3 Players Hornets Must Avoid in the NBA Draft with No. 6 Pick

The Charlotte Hornets landed the sixth-overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft after another disappointing regular season. Missing the playoffs once again signaled the end of the Steve Clifford era and the start of the Charles Lee era in Charlotte.

Under new ownership, general manager, and head coach, the Hornets will look to take a significant step forward next season. For any young and rebuilding team, the best way to upgrade the roster is through the NBA Draft. Therefore, it behooves the Hornets front office to nail their pick in the first-round to find the best prospect.

The 2024 draft class is widely considered a weak crop. However, the fact that it lacks high-end superstar talent, there will almost certainly be multiple All-Stars in the draft. The Hornets have a chance to draft one with their No. 6 overall pick.

The most important thing for a team in the early stages of rebuilding like the Hornets is to go with the highest upside. Unless you are a championship contender, instead of opting for the best fit or the most NBA-ready player, it's always best practice to go for the best prospect available. With that in mind, here are three players the Hornets would be better off avoiding in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Dalton Knecht, SG/SF, Tennessee

The versatile wing out of Tennessee is a very good player. He was one of the best players in the country in the 2023-24 season averaging 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game on 45.8% shooting from the field and 39.7% shooting from three.

However, he is also 23 years old. Using a high lottery pick on a player already older than your core players of LaMelo Ball, Mark Williams, and Brandon Miller is not the smartest move. A playoff team looking for an NBA-ready player should take Knecht but the Hornets should opt for a younger, higher-upside player.