Charlotte Hornets: How Precious Achiuwa Could be the Steal of the Draft

Fit in Charlotte

This all begs up the question; how would this help the Hornets win more games in the future? Other than the glaring need for an athletic glass eating big, Achiuwa would present a multitude of possibilities for James Borrego and company moving forward.

Achiuwa would fit in with Charlotte’s youth movement perfectly. The athleticism and quickness of a lineup consisting of Achiuwa, Cody Martin, Miles Bridges, Devonte’ Graham, and PJ Washington at the undersized five would be unprecedented. Finally, combined with Charlotte’s barrage of ball handlers, Achiuwa would present a plethora of pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop opportunities.

The selecting of the 6-9 forward may signal a shift towards Houston’s successful, extreme small-ball strategy. Before fans scoff at this notion, Rockets General Manager, Daryl Morey, has time and time again set the tone for the next era of NBA offenses.

Trotting out lineups with Washington, Achiuwa, or even Bridges at center may be the forward-thinking switch Charlotte needs to throw teams off, and be the surprise team of the 2020-2021 NBA season.

On the more conservative side, Achiuwa’s unique skillset would best be suited in a Marcus Morris type rotational role for a playoff team. However, with proper development and utilization, his ceiling will compare to the peak of an established star in Blake Griffin. Both rebounding forward’s, they have each been praised for a high work ethic and supreme athleticism. Furthermore, the similarities in playstyles are endless.

They are both uniquely quick for their size, possess long arms that provide the ability to block shots at an elite level and initiate offense of the catch, thus capping off most drives with a powerful array of finishes. A more refined jump mid-range shot will provide Achiuwa with the same tools that a young Griffin had.

Griffin is a rare example of a player who, at the end of the day, could fit on most teams. NBAdraft.net currently has the 20-year-old projected to go 18th to Milwaukee in their most recent mock draft.

While Kupchak’s squad is slotted at the eighth pick, he could take a gamble or trade back to select the forward in question. If the Hornets add the versatility and talent that Achiuwa also presents, the league will let out a collective kudos to Charlotte’s front office years down the line.