Charlotte Hornets struck gold with their 2019 NBA Draft Class
With the recent non-success in recent drafts, the Charlotte Hornets struck gold with their 2019 draftees.
Coming into this season, Charlotte Hornets fans had no idea how to feel about who the team drafted. There were many opinions, but all the Hornets’ rookies have developed at a high rate.
Fans have been used to bad drafts as of late, but the Hornets finally got a group of productive players that have seen a significant amount of court time. The Hornets drafted well in 2018, but this year’s draftees have had an instant impact on the team.
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There was a lot of uncertainty when the Hornets drafted PJ Washington in the lottery. A lot of the uncertainty had to do with his perimeter shooting. However, Washington has silenced all the critics with his three-point shooting.
Washington currently averages 3.7 three-point attempts per game, while making 1.4 of them; he’s also shooting 37% from behind the arc.
The Hornets have not made a rookie an instant starter in a while, but Washington played well enough in the preseason to be the team’s starting power forward. In 53 games, Washington has averaged 11.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
Cody Martin was another player that fans were uncertain about after he was drafted in the second round. So far this season, Martin has averaged 4.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.
While Martin may be raw on offense, he’s shown that he has a lot of potential to improve his offensive game. However, Martin’s strength is his defense, and he’s proven to at least be the Hornets’ best defender.
The Hornets’ last draftee, Jalen McDaniels, has also shown flashes of potential. While he may not possess much of a defensive game, McDaniels has found a way to score when the ball is in his hands.
One of the most impressive features of McDaniels is his ability to shoot the three-ball. In just 11 games played, McDaniels has managed to shoot 39% from behind the arc, while also averaging 5.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Another player to touch on is Cody Martin’s twin brother Caleb Brother. Even though Caleb Martin was not drafted by the Hornets, he still remains one of the team’s more productive rookies off the bench. Both Martin brothers have earned minutes with the team, and have even been on the court together for lengthy minutes.
As the Hornets continue to move forward with their youth movement, their younger players will continue to see playing time. The Hornets’ rookies have been playing so well, that the team still remains in the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
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The Hornets got a lot of productive players in their 2019 NBA draft, and fans should be encouraged with Charlotte’s youth. With 22 games remaining, these rookies should continue to see more playing time.