Swarm and Sting
Fansided

Buzz City Beat: Charlotte Hornets draft preview, Way-too-early power rankings

By Jerry Stephens

Mar 31, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) goes after a loose ball and then drives to the basket during the second half of the game against the Denver Nuggets at the Spectrum Center. Hornets win 122-114. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) goes after a loose ball and then drives to the basket during the second half of the game against the Denver Nuggets at the Spectrum Center. Hornets win 122-114. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Buzz City Beat is Swarm and Sting’s one stop for the best articles from around the internet surrounding the Charlotte Hornets.

With the NBA Draft right around the corner, pre-draft workouts and pro days are well underway for every NBA team. In this edition of Buzz City Beat, we look at the Charlotte Hornets‘ draft preview, way-too-early power rankings and the team hires a company to help sell jersey patch.

Hornets’ draft preview (FanRagSports.com)

"I expect Charlotte to shoot for a combination of youth and potential for both of its picks in this year’s draft. The Hornets need to add talent and depth to the roster with most of their cap space already used up on the core."

Ben Stram makes an argument for Donovan Mitchell in the first round and either Jawun Evans or Edmond Sumner in the second round. Upside and depth are the team’s two biggest needs entering the draft this year. Looking at their roster, Charlotte doesn’t have a player under 23-years old.

What they have in experience, they lack in potential/developmental talent. The Hornets could use an immediate impact rookie but it is unclear if they will be able to get that with the 11th pick. As for their second round pick (41st overall), getting a player who could fit at the end of the rotation is the best a team can hope for.

Way-too-early power rankings (SportsChatPlace.com)

"The Charlotte Hornets are well coached and play a physical style of basketball, but it’s often Kemba Walker or bust on the offensive end. A spacer such as Lauri Markkanen could make the Hornets so much better. Until then, Charlotte is just very much blah."

The Hornets come in at #26 in these rankings. That puts them as the fifth worst team in the league. Anything can happen in free agency but I don’t think Charlotte’s worse than the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks. Maybe those teams have more upside but Steve Clifford’s roster is good enough to be at least in the top-20.

According to this list, the Hornets are only better than the Brooklyn Nets, the Sacramento Kings, the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic heading into next season. While Charlotte does have a number of holes and plenty of room for improvement, putting them at 26th just seems way too low. Although, they have done little to prove otherways.

Charlotte hires Excel Sports Management (BizJournals.com)

"​The Charlotte Hornets have hired Excel Sports Management to sell the team’s jersey patch, the first such deal for the agency."

Next: Five prospects Charlotte should avoid in 2017 NBA Draft

NBA teams will start having a small sponsor patch on their jerseys starting next season. It will be interesting to see who the Hornets get as a sponsor. The Brooklyn Nets have already shown just how bad a sponsor can look on an NBA jersey. (SportingNews.com)

Home/Hornets News