Ranking the Charlotte Hornets last eight first-round draft picks
The Charlotte Hornets have made some questionable draft selections since 2011. We look back and see who the best and worst picks were.
In recent years, the Charlotte Hornets have not had the best of luck in the draft. Many of the players who they have selected in the draft have not been consistent. It also seems as if the Hornets only acquire quality players, if they find themselves in the Lottery.
It is time to rank the Hornets’ first-round picks since 2011. These players will be the ones who were picked by the Hornets that remained on the team or were traded away to another team.
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8. P.J. Hairston (2014 Draft)
This draft featured a late-round trade with the Miami Heat. The traded consisted of sending point-guard Shabazz Napier to Miami for small-forward P.J. Hairston. Hariston ended up only spending two seasons in Charlotte.
While Hariston was with the Hornets, he managed to rack up 5.8 points, and 2.4 rebounds per game. Hariston was not as offensively consistent as the Hornets hoped he would be, and ended up being not being consistent at all on defense.
Ultimately, his poor play led to the Hornets packaging him in a trade that sent him to the Memphis Grizzlies for Courtney Lee in the middle of the 2015 season.
7. Noah Vonleh (2014 Draft)
The 2014 draft also featured another first rounder that the Hornets acquired. With the ninth pick of the draft, the Hornets selected forward, Noah Vonleh. He only spent one season with the Hornets and was traded the following off-season.
While a part of the Hornets, he averaged only 3.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Vonleh proved to be a bust for Charlotte. While the 2014 draft was not exciting, Vonleh was drafted too high. Vonleh looked good collegiately, but his talents did not translate to the NBA level.
In the 2015 off-season, Vonleh was part of a trade package that sent him to the Portland Trail Blazers for Nicolas Batum.