Now that the NBA season can continue at the end of July, the next thing the Charlotte Hornets can look forward to is the draft lottery and subsequent NBA Draft.
Just one day after the league proposed a plan to continue the 2019-2020 season, they now have set dates on which the NBA Draft lottery and the actual draft will take place. Since the Charlotte Hornets‘ season is finished, they should be fully focused on both of those occasions.
NBA has set an August 25 Draft Lottery and October 15 Draft, sources say.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 4, 2020
Thursday afternoon, Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the lottery will take place on August 25th, over three months after the initial date of May 19th. The NBA Draft would then take place on October 15th, which usually happens in late June, in this case, June 25th. This is all due to precautions over COVID-19 that have put the entire sports world into limbo.
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So, what does this mean for the Hornets? Right now, Tankathon has them at about a 6% chance of getting the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft. If that sounds rather dim, then yeah, it is. The top three teams, the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Minnesota Timberwolves all have a 14% shot at landing the first pick.
If everything goes according to plan, then the Hornets would most likely be picking 7th overall, which sounds fine, but in this draft, that’s not going to get you much. Outside of the top four or five players, it would seem there’s a significant drop-off in terms of talent.
Then again, perhaps it’s the Charlotte Hornets‘ time. If you’re reading this, then you’re most likely aware of how fortune has thumbed its nose at the Hornets in the draft over the years, either by making sure they miss out on a good pick or simply that the players they do pick are woefully underwhelming.
That tide has started to turn, however, as third-year GM, Mitch Kupchak, has shown some savvy in the last few drafts, picking up vital pieces to this young squad. If the dice roll the Hornets’ way this particular time—and trust me, it’s about time—then, perhaps Kupchak can work some of that magic that won him a few championships back in the early 2000s.
It’s a bit sad seeing the Charlotte Hornets miss the playoffs once again, but at least we all have some closure on this season. There were some bright spots here and there and while the end result may not be what fans wanted, with a little luck come August and October, the team could be trending upwards.