Buzz City Beat: Charlotte Hornets’ updated mock draft, trade bait and Marvin talks Utah
Buzz City Beat is Swarm and Sting’s one stop for the best articles from around the internet surrounding the Charlotte Hornets.
The Boston Celtics took a 2-0 lead in their second-round series against the Washington Wizards while the Golden State Warriors won game one over the Utah Jazz. In this edition of Buzz City Beat, we look at an updated mock draft that has the Charlotte Hornets picking Justin Patton, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Jeremy Lamb possibly being used as trade bait this summer and Marvin Williams talks about Joe Johnson and the Jazz.
Hornets Select Justin Patton in Updated Mock Draft (BleacherReport.com)
"At No. 11, with no perceived sure things on the board, this is a good spot for the Charlotte Hornets to reach for upside. He’s likely to help himself during workouts with his tools, his mobility and his stroke. Patton could use some reps in the NBA Development League, but few prospects outside the top 10 appear NBA-ready anyway."
The freshman out of Creighton is the 17th ranked prospect in the upcoming draft class according to DraftExpress.com. At only 19-years old, the 7-footer has plenty of upside and room to grow. Is Charlotte willing to take a chance on a project like Patton and wait a couple of years for him to develop?
That remains to be seen because, over the past couple of years, the team hasn’t gone in that direction. Rather, they have selected a proven player like Frank Kaminsky or traded their first round pick. Drafting Justin would give the Hornets a center for the future but it might not make them better right away.
MKG and Lamb Could be Used as Trade Bait (us.blastingnews.com)
"The Charlotte Hornets are not expected to be a buying team in free-agency, but they will nevertheless make quite a buzz in the trade market this offseason."
The Hornets have no cap space this summer and aside from a Mid-Level Exception and a Bi-Annual Exception, they won’t be able to add big name players in free agency. That means Charlotte will need to hit the trade market in order to make a significant change or improvement to their roster. Not many of their players have a high stock or are attractive on the trade block.
Kemba Walker and Cody Zeller are likely off limits while Nicolas Batum‘s contract and the team’s commitment to him makes it unlikely that the Frenchman is dealt. That leaves Frank Kaminsky, Marco Belinelli, Marvin Williams, MKG and Lamb as possible trade pieces. Of those players, MKG and Lamb are the two most attractive players talent-wise and salary wise.
Marvin Williams Talks Joe Johnson and Utah Jazz (ftw.usatoday.com)
"I told a couple of buddies of mine, when I was leaving Utah, that Utah was going to be really good. I knew they would be good. We were just young, but we had really good players."
Next: Potential Second Round Draft Prospects
Williams mostly spoke about his time in Atlanta with “iso” Joe Johnson’s one on one play and how they would always go against each other in practice. The Charlotte Hornets’ forward also spent time in Utah with a lot of the players that are still on their roster. Despite his beliefs in the young Jazz, Marvin would not go out on a limb and commit to them beating the Warriors in their second round playoff series.