The NBA draft lottery has concluded and the San Antonio Spurs have won the right to select French phenom Victor Wembanyama. However, the Charlotte Hornets did not do too badly for themselves either, moving up from the fourth-best odds to finish with the second overall pick. These results have raised new questions for Charlotte; namely, will they select the best talent available in Scoot Henderson, or will they fill a position of need by drafting Brandon Miller? Here are three reasons why Henderson should be the choice.
The Charlotte Hornets should draft Scoot Henderson for his on-court production
Henderson averaged 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game in 19 appearances with NBA G League Unite last season. Despite standing 6-foot-2, Henderson has a 6-foot-9 wingspan, which allows him to be an even more impactful defender than other guards his size. His athleticism allows him to playmake on the offensive end, whether it be getting to the basket for himself or setting up his teammates with scoring opportunities.
The one clear weakness in Henderson’s game is his shooting; he shot just 27.5% from three-point range last season while shooting 42.9% from the field and 76.4% from the foul line. In the modern NBA, where even big men can often stretch the floor and knock down threes, Henderson will need to at least become a passable shooter in order to keep defenders honest. Fortunately, Henderson is being mentored by the greatest shooter of all time in Stephen Curry, who just so happens to be a Charlotte native.
While the backcourt fit alongside LaMelo Ball might not be ideal, Henderson is not concerned about the potential pairing, going on record to say “”I think I’d fit in with Melo and the way they play over there. I think I can play off the ball and on the ball …”. The Hornets are at a stage where they should be drafting the best talent available rather than drafting to fill the biggest need, and Henderson will be the best talent on the board when the Hornets are selecting.