The Charlotte Hornets have been unable to get over the hump for the past few seasons. Whether it be injury issues or just their general inexperience, they haven’t even sniffed the playoffs in each of the past two years.
Unfortunately, the NBA Draft Lottery didn’t treat them well, and they now have the sixth pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. A draft that’s expected to be one of the weakest in recent memory.
That said, it’s still very important for the Hornets to nail this selection. Or, at the very least, land a player who can help them win right away.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at one dream target, one realistic target, and one disaster target the Hornets could go after in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Dream: Reed Sheppard, Kentucky
LaMelo Ball is obviously the Hornets’ point guard of the future, but the beauty of Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard is that he’s capable of playing on and off the ball.
The Dallas Mavericks have had a ton of success with two elite guards in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, leading them to the NBA Finals. Charlotte could attempt to follow the same mold with Ball and Sheppard.
However, if Ball’s injury woes and inability to stay on the court persist, having Sheppard would ensure that the Hornets are able to have a top-notch guard on the floor regardless of his presence.
Add in his defensive play and playmaking, and Sheppard is one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft.
This draft could go in any number of ways, but most mocks have Sheppard going in the top five. But if he falls to six, the Hornets should jump at the opportunity to grab him.
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.
Disaster: Stephon Castle, UConn
The Charlotte Hornets need defense. They’ve been one of the worst defensive teams in the league for years. That’s what UConn guard Stephon Castle brings to the table. So why would picking him be a disaster?
Well, according to Jeremy Woo of ESPN, Castle has been very selective as to which teams he chooses to work out with, as he doesn’t want to go to a situation where there is already a lead ball-handler. He wants to take on those duties.
With LaMelo Ball leading the way in Charlotte, Castle would obviously not get to live out that wish with the Hornets. So, if they picked him, it seems likely that he would be unhappy with the situation.
Any guy who would potentially be unhappy in Charlotte is a guy that the Hornets should stay away from, as they have already had enough off-the-court drama in the past few years.
In addition to that, Castle isn’t the best three-point shooter. And while defense is essential to what the Hornets are building right now, they also need to ensure the floor is spaced for Ball and Mark Williams.
Castle is a great player, and he’ll probably find success in the NBA, but if the Hornets take him, it could turn out to be a mess.