We dive deep into the second round to find potential prospects for the Charlotte Hornets to select in the upcoming 2017 NBA Draft.
The Charlotte Hornets hold the 41st overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft. With the loaded draft class coming into the NBA this summer, there will surely be some diamonds in the rough that a team will find late in the second round. Although Charlotte’s front office doesn’t have the best luck in the Draft over the last few years, there are plenty of interesting prospects to select from this offseason.
The Hornets have not kept one of their second round picks since Jeff Taylor in 2012. After that pick, they have drafted and traded Dwight Powell (2014) and Juan Pablo Vaulet (2015). In 2013 and 2016, Charlotte did not have a second round pick. If they do decide to hold onto their second pick this year, there will be plenty of players to choose from.
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Taking a closer look at the 41st pick throughout NBA history, players like Cuttino Mobley, Willie Green and Jodie Meeks have been drafted at that spot. Over the past few years, Stephen Zimmerman, Pat Connaughton and Nikola Jokic have been picked there. If the Hornets could find a potential star like the Denver Nuggets did with Jokic, that would be the best case/dream scenario.
The more likely outcome and realistic expectation for the pick are for Charlotte to find a serviceable backup/role player. They could also take a project pick and select a young prospect with some upside. Either way, here are some options for the team to draft this summer:
Dillon Brooks
DraftExpress.com has Brooks going to the Hornets at #41 in the second round. The 21-year old just led Oregon to a Final Four appearance as he led the 32-6 Ducks with 16.1 points per game. After his individual play and the team’s success during March Madness, Dillon’s stock is at an all-time high. The 6’7 swingman has talent but the biggest concern for him going forward is that he is a bit of a tweener forward.
Still, in the second round, he could be a value pick for Charlotte. It’s unlikely that he ever develops into a superstar but the potential there for Brooks to be a solid role player sooner rather than later. Although the Hornets don’t necessarily need another small forward on their roster, Dillon would add efficient scoring off the bench as he shot 48.8% from the field and 40.1% from three during his junior season.
Kobi Simmons
Simmons is probably the prospect with the most upside and potential on this list. According to DraftExpress.com’s mock draft, they have the freshman being selected with the 55th overall pick in the second round. Despite having such a late projection, Kobi has already hired an agent ahead of the draft. He appeared 37 games for the 32-5 Arizona Wildcats but only manage to average 8.8 points per game and 2.0 assists per game.
Although he has upside, Simmons wasn’t able to display a lot of his skill during his time in college as he fell out of the team’s rotation late in the season. There is still a long way for the 6’4 guard to go until he can compete at the NBA level. He likely needs a year or two in the D-League just to hone his game and become a more complete and smarter player.
If Charlotte chose to select Kobi, it would be an investment pick. They would be banking on him figuring out his game in the D-League with the Greensboro Swarm and hopefully being a contributor in a couple of years. Considering that he was a five-star recruit coming out of high school, he may be worth the risk because the skill set is there.
Jaron Blossomgame
As for Blossomgame, he is just about the opposite of Simmons. The 6’7 combo forward still has plenty of skill but at 23-years old, the upside just isn’t there. With that being said, Jaron had much better numbers this past season as he averaged 17.7 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game throughout his senior year.
Not only did he lead Clemson in scoring but he also was second on the team in rebounds, fourth in assists and second in blocks. Although he shot 49.9% from the field, Blossomgame struggled from the perimeter only shooting at a 25.5% clip from deep. That could be a problem going forward as he transitions his game to the NBA level.
After going through the pre-draft process last year, Blossomgame chose to return to school for his senior season. There is no turning back this time and if the Hornets choose to take a chance on Jaron in the second round, he would likely have a Treveon Graham-type role with the team. He may not be there when Charlotte picks though because DraftExpress.com has him going just before they select at 40th overall.
Thomas Bryant
According to DraftExpress.com, Bryant is projected to be selected as the 42nd overall pick which is around where the Hornets will be drafting. After averaging 12.6 points per game and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 51.9% from the field, 38.3% from three and 73% from the free throw line. His ability to knock down outside shots could be a weapon going forward as he enters the league.
Mike Schmitz of DraftExpress pins length, motor/physicality, offensive flashes and age as Thomas’ strength ahead of the draft. He also points some of his weaknesses like scoring at the NBA level, feel for the game and defensive impact. Even with his downfalls, the 6’10, 19-year old could be a valuable asset in a couple of years as he has plenty of room to develop.
Bryant showcased his skillset in college by being third on last season’s Indiana Hoosiers’ team in scoring, first in rebounding and first in blocks.
Charlotte already has a number of big men on their roster in Cody Zeller, Miles Plumlee, Frank Kaminsky and Johnny O’Bryant but they don’t have a player like Bryant. The Hornets’ backup center spot isn’t secure even with Plumlee on the team. If Miles doesn’t work out, they could have Thomas waiting in the wings.
Omer Yurtseven
NBADraft.net has Omer going 41st overall to the Hornets in the upcoming draft. The things with Yurtseven is that he has not hired an agent. That means he can return to school next year after testing the waters this summer and that will likely be the outcome. He has the talent and potential to one day play in the NBA but he still needs a few years to develop either in college or in the D-League.
The 7-footer averaged 5.9 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game and 1.2 assists per game during his freshman year. Again, Mike Schmitz lists the Turkish international’s strengths as size and mobility, scoring instincts, shooting potential and improved feel. As for his weaknesses, defensive impact, toughness and streaky shooting are at the forefront.
If Charlotte chose to go in the direction of a potential high-reward move, they would draft Omer. Although, there is a good chance that he never pans out to become what the team hopes. That is the risk teams taking when taking unproven players in the second round.
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It will be interesting to see who the Charlotte Hornets end up selecting on draft night. Maybe they will end up trading the pick once again. Keep an eye out to see who they workout before the draft as they could indicate who they want to pick. one thing is for certain, there are always players to be found in the second round.