Pros of the Charlotte Hornets drafting James Wiseman in this year’s NBA Draft
So in complete transparency, I am not a huge fan of drafting Wiseman. But with that being said, I cannot deny his athletic abilities and skills he can bring to Charlotte’s roster.
Wiseman is one of the most athletic prospects in this draft as the best option at his position. His athletic build shows a strong, built Memphis alum that can make splashes on the court. Wiseman sits at seven feet, one inch, and is 240 pounds of lean muscle. Wiseman looks like a college version of David Robinson. Wiseman would already be one of the tallest players in the league and with his amount of power, could make defenses pay.
Regardless of how his skills develop in Charlotte, Wiseman is going to improve the team’s rebounding. There is no doubt in my mind that Wiseman will help the Hornets get out of the bottom percentage of the league in rebounding. Wiseman’s effects on the boards can give the Hornets more opportunities on offense and reduce the number of put-backs by the opposing team. Wiseman’s power and height will punish teams in the paint and will definitely draw fouls after grabbing more boards.
Wiseman will also add a layer to the team defensively. The Hornets are among the worst in the league on defense and if Wiseman’s defensive dominance carries over to the NBA, could make the Hornets defense very challenging to contest in the hole. Wiseman averaged three blocks per game in his short college career, with dominance in Queen City the organization can be slingshotted into playoff contention in the Eastern Conference.