Swarm and Sting
Fansided

Ranking the Charlotte Hornets last eight first-round draft picks

By Giovanni Spillman

Charlotte Hornets 2017 NBA Draft (Photo by Ashlee Espinal/NBAE via Getty Images)
Charlotte Hornets 2017 NBA Draft (Photo by Ashlee Espinal/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 27: Cody Zeller (R) of Indiana poses for a photo with NBA Commissioner David Stern after Zeller was drafted #4 overall in the first round by the Charlotte Bobcats during the 2013 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 27, 2013 in in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 27: Cody Zeller (R) of Indiana poses for a photo with NBA Commissioner David Stern after Zeller was drafted #4 overall in the first round by the Charlotte Bobcats during the 2013 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 27, 2013 in in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

6. Malachi Richardson for Marco Belinelli (2016 Draft)

Although this didn’t necessarily result in a drafted player coming to Charlotte, it was a big move in the long-run. On the night of the draft, the Hornets ended not selecting anyone, but instead made a trade with the Sacramento Kings. This trade sent the 22nd overall pick Malachi Richardson to the Kings, for shooting-guard Marco Belinelli.

In the following season, Belinelli averaged 10.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game, while Richardson only averaged 3.6 points and 1 rebound per game. After reviewing the impact they had on their teams in the 2016 season, it is easy to say that the Hornets won this trade, and got the better quality player.

Marco only spent one season with Charlotte and was then later on the part of a trade package that sent him to the Atlanta Hawks for center Dwight Howard. Without a doubt, the veteran player that the Hornets picked up from a trade in the 2016 NBA draft, ended up being a great piece of a trade that brought the Hornets a dominant center.

5. Cody Zeller (2013 Draft)

The 2015 NBA draft was one of the better drafting nights for the Hornets. They were able to draft Cody Zeller at the fourth slot of the first round. Cody has been one of the more consistent playmakers on the team.

Zeller has currently been with the team for five seasons now. In this time, he has averaged 7.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Every night Zeller plays with extreme intensity and is always sacrificing his body to score or get the ball back after a missed shot.

Lately, Cody has missed over forty-three games this season. That is over half the season that he has had to miss due to lingering injuries with his knee. The future of Zeller is questionable since the Hornets traded for Willy Hernangomez this season. Could the team be prepared to part ways with Zeller this off-season? If this is so, it will clear up a lot of cap space for the team.

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