With
less than a week left before the 2017 NBA draft, I thought it would be a good
time to do another and probably the last one for this year Charlotte Hornets
draft predictions! The Charlotte Hornets holds the 11th and 41st overall picks
in this year draft. And according to Chris Kroeger, Rich Cho said that the
“team has already been approached about multiple trades and the team has also
proposed trades to other teams.” Cho also said “the Hornets have gotten a lot
of calls for the 11th overall pick. He thinks they’ll have even more interest
next week.” So, with that in mind let’s get in all the draft prospects that
various sites are predicting the Hornets to draft with the 11th overall pick.
Granted now the Hornets might possibly either trade up or down or just draft
some random player no one is talking about right now so this whole thing is
probably for nothing. So, let’s get into it! Bleacher Report.com and CBS
Sports.com both predict the Hornets to draft freshmen power forward Lauri
Markkanen from Arizona University with the 11th pick. DraftExpress.com has the
Hornets drafting international point guard Frank Ntilikina. Sports
Illustrated.com got the Hornets taking sophomore shooting guard Donovan
Mitchell from Louisville University. The last one is FoxSports.com has the
Hornets drafting freshmen center Jarrett Allen from Texas.
The
first player I’m going to be talking about is Arizona freshmen power forward
Lauri Markkanen. Markkanen earned All-Pac 12 first-team honors while scoring 15
ppg (points per game) on 42% shooting beyond the arc. Listed as 7’0-230 pounds,
great size for a power forward; fluid, coordinated athlete who lacks a degree
of explosiveness, length and physical strength. Strengths: His main strengths
are his versatile shooter, made more three-pointers than any 7-footers since
2000. Smooth stroke, good balance, soft touch. Great on moving to the left,
screens, pull-ups and uses size to his advantage. Can use him a lot of
different ways with NBA space. Has simple shooting mechanics, quick from catch
to release, no wasted movement. Use size/lean to shoot over the top of a
smaller defender and isn’t afraid of a bigger defender either. Good out of
pick-n-roll. He’s tall for a power forward at 7-0, agile, solid feet good
closeout defender, plays angles. Solid first step attacking to his left,
defender must respect his jumper. Fluid enough to attack if run off touch with
either hand, sound closeouts, good foot in short-slide situations. Can step out
and guard if have too and is a solid rebounder for a stretch big. Has a
professional/mature approach, a likable teammate. Weaknesses: Lack of elite
length and reach really limit him on defense, plays smaller than his height,
average frame at 225 pounds. Instincts aren’t great, more intriguing on offense
at center, but can he guard a center? Weak base struggles to hold positions in
¾ or front. Not physical, average awareness and no length. Lack reach to block
shots, trouble contesting jump hooks from forward's. Doesn’t have the tools or
mentally of a rim protector, the technique needs works. Instincts aren’t great
on defense-glass. Need to improve post/finishing, was taking out of games by
pick-n-roll switches. Very predictable on the perimeter, only drives left. Bad
in isolations situations and doesn’t confidence in the post. Overall, he isn’t
an explosiveness player the Hornets need, he will be nothing but a role-player
in the NBA. He also has way too many similarities to Frank Kaminsky, Hornets do
not need another Frank Kaminsky on the team. A player who 7-foot-tall and just
stands on the three-point line and throws up three-pointers all game and not
play a lick of defense and has no post moves.
The
next player is International point guard Frank Ntilikina. Ntilikina finished
the U18 European Championships average 22 points, 3 steals, 1 block and 5
turnovers per 14 minutes on 42% from two-point range and 58% from three-point
range while on the French national team. Strengths: 6-6 with a near-7-footer
wingspan, big frame, elite tools for a point guard. Fluid with a long stride
may have some untapped athletic penitential, great in transitions. Lengths
allow him to finish from different angles/above the rim in space. Has defense
upside, long quick feet, sharp instincts, active hands. Works to fight over
ball screens covers ground on closeouts. 3.2 steals and 1.7 blocks per 40 minutes
at the U18 Euros. Willing defender with great feet works to make up for
mistakes, impressive timing as a shot blocker and good at getting through
screens. Has a nice feel for the game with a high basketball IQ. Makes the
simple play out of pick-n-roll. Shot 17-of-29 from three (58.6%) led the U18
Euros in a pull-up jumper efficiency. Doesn’t create much space but sound
footwork off the dribble catches in rhythm off the catch. Shoot from NBA range
with confidence, made 5-of-7 jumpers with the clock below 4 seconds.
Weaknesses: Needs to develop his lead guard skills, struggles with ball
pressure, 5 turnovers per 40 minutes. Handles is a bit loose, average burst
must rely on size, timing, and accuracy as a passer; can improve accuracy and
timing on drop offs. Will force passes into tight spaces at times. Struggles to
make the simple play, telegraphs passes. Exposes the ball vs pressure.
Struggles to finish vs length and turning the corner vs athletes. Can we
improve his offhand dribble. Has room to improve as a shooter, struggles when
contested, will have to become more reliable given other limitations.
Follow
up player is sophomore shooting guard Donovan Mitchell from Louisville. Had an
inconsistent freshmen season at Louisville, coming off the bench but made a big
leap as a sophomore, first team All-ACC and All-defensive team member.
Strengths: 6’2” with 6’10” wingspan, strong and can take contact. Excellent
speed and body control in the open court uses length at the rim. Fastest ¾
sprint at combine slow to fast, long strides. Long arms and two feet leaping
help him play above the rim. Has the tools to finish from different angles.
Versatile shot maker, great balance, and rise, capable playmaker. Strong
foundation as a pick-n-roll shot maker, sharp footwork on step backs and
creates space with pullbacks. A good defender who can checkpoint guards,
shooting guard the and even some forward. Elite length, strong frame, good feet
sits and slides his feet. Active off the ball, will scrap and get on the floor and
pick up in the backcourt. Works to contest, capable of making plays at the rim
and good at anticipating passes. High-character and well-spoken on and off the
court, competitive on both sides of the floor; good work ethic, proven by his
shooting stroke. Weaknesses: Settles for jumpers too often, sped up at times.
Pulls up for three’s when having numbers on numerous times. Lives off contested
pull up two’s a bit too often, bad shot selection. Drives in the line without
much of a plan, not great going left and needs to improve his touch in the
paint. Consistency in the important considering style of play likes to live off
tough shots. Slightly undersized for a two guard at 6’3”. Overall, will he be a
good backup guard in the NBA, be better than Ramon Sessions? Will he improve
his game more in the upcoming season?
The
final player is freshmen center Jarrett Allen from Texas University. Was a
highly regarded prospect but started the season slow, but found his footing and
eventually being named Big 12’s All-Rookie and All-Conference 3rd team.
Strengths: Excellent physical tools for a modern NBA center. Has massive hands.
Long strides, agile runner/roller when motivated, length allows him to finish
from all different angles, potential as a pick-n-roll finisher due to agility
and length at the rim. Potential as a rim protector, good instincts at the rim.
Inconsistent motor and toughness but upside is there, rangy on closeout,
versatile pick-n-roll defender. Big hands and long arms help high-point the
ball for rebounds. Has touch and footwork to be more than a tool big, excellent
extension on jump hooks, soft touch left and right. Mid-range potential, post
flashes and has a good push shot. Weaknesses: Defense energy wavers, not nearly
the rim protector he should be and not physical at all. Gets push around by
stronger and physical bigs. Slow to help and doesn’t always contest. Lose focus
when contact is involved and fundamental not great. Uncomfortable in traffic on
offense, goes up soft, weak with the ball; minimal deep catches in the paint.
Panic dribbles a lot, uncomfortable vs help defense. Needs to be stronger with
the ball after offense-boards. Poor awareness on the block, slow, mechanical
stroke, not a pick and pop threat. Not good at creating for others, best as a
finisher. Limited mental toughness. Overall, he started the year very slow and
had an up and down production. Will be hard to rely on him on a daily basic.
What does he do consistently well?
After
talking about these four prospects I think the Hornets is really in a rough
situation at the 11th spot. I kind of hope the Hornets trade up to get a better
player but I don’t see anyone trading with them since they have nothing to give
up besides Kemba Walker and the Hornets would be idiots to trade Kemba. But if
I had to choose out of these four players I would have to pick either Frank
Ntilikina or Donovan Mitchell. I think both players can fill the backup point
guard need pretty decent I guess, Frank Ntilikina plays just like Nic Batum but
he’s a point guard other than a shooting guard, both like to shoot the three
balls and make passes that sometimes he shouldn’t make and have a high turnover
rate. But he could fit in the Hornets system well. Donovan Mitchell has a good
work ethic, just compare him shooting the ball when he was a freshman to him
shooting the ball as a sophomore. There completely different in a good way. He
plays tough aggressive defense which what coach Clifford loves in a player and
again be a good backup point guard replacement. But I do not want the Hornets
to select Lauri Markkanen because he plays exactly like Frank Kaminsky and I
don’t won’t another Frank the Tank on the team. And Jarrett Allen just seems
lazy and not physical at all for a center. Also, Charlotte doesn’t need a
center, we have two good centers (?) as is. Well, I’m done talking about what
the Hornets should do, who do YOU think the Charlotte Hornets should draft? Or
should they make a trade to either move up or down or just takes another player
like they did last year with the Marco Belinelli. Tell me in the comment
selection below! Have a great day and make sure to watch the NBA draft Thursday
at 7 pm!
No comments:
Post a Comment