1 Dream, 1 realistic, and 1 disaster Hornets NBA draft target
By Jack Simone
Realistic: Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
While the Charlotte Hornets are still a very young team, it’s about time they start pushing forward and aiming for the playoffs. Tennessee forward Dalton Knecht would help them do that.
Fresh off an extremely impressive season with the Volunteers, Knecht seems like one of the most NBA-ready prospects at the top of this draft class.
His three-point shooting and shot creation would pair beautifully with LaMelo Ball in the backcourt while also giving Brandon Miller some more space to work on the wing.
At 23 years old, Knecht is also one of the older players in this year’s draft, but considering the Hornets should be looking to make a run at the postseason, that shouldn’t be a concern. The time for young projects is over in Charlotte.
Most mock drafts have Knecht going in the mid-to-late lottery, meaning he should be available for the Hornets to take at pick six unless a team in front of them really likes what he brings to the table.
Bringing in a guy who can play off the ball would be a great choice for a Charlotte squad that already had their lead ball-handler in place. A starting lineup of Ball, Knecht, Miller, Grant Williams, and Mark Williams could be very intriguing moving forward.