Charlotte Hornets: Three Reasons To Trade Up

Apr 12, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) defended by Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) during the first quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

1. Star Power

The Charlotte Hornets know that Kemba Walker is not a franchise player. His playmaking ability is not nearly good enough to make up for his poor shooting, while he is much too small to ever be a great defender. If Walker is not your franchise star, then who is, or will be?

Al Jefferson is a great player, but he has only one year left on his contract and has never been a high charisma kind of player. The rest of the roster is filled with flawed players with holes in their games. No, the franchise star for the Hornets is not on the roster right now.

Worse, at number nine, chances are that the player selected, while talented, will probably never amount to the franchise altering superstar that this city is hoping for. However, at number four, that player is almost certainly available.

Of the five starters in the 2014-15 All-NBA first team, LeBron James and Anthony Davis were both selected number one overall. James Harden was chosen fourth, and Stephen Curry  was taken with the number seven pick. The final player, Marc Gasol, was taken with the 18th overall selection.

In fact, of the 15 players selected for the first, second, and third team All-NBA, 11 went in the first five picks of their respective draft class. Chances are, if you want a superstar player, you need a top five pick. The New York Knicks are offering that exact asset, so this is the opportunity the Hornets have been waiting for.

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