Charlotte Hornets: What’s Beneath the Wings?
The next part of our Charlotte Hornets draft day series deals with the wings the team has shown interest in.
The Charlotte Hornets have been preparing for this NBA Draft since the end of the season. In the first part of breaking down what will happen tonight, there were three alternatives. The Hornets could draft a wing, a big, or a point guard.
Of those options, the Hornets talked to wings at the Combine and almost worked out as many wings as they did big men. So what is behind drafting a wing? Why would the Hornets spend their pick on a player who will almost certainly be stuck behind Nicolas Batum and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist this upcoming year?
The first answer is depth. Injury hit the Hornets hard at times last year. Batum missed time and Kidd-Gilchrist courageously came back only to reinjure the same problem and be gone almost as quickly as he appeared. His second absence forced the Hornets to go and acquire Courtney Lee from the Memphis Grizzlies.
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To better suit depth is flexibility. The Hornets have shown interest in Malik Beasley, Malcolm Brogdon, Daniel Hamilton, and Patrick McCaw. Of those Brogdon is best suited to play for the Hornets starting tomorrow. He has the best combination of experience, defense, and claims that he can guard three positions. He also has the body to match up with small forwards.
Beasley is the best athlete of the group, but he does possess the small issue of having an iron rod in his leg. His health may be an immediate concern. He is also most comfortable at the two, lacking the bulk of the others.
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Hamilton was interviewed by the Hornets at the Combine, but did not work out for the team. Neither did Beasley (obvious reasons). The remaining workout warrior was McCaw, the 6’6” sophomore from UNLV. Like Beasley and Hamilton, McCaw does not yet have the build for playing against bigger competition.
According to mock drafts, Beasley will likely not fall to the Hornets pick. Meanwhile the other three might fall into the second round.
Taking a wing in the draft will solve none of the Hornets immediate concerns, but it would suggest that the team had a plan for dealing with those things through free agency or trades. Likewise it is the least predictive as who the Hornets will try to bring back on the roster.
So with the wings out of the way, we’re are left with the choices that might give us a little more information. Our next look will be the point guards.