Charlotte Hornets 2019 NBA Draft: 5 small forwards to target in first round

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Virginia Cavaliers De’Andre Hunter (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

If the Charlotte Hornets earn a lottery pick, they could have a chance to land a small forward with big time upside in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Wings are so coveted in the NBA, and the Charlotte Hornets could use some more of them.

In today’s NBA of position-less basketball, wing players are relied on heavily due to versatility on both ends of the court. If you have size, speed and athleticism, you will find a way to get some minutes.

If the Charlotte Hornets do indeed go after a small forward during the 2019 NBA Draft, they should have a good choice of prospects, especially if they land in the lottery.

The talent at the small forward position looks real promising in this years draft. I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least five players at that position taken among the first 14 picks.

With the amount of depth at the small forward position, the Hornets could be able to land a quality wing player in June. We’ll be taking a look at five players they could considering in the first round, starting with De’Andre Hunter from Virginia.

De’Andre Hunter

Virginia sophomore De’Andre Hunter is one of my personal favorite prospects in this years draft class. He would be a great target for the Charlotte Hornets.

I mean, what’s not to like about a 6’7″ versatile forward that plays both ends of the court and with big time effort? I love him, and so will many NBA teams picking in the top ten come June.

It may be tough for the Hornets to nab Hunter, considering he’s projected to be one of the top picks in the draft. However, if he does slip, he would be a no-brainer choice for Mitch Kupchak and the Hornets.

Hunter is averaging 15.2 points and 5.2 rebounds for Virginia as a sophomore. He is shooting 53 percent from the floor and 48 percent from the three-point line. He’s been very steady and efficient for the Cavaliers.

I like Hunter’s fit with the Hornets so much that I would even consider trading up to get him. Based on what I have seen, this guy is a sure thing and has a real desire to win. I think he’s going to be an elite player on both ends of the court.

Time will tell where he ends up, but Hunter would be a beautiful addition for the Charlotte Hornets.