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Grading the Charlotte Hornets’ Recent Draft Picks

By Adam Greer

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number nine overall pick to the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number nine overall pick to the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 27, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller (40) warms up before game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller (40) warms up before game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

2013 Rd. 1 Pick 4 Cody Zeller

Ah, the 2013 draft. When the top pick in a draft class is already out of the league *cough* Anthony Bennett *cough* your favorite team can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that their pick couldn’t possibly be as bad as the Cavaliers pick that night. Cody Zeller was drafted to back up man bun legend, Josh McRoberts, at the power forward position with hopes that the team could teach Zeller to combine his natural abilities with stretch four skills.

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    • After all, there aren’t many 7 ft tall stretch fours with as 35.5 inch standing vertical (one of the best numbers all time for a player Cody’s height). The problem is Cody Zeller is much better suited at the Center position than Power Forward. This became apparent when the Hornets were without Al Jefferson due to injury/marijuana suspension.

    Cody Zeller’s mobility, decision making, and athleticism all contributed to the teams rapid acclimation to a pick and roll heavy, 3 point shootout style of basketball. Zeller also had strong chemistry with new addition Nic Batum, connecting on many highlight plays in the pick and roll, all the while showing he was a better fit with the starters than Al Jefferson’s post up-centric game.

    In fact, Cody Zeller had an offensive rating of 118 (highest on the team) and while not an elite lob target, the advanced statistics show that he was surprisingly one of the best pick and roll bigs in the league. Zeller has his flaws, but a full off-season of preparing physically and mentally for his new position will pay dividends next season and people will be surprised at the results.

    However the majority of his career has been as a miscast stretch four, and his lofty draft position doesn’t do him any favors which affects his final grade.

    Pick Grade: B-

    Next: Noah Vonleh

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