Swarm and Sting
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Do’s and Dont’s for the Hornets in the Draft

By Anthony Boscia

ATHENS, GA - FEBRUARY 19: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Georgia Bulldogs looks on during a game against the Auburn Tigers at Stegeman Coliseum on February 19, 2020 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - FEBRUARY 19: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Georgia Bulldogs looks on during a game against the Auburn Tigers at Stegeman Coliseum on February 19, 2020 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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Do #2: Utilize the Second-Round Picks

Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

I’m not as worried about the Hornets doing this, but during former GM Rich Cho’s tenure in Charlotte, he made it a habit to just sell off the team’s second-round picks. In the past couple of drafts under Kupchak, the team has utilized their second-round selections very very well. In the first draft under Kupchak, the team selected Lithuanian Arnoldas Kulboka at the 55th selection as a draft-and-stash selection. Although that has not seemed to work out just yet as he has somewhat recently signed a two-year deal with Spanish team RETAbet Bilbao Basket- something is seen as potentially sealing his fate of coming over although it is still a possibility he makes the trip from overseas sometime- the jury is still out on Arnie as of now.

That draft Kupchak also traded two second-round picks to move into position to take this year’s main breakout player Devonte’ Graham at 34th overall. He followed this up the year after by selecting both Cody Martin and Jalen McDaniels at 36 and 52, respectively. In terms of UDFA they picked up Caleb Martin, and although that was not an actual second-round pick, it shows Mitch’s knack to find talent in the latter stages of the draft and in the un-drafter market. The Hornets could use more cost-controlled talent; keeping second-round picks and utilizing them helps.