Charlotte Hornets: 2021 NBA Draft 11th pick big board
10. Jaden Springer – Guard – Tennessee
Age: 18 – Measurables: 6’4 202 lbs
An athletic, high-intensity defender with the raw ability to score the basketball at the rim, Jaden Springer enters this draft as one of the more intriguing prospects in this class.
Springer makes his money on the defensive end with his potential to mold into an elite on-ball defender. He mirrors his opponents very well and battles to get around screens to make winning plays on the defensive end. On the offensive end, Springer uses his strong frame to initiate contact, drive, and finish. On a very small sample size, Springer shot the ball extremely well with shooting splits of 47/44/81. Even though he shot the ball well in his sample, there is no denying that there’s a lot of work that needs to be done until he’s a respectable shooter.
His handle and creation will also need to be of high priority if he wants to be a starting guard in the NBA. However, with his defensive prowess alone, he should be able to carve out a role on whichever team drafts him. Hornets three-guard lineups with him, LaMelo Ball, and Terry Rozier would work well in my opinion.
9. Jalen Johnson – Forward – Duke
Age: 19 – Measurables: 6’9 220 lbs
Jalen Johnson enters this draft after a rather disappointing freshman season at Duke. After a poor start by the Blue Devils standards and some injury woes, Johnson ended up opting out the remainder of the season in February to focus on the draft and to begin rehabbing his foot.
What we did see from Johnson was fairly promising. He’s a bigger athletic forward prospect with playmaking potential, ideally the type of prospect that NBA teams are keeping a close eye on when drafting for the future.
Johnson is very raw and excels in transition but needs some improvement in his half-court offense. He’s a decent low post defender, but at his size, you would like to see work done here as he’ll ideally be contributing some big-time minutes at power forward and center.
Johnson’s ceiling is very high and that alone means the Hornets should be taking several looks at how he can contribute to this team. I think what he brings to the team right now is pretty redundant with Miles Bridges and PJ Washington already being on the roster. However, I’m not completely against it.