Grading the Charlotte Hornets’ Recent Draft Picks
By Adam Greer
2014 Rd. 1 Pick 26 PJ Hairston
P.J. Hairston was drafted with a pick acquired from the Miami Heat when the Heat traded up for our 24th overall pick in order to draft Shabazz Napier. PJ Hairston was the first player from the NBA Development League to be drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft and it seems he could’ve used a little more developing.
Hairston lit up the D-League after being ruled ineligible to play at UNC following an improper benefits scandal, and was seen as one of the more NBA ready prospects with his size, strength, and NBA range.
In the NBA a shooter who can’t shoot isn’t worth much, and this was very much the case with PJ Hairston. In his rookie year with the team, he shot only 30% from deep and followed this up by shooting only 31% with the team in his second season while contributing little else before being traded for Courtney Lee at the trade deadline.
Combine his struggles on the court with his struggles off of the court (fighting a high school student at a YMCA) and you have a very disappointing draft pick. I had high hopes for P.J. Hairston, and hope he regains his stroke from distance but he was a far cry from the player Charlotte thought they were drafting.
Pick Grade: D-
Next: Frank Kaminsky