are hurting everywhere with the exception being small forward. That’s where Miles Bridges, a dominant scorer and only 25 years old, is expected to make his return after missing the 2022-23 season due to legal issues.
The Way To Go
There’s plenty riding on a single decision the Hornets must make: Alabama’s Brandon Miller or the NBA G League Ignite’s Scoot Henderson? Hard to imagine the Hornets choosing someone else. Therefore, do they go with a stretchy forward or a combo guard? One is considered the best prospect in college basketball, the other the best American teenager who didn’t attend college. Therefore, unless one of them is an unexpected bust, the Hornets can’t really go wrong here; they’re just trying to go right. Henderson would give Charlotte a backcourt combo for the next 10 years and Miller would add front-court balance for Ball. Tough call, but Henderson makes more sense, especially if Bridges is ready to resume his career. Plus, the Hornets can get front line help with the 27th pick, and if you can’t get Victor Wembanyama, then maybe his French teammate, forward Bilal Coulibaly of Metropolitans 92.
— Shaun Powell
Here’s a quick look at who the Charlotte Hornets have under contract, who is a free agent this summer and who they added in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Under Contract
G: LaMelo Ball
G: James Bouknight
G: Bryce McGowens
G: Terry Rozier
G: Kobi Simmons
F: Gordon Hayward
F: Cody Martin
F: Xavier Sneed
F: JT Thor
C/F: Kai Jones
C: Nick Richards
C: Mark Williams
Free Agents
G: Theo Maledon (two-way)
G: Dennis Smith Jr. (unrestricted)
G/F: Svi Mykhailiuk (unrestricted)
F/G: Kelly Oubre Jr. (unrestricted)
F: P.J. Washington (restricted)
> 2023 Free Agent Tracker
Last Year’s Draft
2022: Jalen Duren (13)**, Mark Williams (15), Bryce McGowens (40)*, Josh Minott (45)*
* = acquired via trade
** = traded in draft-night deal
*** = traded in offseason deal