ESPN news: Hornets set to land in an Elite player with more experience
The Hornets must have an open mind going into the offseason.
This year’s lottery pick will be made by the Charlotte Hornets for the eighth consecutive year. They have landed on individuals like Miles Bridges, P.J. Washington, LaMelo Ball, Mark Williams, and Brandon Miller quite frequently in the last seven lottery choices. Four of those selections are still in Charlotte and are anticipated to play significant roles in the team’s future.
However, I would strongly advise Hornets General Manager Jeff Peterson to exchange the choice for a proven veteran who can assist this team right away, rather than selecting a different talent at the top of the draft. The only thing going against the Hornets in this situation is the lack of appeal of this draft class and the low willingness of GMs throughout the league to trade the asset I outlined for a prospect in a bad draft.
Nevertheless, there will be interest, at least from some quarter, particularly if the Hornets happen to strike it lucky and be chosen first overall. Consider opposing clubs with really little draft capital that are either thinking about starting over or a team that needs to make some cash available.
New Orleans and Brooklyn are only two examples of cities that might be included in the mix. The Nets, whether they like to admit it or not, are rebuilding and may try to trade Mikal Bridges for a first-round selection. Brandon Ingram may be tradeable to the Pelicans, but the Hornets would need to make a more substantial offer than simply the one or second overall pick in the draft—assuming they win that high in the lottery. The worst part of this whole situation is that they won’t be in a position to select a great veteran if they don’t secure a top two choice.
Any prospective contract could benefit from the addition of Davis Bertans and Vasa Micic to help with the pay component. In 2024–2025, the two will be responsible for a $23.7 million cap hit. Mikal Bridges is entitled $23 million next year, which increases the likelihood of pursuing him—especially when comparing Brooklyn’s circumstances to those of New Orleans.
The Hornets’ three-point percentage (35.5%) was among the lowest in the league the previous season, and Bridges would help the team instantly improve that aspect of their offense. Bridges has a 37% career shooting percentage from beyond the arc. The Hornets will benefit more from adding something to this present team than from adding another young player.
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Is Alexandre Sarr the best draft pick for the Charlotte Hornets?
Which prospect should be the first pick on the Hornets’ roster if they win the NBA Draft Lottery in 2024?
The 2024 NBA Draft Lottery, which will take place in Chicago, Illinois on May 12th, just before the scouting combine gets underway, is quickly approaching.
In perhaps one of the poorest draft classes in recent memory, the Charlotte Hornets stand a 13.3 percent probability of taking the top overall choice. Role player types make up the bulk of this year’s crop of prospects, while star power for 2024 is almost nonexistent.
Even so, the Hornets need to win big with this lottery selection to complement their main building blocks, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, with another essential core player. Thanks to their youthful, vibrant team, Charlotte has completed the most difficult portion of the rebuilding process, but there is still much work to be done on a redesigned front office.
After an underwhelming 21-61 year, who should be at the top of Charlotte’s draft board? Finding the ideal complement for Ball and Miller is crucial if the Hornets win the first pick, particularly in a draft class full of unknowns.
Many teams have three talents that are definitely in the top five, if not the top two, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony: Zaccharie Risacher (Wing – France), Alexandre Sarr (Big – France), and Donovan Clingan (Big – UConn). After that, it’s entirely up for grabs.
The Hornets’ solution may have already been made public, ideally. During his post-season media availability, former head coach Steve Clifford—who is now transitioning into a front office advisory role—referred to Miller as a shooting guard rather than a small forward. If Miller and Ball are seen by Charlotte as a backcourt tandem, they will be able to retain Miles Bridges as their starting wing by re-signing him.
The Hornets’ center of the future is also secured, assuming Mark Williams recovers to full health—a major question that remains unclear owing to a lower back bone condition, as Clifford described it.
On paper, Sarr seems to be the most suitable choice, isn’t that right? Yes, and when you look more closely at the lanky Frenchman’s game, you’ll see that he would cover up a lot of the deficiencies that the Hornets now have.
Before this season, Sarr was thought to be outside the lottery, but today, most people believe he should be selected in the top three, if not the clear favorite to go first overall. Sarr averaged 9.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game for the NBL’s Perth Wildcats. Sarr’s stats as a versatile big man become more evident when his performance is extended to once every 36 minutes: 20.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks.
Examining Sarr’s footage in detail reveals that his athleticism profile is evident from the start. Sarr, who weighs 220 pounds and is 6’11”, soars up and down the court like a wing. Moreover, his 7’4″ wingspan explodes on practically every play, especially when he knows how to use his disruptive length to erase shoots or catch finishers in the restricted area.
Sarr would not face much offensive pressure in Charlotte, but he would be crucial in supporting Williams at the other end of the court. Since Sarr is an extremely adaptable 4/5 who can guard four positions in a scheme that emphasizes switches, he really fits right in with Charlotte’s youthful core.
It is a great aid to strengthen the Hornets rotation for 2024–2025 to imagine a rotation with Sarr. With their starting lineup complete and the freedom to acquire more players through trades or free agency, Charlotte would be well on their approach to ending their postseason drought.
LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Alexandre Sarr, and Mark Williams are the starting lineup.
Grant Williams, Cody Martin, Tre Mann, and Vasilije Micic make up the second unit.
As coverage of the 2024 NBA Draft goes into overdrive, stay tuned to Swarm & Sting. With just one week to go before the lottery and slightly more than six weeks until the actual event, this draft will be crucial for the Hornets to get some early momentum in the hopes of long-term, consistent success.
