Even though Tre Johnson appears to have fallen in some draft boards, he is still a reasonable choice for the Charlotte Hornets at No. 4. However, an Eastern Conference scout recently told David Aldridge of The Athletic (subscription required) that while Johnson is "just f-----g good," going to a "s----y team" could make him "look s----y."
It might be tough to admit, but the Hornets aren't exactly the gold standard among NBA franchises. If the scout's assessment proves to be accurate, the team might be in for a rough ride if it selects the swingman out of the University of Texas.
On the other hand, the scout did provide a possible way for Johnson to flourish, stating, "If he has a couple of good vets around that can help him and that he respects, he has a chance to be good." For now, Charlotte doesn't have the best crop of veterans, although that could change in the offseason once the organization has a clearer picture of who its foundational players are going to be.
Tre Johnson could still be what Hornets desperately need
Still, the Hornets can't afford to write out Johnson that easily before and during draft night.
Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper will almost certainly be unattainable, given that they are the obvious choices for the top two picks. VJ Edgecombe would have been a fine consolation prize, but the latest buzz indicates that the potential two-way force would likely be selected third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers or the squad that ends up with it via trade.
As such, the remaining prospects for Charlotte are probably going to be Johnson, Kon Knueppel, and Ace Bailey. With Bailey looking like a major red flag in recent days, it seems the Hornets are down to two options unless they trade down in the draft or go with a wild-card selection.
Knueppel has been mentioned a lot of late, as the Duke University product's potential NBA-ready offense could offer Charlotte a huge boost in an area that proved to be one of its most glaring weaknesses this season. Johnson can go toe-to-toe with Knueppel in terms of shooting, but even if he might be the more athletic prospect, he doesn't seem to be on the same level in ball-handling and playmaking.
Interestingly, neither of them is a game-changer on the defensive end, so there's not much comparison in that aspect. So, their intangibles could be the deciding factor if the Hornets were to choose between just either of them. Given the scout's evaluation and the reports that Charlotte is high on Knueppel's character, Johnson could have a steep hill to climb if he wants to be a part of the Hive.