The Charlotte Hornets own their own first-round pick (11) and are owed second-round picks from the Brooklyn Nets (57) and the Los Angeles Clippers (56). Over the next couple of months, leading up to the 2021 NBA Draft, Swarm & Sting will take a look at prospects hoping to hear their name called on draft night.
Moses Moody is one of the safer prospects in the Hornets range thanks to his skillset both offensively and defensively. He is considered by a lot of people a low ceiling player. A lot of teams will look to add a consistent and solid player that can fit any system.
Age: 19
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 210
College Stats/Awards
Moody’s freshman campaign was outstanding. Led by head coach Eric Musselman, the Razorbacks had a strong NCAA Tournament run in which they were able to reach the Elite Eight. Moody averaged 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on a solid 36% from the three-point line.
The award committee was pretty kind to him as he was nominated 2021 SEC Rookie of the Year and first-team All-SEC.
Primary Strengths
Moody was considered one of the best shooters in the college. Moody excelled at shooting off movement, in catch and shoot attempts and even showed a little bit of a pull-up game. Per Bart Torvik, Moody shot 36% on 162 attempts from three, 81% on 186 attempts from the free-throw line. Those are the numbers of a good shooter with outstanding touch. The eye test also gives the right vibe about his shooting mechanics, which looks comfortable and well-built.
His ability to be a methodical defender gives him a ceiling as a two-way player. On defense, he was able to handle both on and off-ball situations very well. Moody slides his feet and moves well laterally. He also has a great basketball IQ that allows him to read the situation on the court to make winning plays.
Primary Weaknesses
Moody’s handle is probably his biggest weakness right now. Having a tight handle will help him with beating the hard closeouts he will face in the league and could be the key in the path to becoming a pure three-level scorer. He needs to be able to create shots better to unlock his full potential.
Also, Moody’s first step isn’t very quick; he could be a pretty limited offensive player that could be easily held by opponents in the league. NBA conditioning will surely help him adjust to that level of speed and to be more effective while going from zero to one hundred when attacking the basket.
Draft Projection
Moody has been getting pretty solid top 10 buzz as his shooting, frame and good defensive instincts are a really good mix for an NBA prospect. He may not be available when the Hornets are on the clock but if he is then it’s worth considering him as a candidate for the 11th pick.
Moody could be the perfect partner for LaMelo Ball in an ideal backcourt as he could provide the right spacing, defense, and creation that Ball will need in the future. Also, he is only19 years old and the odds of him improving his game are pretty high.
The 2021 NBA Draft will be held on Thursday, July 29 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The draft will be televised on ABC (first-round only) and ESPN.