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Charlotte Hornets: Grading Mitch Kupchak’s moves as GM

By Noah Elmore

Charlotte Hornets Mitch Kupchak (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
Charlotte Hornets Mitch Kupchak (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Charlotte Hornets Devonte’ Graham, left, and Miles Bridges, right, hold up their jerseys with President of Basketball Operations & General Manager Mitch Kupchak during an introductory news conference at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., on Friday, June 22, 2018. (David T. Foster III/Charlotte Observer/TNS via Getty Images)
Charlotte Hornets Devonte’ Graham, left, and Miles Bridges, right, hold up their jerseys with President of Basketball Operations & General Manager Mitch Kupchak during an introductory news conference at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., on Friday, June 22, 2018. (David T. Foster III/Charlotte Observer/TNS via Getty Images) /

Draft Night

One of the biggest spectacles in all of basketball, the eve of the NBA Draft can allow teams to completely shift course in just a few moments. While the Hornets opted not to pull a 180°, they still made plenty of moves.

Mitch Kupchak selected Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Arnoldas Kulbolka on draft night. However, Charlotte took away Miles Bridges, Devonte’ Graham, and the aforementioned Kulbolka. The Clippers jumped up a pick from 12 to nab Gilgeous-Alexander, and the Hornets acquired Miles Bridges and a pair of second-round picks from LA. Graham was picked by the Atlanta Hawks at 34th overall, and was shipped to Buzz City for second round picks that convey in 2019 and 2023.

Additionally, the 2018 second rounder Charlotte snagged from Brooklyn as a part of the Dwight Howard trade was used. Athletic guard Hamidou Diallo was selected on Charlotte’s behalf by the Nets, however, the Hornets chose to send him to Oklahoma City for a 2019 second round pick and cash considerations.

Overall, it’s hard to find fault in how Kupchak handled draft night. He got his guy in Miles Bridges, a tweener forward that can bounce out of the building, spot up, and create off the bounce. Mitch also added a quality reserve point guard in Devonte’ Graham. Arnoldas Kulbolka may never play in the NBA, but his intriguing potential is worth following over the next couple of seasons.

Grade: A

Seeing as how none of the rookies have played a minute in the NBA, giving this an A may seem a bit presumptuous. That said, Mitch was able to pick the player he wanted, add a plethora of second rounders, and capture a backup point guard. It’s difficult to critique that too much.

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