For Charlotte Hornets fans, one of the most intriguing events of the entire year is coming up on Monday: The NBA Draft Lottery. On May 12, the Hornets will officially find out where they will be picking come the first night of the NBA Draft on June 25.
Of course, some fans in Charlotte are so numb to the draft lottery at this point that it almost feels pointless. The Hornets have consistently had unfortunate luck at this event, dating back to the last time they actually won the lottery in 1991.
It was that year that they finished with the fifth-worst record in the association before jumping up to the top spot. Charlotte would use the top selection in the draft that year to pick Larry Johnson, who of course went on to become a franchise legend.
Since that time, the Hornets have had some dreadful luck when it comes to the draft lottery. Since 2004, they have been in the lottery 18 out of a possible 21 times, but the results have left something to be desired for fans.
In 2004, Dwight Howard was the top pick in the draft, and Charlotte ended up missing him by one pick after they were given the number two selection in the draft that year. Unfortunately, this specific scenario is far from the only of its kind in Hornets history.
The Hornets desperately need a break in the draft lottery
Let's fast forward to 2012. That was the season Charlotte finished with a league-worst 7-59 record in a lockout shortened season. Once again, they ended up with the second pick, while Anthony Davis went first overall.
Unfortunately, we're not finished. If we go back just two years ago to the infamous 2023 draft lottery, Victor Wembanyama was the top prospect in the lottery, and the Hornets had a chance of landing him once they jumped into the top four.
But when it came down to the final two picks, the Hornets missed out on a generational talent by one spot yet again. This is all-time bad luck stuff we're talking here. In those 18 years Charlotte has been in the lottery, only twice have they moved up. The two times they did move up, they were able to acquire LaMelo Ball in 2020, and Brandon Miller in 2023.
There's no hiding just how unfortunate the Hornets have been on draft lottery night. But with Charles Lee set to represent the team on Monday at the event, there's always the chance their fortunes could be turning.
The presumptive top pick, Cooper Flagg, would be a phenomenal fit on Charlotte's roster. The Hornets need every opportunity they can get to improve their roster, and getting a lucky bounce next week might be enough to erase a lot of the pain from all the previous years of failure.