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Charlotte Hornets should take a chance on Kostas Antetokounmpo

By Jerry Stephens

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 17: Kostas Antetokounmpo #14 looks on during the NBA Draft Combine Day 1 at the Quest Multisport Center on May 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 17: Kostas Antetokounmpo #14 looks on during the NBA Draft Combine Day 1 at the Quest Multisport Center on May 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Greek Freak’s younger brother could be an interesting second-round option for the Charlotte Hornets in this year’s draft.

The Charlotte Hornets‘ lone second-round pick this year comes at the tail end of the draft. That late in the draft, teams are looking for sleepers and players with high ceilings. One prospect that fits that billing and a name that should be on the Queen City team’s radar is Kostas Antetokounmpo.

As you probably guessed, he is the younger brother of Milwaukee Bucks‘ star Giannis Antetokounmpo and former New York Knicks‘ second-round pick Thanasis Antetokoumpo. Kostas is the next potential NBA draftee of the Antetokounmpo family. Although he isn’t as highly rated as Giannis, there is still some potential there.

One scout claimed that Kostas is “far from ready.” And while that may be true, his length and athleticism make him an intriguing prospect to develop. He doesn’t necessarily have star potential like his older brother but he does have a decent ceiling to and is an exciting player. In the right situation, he could be groomed into a solid role player.

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With the Hornets’ new staff (GM Mitch Kupchak and head coach James Borrego) putting the focus on player development, Antetokounmpo fits the exact mold of a prospect that needs developing. With Charlotte’s pick coming so late in the second-round, it’s unlikely that they find an immediate impact player so their best bet may be to take a chance on someone like Kostas.

Charlotte’s lacked high-ceiling prospects and haven’t taken chances on project players in recent years. They’ve also lacked players with exceptional length and athleticism like Kostas has. That alone could make him the perfect pick late in the draft.

He is projected to be either a late second round pick or go undrafted this year. After redshirting one year at Dayton, Antetokounmpo averaged 5.2 points per game, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 15.1 minutes while shooting 57.4% from the field, 13.3% from three and 51.6% from the free throw line. He decided to go pro after testing the NBA waters this year.

Positives

Kostas has great size and length as he measured in at 6’10.5″ with a 7’2.25″ wingspan at the 2018 NBA Draft Combine. He also had a 35″ vertical leap. He has good defensive instincts and can handle the ball on the perimeter. He’s also shown a decent ability to finish inside. The Athens, Greece native’s biggest asset is his size. He is versatile and can play both forward positions.

Negatives

One clear negative is Antetokounmpo’s lack of strength. If he wants to be an effective forward at the NBA level, he needs to put on some muscle. He weighed in at only 194.5 pounds at the combine this year. Kostas definitely needs to improve his outside shooting and rebounding.

His lack of production in college is a cause for concern. He missed his first year due to academic ineligibility and only started in six of the 29 games that he appeared in.

Although he bears a similar build and style to Giannis, he has far from the highly-rated prospect that his brother was at this point.

Kostas is a VERY raw prospect but the intangibles are all there. He just needs a lot more experience and for his skills to be fine-tuned. At only 20-years old, he has plenty of time to develop into a quality player at the professional level. Antetokounmpo is far from a finished product but Charlotte could allow him to hone his skills in the G-League with the Greensboro Swarm.

The name value alone with Kostas makes him an enticing prospect but that will only get him so far. He will need to show a lot more at the next level in order to stick with an NBA team. Even though there are a number of warning signs surrounding Antetokounmpo, his size, length and skillset make him a tough prospect to pass on.

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It’s worth noting that the Charlotte Hornets did bring in Kostas in for a pre-draft workout so they are obviously interested in him enough to want to get a first-hand look. If he’s available at No. 55, Michael Jordan and company should seriously consider taking him. Maybe he will be the next Antetokounmpo to make an impact in the league or the next “Greek Freak.”