Day 10 of NBA Draftmas features the Charlotte Hornets. This team started the season hot, but went cold in the second half of the season and missed the playoffs. Let’s take a closer look at the Hornets.
The Hornets enjoyed success at the beginning of the season, with a 19-15 record at the end of December. However, by the end of January they fell below .500 and stayed there for the rest of the season, finishing with a record of 36-46.
Kemba Walker needs help at the offensive end. (Photo by Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)
Charlotte’s numbers were average. They ranked 16th in points per game (104.9) and 13th in points allowed (104.7). They also only shot 44.2 percent from the field, which ranked 26th.
One highlight from Charlotte was that they had the fewest turnovers in the league, averaging only 11 per game. They also sported the second highest assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.1. Charlotte took care of the ball when they had it and had good ball movement.
Charlotte lacks star power. Kemba Walker is the only player on the roster who has been an All-Star. Walker averaged 23.2 points and 5.5 assists per game. Nicolas Batum was the team’s second-highest scorer at a career-high 15.1 points and also lead the team in assists per game at 5.9.
Former first-round pick Frank Kaminsky showed improvement from his first season, but the team is lacking talent and star power. It is going to be tough for Charlotte to get a big-time player at the 11th pick. They will need to find a diamond in the rough that can help Walker and Batum.
Charlotte has two picks, one in the first round and one in the second.
First round: No. 11
Second round: No. 41
Charlotte can get by with their backcourt of Walker and Batum with Jeremy Lamb and Marco Belinelli coming off the bench. Their frontcourt has some holes in it though. Kaminsky is still developing, but Charlotte needs to do better than Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marvin Williams and Cody Zeller.
The first pick should be used on someone to help strengthen the frontcourt. The second pick can be used on a player that can keep the backcourt playing solid in the future.
Pick #11: Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina
Justin Jackson just helped the Tar Heels to their sixth title in school history. Why not keep Jackson and his winning ways in the state of North Carolina?
The 6-foot-8 forward posted averages of 18.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 44.3 percent from the floor and 37 percent from behind the arc. At 22 years old, Jackson has experience, maturity and a high basketball IQ.
Justin Jackson brings experience, length and great shooting to the table. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Associated Press)
Jackson is an effective shooter with range and a beautiful floater. He makes smart passes and is not a ball-dominant player. He is quick and active while on the court. His 6-foot-11 wingspan help him on the defensive end as well.
Despite his length, his weight and strength are not there yet. At 210 pounds, Jackson can struggle against guys that play physical. It also can cause him to settle for more difficult shots because he can’t take too much contact inside.
Jackson can fix some of these problems himself with more time in the weight room. If he can get better at driving and drawing contact, he could thrive in the league.
Overall, his length, IQ, passing and shooting ability make him a great pick for Charlotte. He can help Walker and Batum get Charlotte to the postseason.
Pick #41: Josh Hart, SG, Villanova
Josh Hart, like Jackson, also brings experience and a winning attitude to the table. He is a worker and a smart player. He averaged 18.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game in his senior season.
Hart is an efficient scorer with a field goal percentage of 51 and a 3-point percentage of 40.4. He is also a slasher and a great finisher at the rim.
One thing Hart lacks is speed. He is not very explosive, which could hurt his ability to create separation in the NBA.
However, his shooting ability makes him worth drafting. Hart can be successful as a spot-up shooter in the league.
Charlotte could use an upgrade in their front court. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marvin Williams and Cody Zeller have been underwhelming. Justin Jackson is a guy that can come in and help Kemba Walker score some points.
Josh Hart is also an experienced winner like Jackson. Hart can be a spot-up shooter off the bench and give Walker and Batum a break when they need it.
Thanks for checking out the Charlotte Hornets 2017 NBA Draft profile and tune in tomorrow for day 11 of NBA Draftmas to see what the Detroit Pistons are going to do.
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