Buzz City Beat: Why the Charlotte Hornets should draft Zach Collins, Taking a chance on Terrance Ferguson?
Buzz City Beat is Swarm and Sting’s one stop for the best articles from around the internet surrounding the Charlotte Hornets.
After losing Game One, the Cleveland Cavaliers will look to take Game Two against the Golden State Warriors. In this edition of Buzz City Beat, we look at why Zach Collins would be a great fit with the Charlotte Hornets, taking a big risk on Terrance Ferguson and a potential trade for Jonas Valanciunas.
Zach Collins would bring skill and upside to Charlotte (HoopsHabit.com)
"The NBA Draft brings an opportunity to get younger and bring in a potentially franchise-changing player. If Collins reaches his ceiling, he could possibly be that type of player. At worst, he’s a solid role player that they should be able to plug into their big man rotation immediately."
While many fans have been against selecting Collins from the start and they probably won’t be too happy if the team ends up selecting the big man, but at the end of the day, it may be the best move for Charlotte. Unless a projected top-10 player falls to the Hornets, then Zach will probably be the best prospect on the board whey pick. Although they could use wing depth like Justin Jackson, Luke Kennard or OG Anunoby, none of them have the star potential that the Gonzaga product does.
Ultimately, it will come down to if Michael Jordan wants to draft for need or best available. If they go with need, then expect either a backup point guard to be taken or a wing player. If it’s best available, Collins will probably be their man. Despite the negativity surrounding Zach, his actual game mustn’t be overlooked because he could be one of the most impactful players in the entire draft.
Swinging big by drafting Terrance Ferguson at No. 11 (WFNZ.com)
"ESPN Hoops Analyst Fran Fraschilla joins Kroeger and Josh Parcell on “Primetime” to talk about potential options for the Hornets in the draft…"
Fran Fraschilla suggested that the Hornets go for broke by selecting Terrance Ferguson. He is one of the most intriguing and unknown prospects in the draft this year. While he arguably has the most upside of any prospect, the Hornets have not shown a track record of taking risks in the draft and this would be a pretty big one. It would be quite a reach to take him at No. 11 as well because DraftExpress.com projects him to go late in the first round.
Although, Charlotte will surely have their eyes on Terrance as they’ve already interviewed him during the draft combine. Unless they trade for a late first round pick, they shouldn’t even consider taking the 6’7 guard. Because of his upside and potential, some team in the top-20 will take chance on him but it shouldn’t be the Hornets. Plus, he is probably a player that is two years away from being two years away.
Trade for Jonas Valanciunas (HashtagBasketball.com)
"The Raptors trade Jonas Valanciunas and pick 23 to the Hornets for Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and pick 11."
Next: Trading Clarkson makes perfect sense
While Valanciunas would be better than any prospect the Hornets could draft this year, I don’t think they should or would make this deal. They would be giving up their starting small forward without one in return and this move would create a bit of a logjam at center. Not only that but Rich Cho hasn’t shown a history of trading down. While there is an argument to be made for this trade, I would have to decline because that lottery pick in this year’s draft could give Charlotte a star down the road.