Hornets Stay the Course with Draft Picks

With a new general manager in place and no clear-cut favorite for the top overall pick, the route the Charlotte Hornets would follow in the NBA Draft was unclear. Names like Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan, and Rob Dillingham, all appeared as possibilities in mock drafts for the Hornets. In the end, Charlotte took a player with an eye towards competing down the road and for a sustained period.

Before his retirement, former Hornets General Manager Mitch Kupchak had put in place a plan to return the team to playoff contention and eventually a championship. It was a plan that closely followed the successful rebuild of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He moved out veterans for draft picks. On occasion, he would take on other teams’ bad contracts that were accompanied by draft picks as an incentive. The goal was to accumulate assets to assemble a young team that would complement each other and grow together. It was a plan that required patience, vision, and luck.

New President of Basketball Operations Jeff Patterson said complimentary things about Kupchak’s plan at his introductory press conference. However, observers would not know for certain if those were just words of praise for a retiring colleague or an indication of a shared vision. It would not be until Patterson made his first significant personnel move that his true intentions would be revealed. His first opportunity arrived with the recently conducted NBA Draft. If his draft picks are an indication of future moves, he believes in the Kupchak model and intends to follow the same path.

This year’s draft did not feature an unquestionable first overall selection. Unlike last year when the San Antonio Spurs won the draft lottery and were gifted the next great superstar in Victor Wembanyama, there was constant intrigue as to whom this year’s lottery winner, the Atlanta Hawks, would select. That uncertainty cast a shadow of mystery over the first 10 picks. For a substantial portion of the pre-draft process, the name most often associated with Charlotte was Connecticut guard Stephon Castle. Castle, an elite defender, had analysts speculating he would mesh well in the back court with young star guard LaMelo Ball. Castle possesses enough offensive potential that it was hoped he could develop into a scoring threat to help relieve the offensive pressure off last year’s first round pick, small forward Brandon Miller. That plan was vanquished when the Spurs selected Castle fourth overall.

The Detroit Pistons followed the Spurs and delivered the draft’s first shock. With their pick, Detroit selected small forward Ron Holland II, a small forward from the NBA’s G League Ignite. A significant number of mock drafts projected Holland going in the early to mid-teens of the first round. With the Hornets on the clock and numerous desirable prospects available, Patterson had several options at his disposal. He could take Kentucky point guard Rob Dillingham, a dynamic player that could provide continuity when Ball would not be available due to in-game rest or injury. Dillingham could be an eventual successor to Bell if his contract or off-court antics became a burden. Patterson could have gone with Connecticut big man Donovan Clingan. His presence in cleaning up the defensive mistakes of a young team would be vital in preventing demoralizing plays impacting the offensive side of the ball. Lastly, he could have traded the pick for future assets to be used to complete the teams rebuild over the course of the next few seasons. There were teams eager to acquire Dillingham and Clingan and Patterson and Charlotte could have received a decent return.

However, Patterson decided to stay put and make the selection. His choice surprised draft analysts when he tabbed 18-year-old French power forward Tidjane Salaun. Salaun oozes potential. For a young man, he plays a very physical game. He has great length and athletic ability. He has the frame to grow into a force around the rim. Currently, that frame is slight with Salaun weighing 217 pounds. Salaun was effective in Europe with his build, but to have any chance to compete in the NBA, he will need to add significant muscle mass. His decision making is immature but has shown signs of him acclimating to the pace of professional basketball. Hornets’ fans should not expect significant contributions from Salaun this upcoming season, or even the next one. He is a risky boom or bust prospect. Patterson has the luxury of taking such a risk knowing he has a long runway having just been hired.

With Salaun in the fold, Patterson had to wait a long time to make his next mark on the franchise. With the 12th pick in the second round and 42nd overall, the Hornets drafted Colorado point guard KJ Simpson. Simpson is an older prospect, having played three years in college. His potential is trending up and his stock received a boost with his play in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. He has a diverse offensive game that will complement Ball and Miller. Simpson can be the floor leader when Ball is unavailable. As he grows more comfortable at the pro level, he has the temperament and leadership to hold teammates accountable and make their play better. Simpson will give fans their money’s worth every game with his effort. He will begin his time in Charlotte coming off the bench and he may never be a permanent fixture in the starting lineup, but he is the type of glue player coaches rely on during critical moments in a game.

Patterson had one more move up his sleeve before the draft concluded. He was able to collect three future second round picks by taking on the contract of Denver point guard Reggie Jackson from the Nuggets’ payroll. The deal frees up $5.25 million in cap space for Denver, who is trying to keep intact much of their roster from their 2022-2023 championship roster. Second round picks have become the currency in deals to acquire veterans or to free up cap space. If the Hornets’ plan is successfully executed, there will be a need to add a veteran presence to get the team over the competitive hump. Those acquired picks will be essential in making those transactions possible. For Jackson, he will be brought in to be a mentor for the young guards of Ball and Simpson, if he is not bought out for salary cap purposes. He could also be a trade chip at the deadline used to accumulate more future assets.

The draft is in the books, but Patterson has no time to rest. NBA free agency is right around the corner. It is not expected that Charlotte will be a major player in free agency. The timing is not right for splashy, high impact moves. That does not mean Patterson won’t be adding around the edges or seeking young talent that slips through the cracks and make the Hornets better. For fans, this week has been good news / bad news. The good news is that the Hornets have demonstrated that they are committing to assembling a young, athletic, dynamic team. The bad news is that construction will still require a couple more years and more pieces. The losing should be less than last season, but it will still be mostly losing. If that provides additional high-powered talent, the extra pain might be worth the eventual gain.

Emmet Mahon can be reached at emmet@draftcarolina.com