Charlotte Hornets NBA Draft: Why James Bouknight was the right pick at No. 11

The Charlotte Hornets may have just gotten the steal of the 2021 NBA Draft. Connecticut guard James Bouknight was projected to be a top-eight draft pick but slowly fell all the way to Charlotte at pick No. 11, giving the Hornets another exciting piece to add to their already solid young roster.

The addition of Bouknight might set up the foundation for a potentially elite guard duo alongside the 2020 Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball. At 6-foot-5, 190 pounds, the 20-year-old Bouknight is coming off a breakout sophomore season with the Huskies in which he averaged 18.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 15 games.

While the Hornets have a pressing need for a center, general manager Mitch Kupchak opted to draft the best player available instead of by need.

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Not only is Bouknight already almost 21 and more of a polished player that can step in and help contribute immediately but he can shoot from anywhere on the court and has the ability to create space on the floor and play above the rim.

The addition of Bouknight likely means Charlotte won’t be re-signing Devonte’ Graham or Malik Monk and now head coach James Borrego will have plenty of options for who to start at shooting guard with Terry Rozier still in the mix.

Bouknight did regress in three-point shooting as a sophomore, shooting just 29.3%, but once he improves his consistency, the thought of him becoming an all-around offensive player using his athleticism is scary to think about. He’s also a solid rebounder and has shown flashes of being a pretty good defensive player, which the Hornets desperately need from their shooting guard.

If Ball or Rozier struggle some nights, Bouknight has the ability to create shots on his own and take over a game, which he proved when he scored 40 points against Creighton in December.

Charlotte didn’t have to draft a guard with their first pick but Bouknight was easily the best available, making it a no-brainer and the right choice.