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Charlotte Hornets: Talking to Malik Beasley at Combine

By John Woodcock

Mar 8, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Malik Beasley (5) drives as Boston College Eagles guard Jerome Robinson (1) defends in the second half during round one of the ACC tournament at Verizon Center. Florida State Seminoles defeated Boston College Eagles 88-66. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Malik Beasley (5) drives as Boston College Eagles guard Jerome Robinson (1) defends in the second half during round one of the ACC tournament at Verizon Center. Florida State Seminoles defeated Boston College Eagles 88-66. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Charlotte Hornets seem to be tipping their that toward drafting a shooting guard or wing player after interviewing four prospects at the Combine.

The Charlotte Hornets are at the draft combine and they are talking to some prospects. Interestingly those prospects all seem to be on the wing side of things. According to reports from Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer, the Hornets interviewed Florida State’s Malik Beasley, Virginia’s Malcolm Brogdon, Connecticut’s Daniel Hamilton, and North Carolina’s Justin Jackson.

Beasley is a name who showed up on at least one mock draft at the Hornets’ pick (Gary Parrish of CBS Sports). The 6’5 guard has a mix of shooting and playmaking skills. He would make some sense as a guy who could come off the bench to fill in for Nicolas Batum if the Frenchman re-signs with Charlotte.

Yet the Beasley choice is also strange because it does not address the defense down low. This is also true of Brogdon, Hamilton, and Jackson. None of these guys are post players. Drafting any one of them would suggest the Hornets have a plan for they will handle post defense or they have simply given up on doing anything meaningful in that area.

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Beasley would offer a form of insurance if Batum goes elsewhere, but he is no replacement. Looking this hard at wings may also mean the Hornets have concerns about the health of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Even if Batum comes back, there is no word on how soon Kidd-Gilchrist would return to action.

Beasley’s range is somewhere between the late lottery and the mid-twenties. He may not be around by the Hornets pick. Some of these issues have to do with draft order which will not be decided fully until the lottery later this month.

Picking Beasley would also be a good indicator that the Hornets will not bring back Courtney Lee.

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A possibility could be that the Hornets might be aiming for at this point is bringing back Al Jefferson under the midlevel exception. That would be a huge pay decrease for Jefferson, but his value on the open market is not obvious right now. That would allow the Hornets to bring Jeremy Lin and Marvin Williams back and draft a wing.

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