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Is there reason to be excited for the Charlotte Hornets’ off-season?

By Elijah Edwards

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 29: PJ Washington #25 of the Charlotte Hornets celebrates on the bench during the first half of a game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on November 29, 2019, in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 29: PJ Washington #25 of the Charlotte Hornets celebrates on the bench during the first half of a game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on November 29, 2019, in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets draft pick PJ Washington. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

As of now, most have the Charlotte Hornets picking in the middle of the lottery. Could a player in that range help the team immediately?

Things could change in regards to where the Hornets pick in the upcoming draft, but right now, forecasts have them picking outside of the top three. That’s somewhat unfortunate as this year’s draft isn’t as deep as in past years, at least past that aforementioned top three. T

here aren’t names in this year’s crop like Zion Willamson, Ja Morant, or maybe even a Coby White, who was picked in the middle of the lottery last year.

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There are also a lot of unknowns in this draft. You look at James Wiseman, who has only played three games of collegiate ball due to a suspension. Many had him going number 1 overall and with good reason. The 7’1″ big man from Tennessee has next-level ability on both ends of the floor and showed this in his very brief time with the Memphis Tigers, averaging nearly 20 points a game and just over 10 boards.

With that suspension, though, his chances of being picked at number 1 have suffered given his lack of experience in actual games. That being said, if Charlotte could somehow land him, I think many fans would be excited, as he would theoretically fill a much-needed role inside that the Hornets have lacked for the past few seasons.

The unknowns extend farther beyond that. We’ve already covered a few players to watch for in the upcoming March Madness, but there are a few others to watch simply just to get to know them, should the Hornets land them.

One such player is another big man, this time out of Minnesota. 6’10” Daniel Oturu has averaged just over 20 points and has snagged almost 12 rebounds per contest for the Gophers this year. He’s been one of the few highlights for a struggling Minnesota squad and for good reason. Not only can he score, but he’s also a consistent shooter, making just over 56% from the field alongside a modest 34% from three.

A big man who can beat teams from inside while also spacing the floor could prove very beneficial to Charlotte. He’s only a sophomore, so with numbers like those, he could still see a vast improvement.

At the beginning of the year, I was high on UNC guard, Cole Anthony. Injuries have hampered him throughout the season, but as of late, he’s shown why many saw him as a top-five pick. With the emergence of the duo of Devonte’ Graham and Terry Rozier, I see little value in drafting Anthony now, but should the team move one of the other guards, Anthony might prove to be a much-needed spark off the bench.

The thought of drafting yet another guard, though, might leave a bad taste in the mouths of fans. This does seem to be a very guard-oriented draft, at least in the first round, so don’t rule it out.

Next up, we’ll take a look at what the team can do with the players already on the roster.

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