NBA Draft Lottery 2014: Charlotte Hornets Get Ninth Pick
By Marc Pruitt
Dec 21, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan unveils the new Charlotte Hornets logo at halftime during the game against the Utah Jazz at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
The re-birth of the Charlotte Hornets on Monday afternoon provided even more buzz during the 2014 NBA Draft Lottery later on Monday night.
The Hornets, who were not in the lottery because of their berth in the playoffs. still wound up with the No. 9 overall pick Monday night.
How so?
Well, the good fortune of the Cleveland Cavaliers also led to good fortune for the Hornets.
Cleveland, which won the lottery for the third time in the last four years, surprisingly jumped into the No. 1 spot despite having a 1.7 percent chance of doing so.
That meant that the Detroit Pistons dropped from the eighth pick to the ninth pick because of a trade that the then Charlotte Bobcats made two years ago with the Pistons even more important. Under the terms of that deal, which also saw the Bobcats receive Ben Gordon in exchange for Corey Maggette, Detroit would keep the first-round pick in this year’s Draft if it landed at No. 8 or higher.
The Hornets also have the 24th pick in the first round and the 45th pick in the second round.
It is the second time in the last four seasons that the team has had the ninth overall pick. Charlotte selected point guard Kemba Walker with the ninth pick in 2011, and Walker is one of the cornerstones of the franchise now.
For a team fresh off their second playoff appearance in the last 10 seasons, the Hornets could be an attractive destination for new draftees and free agents.
The team will have at least $17 million in salary cap space on July 1 and may look to do a little spending.
With what is considered a fairly deep draft class and a couple of big free agent names on the horizon, the Hornets seemingly are ready to make a big splash.
President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins has to be smiling, as does Coach Steve Clifford. You know team owner Michael Jordan is.
The Buzz is back, in more ways than one, in Charlotte.