The Charlotte Hornets took a huge swing in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft, selecting Frenchman Tidjane Salaun with the No. 6 pick instead of trading down.
There were reports that Charlotte could potentially move down with the Memphis Grizzlies, giving them a chance to select UConn big man Donovan Clingan, but that didn’t happen.
Instead, they took a risk. Salaun could end up being a great two-way player, but he’s very raw, and for a team that should be looking to make strides, that doesn’t necessarily fit.
Regardless, the Hornets took their swing, and now it’s time to settle down. Here are five players Charlotte should look to snag in the second round, as they have the 42nd pick.
1. Jonathan Mogbo
A big man/forward out of San Francisco, Jonathan Mogbo would be an extremely intriguing defensive piece for Charles Lee to fit into the Hornets system.
At 6-foot-7, Mogbo is a bit undersized, but he makes up for that with great strength and impressive hustle. He’s always in on the action, whether it be a defensive play or on the offensive glass.
Mogbo is a very versatile defender. If Charlotte can develop him well, he could be the type of player capable of guarding every player on the floor. He can put the ball on the floor, too. He’s an adept ball-handler who is elite at making plays in transition.
The offensive game isn’t quite there, and Mogbo is a non-shooter at this point, but everything else he brings to the table would make this pick very worth it for the Hornets.
2. Harrison Ingram
After spending three years in college, two at Stanford and one at North Carolina, the Charlotte Hornets should look to keep Harrison Ingram in the same state that he finished his collegiate career in.
The 6-foot-5 forward is a bit undersized for his position, but he plays a brand of basketball that would elevate winning in Charlotte immediately.
He’s an extremely impressive rebounder, especially for his size, and should step into the NBA as a top-notch defender. Plus, Ingram is very comfortable acting as a playmaker in plenty of different scenarios.
While he may not be the best three-point shooter, the 21-year-old has all the tools to help the Hornets improve right away.
3. Oso Ighodaro
Oso Ighodaro is a big-bodied center who would be a great piece for the Hornets to deploy on the defensive side of the ball. At 6-foot-9 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, he would add some great size and hustle to the rotation.
While playing at Marquette, they ran a lot through Ighodaro, so he could be a useful facilitator at the big man position for the Hornets, which would be super helpful.
Ighodaro isn’t a three-point shooter, but he would make up for that with his defense, playmaking, and finishing at the rim, giving LaMelo Ball another great big guy to play off of.
4. Quinten Post
Mark Williams is a great lob threat, so adding Boston College big man Quinten Post to the rotation would give the Charlotte Hornets a fun, different look at the center position.
Post shot 43.1% of his threes while playing for the Eagles this past year. He’s comfortable scoring with the ball in his hands, and at seven-feet tall with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, he’s big enough to play at the NBA level.
The big man may not be the best defender, but he moves his feet well, so he should be able to keep up. Post would be a nice piece at the center spot.
5. PJ Hall
Similar to Quentin Post, Clemson’s PJ Hall would give the Hornets a change of pace at the big man position, as he can hit his threes and his comfortable scoring.
Hall plays with a ton of energy and is a solid connector on the offensive side of the ball. His slow-moving feet could hurt him on the defensive end, but he plays well within the team.
Having a 6-foot-8 forward who can nail threes and is comfortable playing with the ball in his hands would be a valuable commodity for the Hornets to have on the roster.