Old North Banter Daily Links 6/7: Hornets Mock Draft, Daniel Jones

Vecenie: 2019 NBA Mock Draft, 5.0 — Trade discussions impacting projections

"12. Charlotte Hornets — Rui Hachimura6-8 forward, junior, GonzagaNothing new here from the Hornets perspective. Hachimura fits the Hornets’ mold of taking high-profile college players who have experienced exceptional success at that level (you can go back to Kemba Walker, Frank Kaminsky, Miles Bridges, Malik Monk, Cody Zeller, and more). He was a first-team All-American this season, and teams are extremely interested in his tools. He’s 6-8 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan at 240 pounds, but also maintains high-level athleticism. His first step is terrific for a man his size, and it allows him to get to the basket. As a shooter, there’s a hitch at the top of his release to fix, but his touch is pretty good and at least portends some potential — but he needs to get more confidence from beyond the arc. Defensively, Hachimura’s feet and quickness give evaluators pause, as do his instincts. Overall, his feel for the game is still developing.But there is enough here to make him an interesting developmental candidate. He fits a roster with Walker, or without Walker depending on if the Hornets are able to re-sign their star point guard. And if Walker was to depart — something that the Hornets may not be able to know going into draft day because the draft is 10 days out from free agency — Hachimura would give the Hornets the kind of high-profile star power that the organization needs. With the Olympics in Japan this upcoming cycle, and Hachimura slated to become the first Japanese first round pick in NBA history, his profile is about to explode internationally."

Hachimura is an under-the-radar prospect that I would be excited to see the Hornets nab at No. 12. Just look at this:

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Kansas up, Michigan down in Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2019-20

"4. Duke Blue DevilsPrevious: 2No more Zion Williamson, no more RJ Barrett, no more Cam Reddish. But Mike Krzyzewski is once again reloading with a highly touted freshman class that includes four top-35 prospects. Vernon Carey Jr. and Matthew Hurt, both top-10 recruits, form a talented frontcourt duo, and five-star wing Wendell Moore brings scoring and toughness. The Blue Devils also bring back Tre Jones, the lone returning starter from last season’s team and one of the better point guards in America. Things will look very different for Krzyzewski’s team next season, and the Devils won’t be able to rely on one-on-one scoring as much, but there’s still plenty of talent.6. North Carolina Tar HeelsPrevious: 12The Tar Heels have revamped their roster as much as any team in the top 25 since the season ended. After losing their top five players from last season, a top-10 ranking seemed unfathomable. But Roy Williams went out and landed No. 1 guard Cole Anthony, ESPN 100 guard Anthony Harris and two sought-after graduate transfers in Justin Pierce (William & Mary) and Christian Keeling (Charleston Southern). Combine that group with starting center Garrison Brooks and five-star recruit Armando Bacot and Williams once again has the talent to push for an ACC title."

The top six is full of the usual suspects; Michigan State, Kentucky, Kansas and Louisville round out the rest of the group. The Blue Devils and Tar Heels are both relying on young talent to come in and make an impact.

"When Duke quarterback Daniel Jones was drafted by the New York Giants with the #6 pick it was roundly panned.He has been busy making an impression on his new teammates though and now that he’s started to show what he can do, they are increasingly in his corner. Fans and media will follow soon enough."

Well when you put him up next to Eli Manning, of course he’s going to look really good. The jury will be out on Jones until he actually takes over full-time for Manning, but it’s not hard to see why Jones would be seen in the building as an improvement over Manning.