Fansided

NBA Draft 2018: 5 targets for Charlotte Hornets

By Brandon Jefferson

CHARLOTTE, NC- MAY 11: Charlotte Hornets General Manager, Mitch Kupchak introduces James Borrego as Head Coach of the Charlotte Hornets during a press conference in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 11, 2018 at the Spectrum Center. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC- MAY 11: Charlotte Hornets General Manager, Mitch Kupchak introduces James Borrego as Head Coach of the Charlotte Hornets during a press conference in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 11, 2018 at the Spectrum Center. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
DURHAM, NC – FEBRUARY 21: Wendell Carter Jr
DURHAM, NC – FEBRUARY 21: Wendell Carter Jr /

4. Wendell Carter Jr. (Duke)

Wendell Carter Jr. was overshadowed at Duke by Marvin Bagley III’s all-time great freshman season and the sideshow that is Grayson Allen’s college career. However, the five-star big man quietly had a highly productive year in his lone season in Durham. Carter Jr. has slowly crept up draft boards since the college season ended after sitting near the back end of the lottery for most of the year.

His rise has likely taken him out of the Hornets range, but if he is on the board when Charlotte is on the clock they should definitely give him a look. The Hornets might not have moved up in the 2018 NBA Draft Lottery, but there’s a chance that they could still get a quality player to drop to them on draft night.

Carter Jr. is much closer to being a modern-day big man than any interior player the Hornets currently have on their roster. Carter Jr. is skilled enough to score on defenders (big or small) in the post and he also displayed good touch on his face-up game too. For all the good former head coach, Steve Clifford brought to the defensive end, the Hornets definitely need a fresh start on the other end of the floor and Carter Jr. brings that.

Defensively, he was a much better rim-protector than Bagley and had moments where he held his own on switches against guard before Duke transitioned into a full-time zone team. The idiocy of the Dwight Howard free agent deal from the previous front office shouldn’t keep Charlotte from drafting Carter Jr. if he is the best player available.

The Duke big man can also pair well with Kemba and give the new head coach, James Borrego, a talented pick-and-roll combination to build the base of his offense around in Charlotte. Carter Jr. also ups the amount of high-end talent on the Hornets roster — something the team has been lacking for awhile.

Home/Charlotte Hornets