Charlotte Hornets: The case for drafting Travis Bader

Dec 14, 2013; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oakland Golden Grizzlies guard Travis Bader (3) warms up before the game against the Michigan State Spartans at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

We have been talking a lot here lately about all the different options the Charlotte Hornets have for their number 9 pick in the draft, as well as the 24th overall pick. But we haven’t really talked about who the Hornets might draft with their 2nd round pick (45th overall).

One name that should at least be considered by the Charlotte Hornets is Oakland’s Travis Bader.

If you are a college basketball fan, you might have heard of the name Travis Bader. This year Bader broke former Duke Blue Devil J.J. Redick’s 3-point record, which was the all-time NCAA record. It’s safe to say that Travis Bader can shoot. Here’s the 3-pointer that broke Redick’s record:

This past season Bader averaged 20.6 points per game, and shot 40% from three-point land. He also shot a stunning 94% from the free throw line. That’s the guy you want shooting free throws for you in crunch time.

Yes, Travis Bader didn’t play against a great level of competition in the Horizon League, but you shouldn’t count that against him. In Oakland’s defense, they did play some quality teams this year.

They opened up their season on the road against the North Carolina Tar Heels, losing 84 to 61. That’s not an easy way to open up you season.

Not only that, but they played 3 more consecutive road games following that, what a way to open up your season with 4 straight away games. Who did they play in those other 3 games? UCLA, California, and Gonzaga.

Oakland lost all of those games, but on a positive not they only lost to California by 4 points. Travis Bader finished with 21 points in that game (5-11 on 3-point attempts) and 6 rebounds.

Travis Bader’s best game this year was against Youngstown State on March 4th, a game his team won in OT. In that game, Bader had 39 points, and he made all 18 of his free throws. Yeah, 18 for 18. Oh, and he also made 7 three-pointers.

Another quality game he had last year was against Cleveland State on February 6th. Bader had 35 points, and he hit 10 out of his 13 three-point attempts. The guy can shoot the basketball.

After looking at his scoring and shooting percentages, why wouldn’t anybody be willing to draft Travis Bader in the 2nd round of the NBA Draft?

Some teams might be concerned with his defensive ability, but is that what you are drafting him for? You’re picking him because he can shoot, and when someone can shoot like Travis Bader, you draft him. It’s the second round, there isn’t a ton of talent left on the board anyways.

Travis Bader is known as a hard-worker by everyone around him. “He’s in the gym all day, everyday,” said teammate Duke Mondy. “He puts up a lot of shots.”

Bader has said in the past that his goal is to make somewhere between 200 and 400 shots a day. He also said that he practices his shooting so much that he constantly splits the skin on his right ring finger and bleeds. Here’s another video on Travis Bader:

Hard-work is definitely one of Travis Bader’s strengths. He has the motor to be the best he can possibly be, and that is appealing to NBA GM’s and coaches.

The Charlotte Hornets are in need of some shooters, and Travis Bader fits the bill. Drafting him in the 2nd round is a low risk, high reward situation.

3-point shooting as taken over the NBA. All the great teams in the league have shooters on their bench they can bring in to change the game. Travis Bader could do that for the Charlotte Hornets next year.

At the end of the day, it all depends on how Charlotte uses their first 2 picks. If they pick 2 guards with those picks (Nik Stauskas and P.J. Hairston for example) then picking Bader wouldn’t be as good of an idea. But if they pick a forward with one of those picks (Doug McDermott for example) then drafting Bader in the 2nd round could become a possibility.

Should the Charlotte Hornets draft Travis Bader with their second round pick? Let your voice be heard in the comment section below!

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