Even if they came close to recovering Victor Wembanyamathe Hornets decided to see the glass half full at the end of the “Lottery” which offered them the second choice of the next vintage.
The North Carolina franchise indeed has reason to console itself, especially when it compares its situation to that of Detroit, which was more likely to win the first pick, and which will select in fifth place. The training of Michael Jordan will have the opportunity to choose the best player of the vintage behind “Wemby”.
On stage alongside Mark Tatum to represent the Hornets during the draw broadcast, center Mark Williams went through all the emotions but said he was relieved after watching his team secure one of the two first choices.
“When I saw Detroit take 5th place, I thought it was going to shake up a bit. But no, it was fun. My heart still started beating hard. I was preparing for the Top 4. When we secured it, it was a good thing. And when I saw number 3, I said to myself that it was then either number 1 or 2, so it could only be ok”, said Mark Williamspresent on the stage as a representative of the Hornets.
Mitch Kupchak to decide
Charlotte is now at the time of choice. While logic dictates that this second place should be reserved for Scooter Hendersonleader of Team Ignite (G-League), the presence of LaMelo Ball makes you think.
President of the franchise, Mitch Kupchak does not hide that he could make a choice depending on the position of the player. In this case, all eyes are on Brandon Miller (Alabama), considered the best winger in the Draft. For the moment, nothing is excluded.
“Yes, I could consider it”he confirmed the idea of adding an additional leader before tempering. “We are starting to be a little more advanced in building this team. Three years earlier, we would have taken the best player available without hesitation, and that has always been our strategy because we were trying to accumulate talent. We already have a lot more talent than two or three years ago, so we can be a little more picky and take into consideration not only the overall talent, but also the position.
The Brandon Miller lead would make sense after winger Jalen McDaniels left for the Sixers in February. But Brandon Miller’s extra-sporting escapades and the threats he has received may weigh in the balance.
| Shots | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | bp | Int | CT | party | Points |
| Lamelo Ball | 36 | 35.2 | 41.1 | 37.6 | 83.6 | 1.2 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 8.4 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 3.3 | 23.3 |
| terry rozier | 63 | 35.3 | 41.5 | 32.7 | 80.9 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 5.1 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 21.1 |
| Kelly Oubre, Jr. | 48 | 32.2 | 43.1 | 31.9 | 76.0 | 1.4 | 3.8 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 20.3 |
| Pj Washington | 73 | 32.6 | 44.4 | 34.8 | 73.0 | 1.0 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 15.7 |
| Gordon Hayward | 50 | 31.5 | 47.5 | 32.5 | 81.1 | 0.7 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 14.7 |
| mason plumlee | 56 | 28.5 | 66.9 | 0.0 | 60.5 | 3.3 | 6.3 | 9.7 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 12.2 |
| Jalen Mcdaniels | 56 | 26.7 | 44.7 | 32.2 | 84.6 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 10.6 |
| Svi Mykhailiuk | 19 | 22.5 | 44.1 | 40.4 | 67.6 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 10.6 |
| mark williams | 43 | 19.3 | 63.7 | 0.0 | 69.1 | 2.2 | 4.9 | 7.1 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 9.0 |
| Dennis Smith | 54 | 25.7 | 41.2 | 21.6 | 73.6 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 4.8 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 8.8 |
| Nick Richards | 65 | 18.7 | 62.9 | 100.0 | 74.9 | 2.3 | 4.1 | 6.4 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 8.2 |
| Theo Maledon | 44 | 19.4 | 40.2 | 29.5 | 85.1 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 6.7 |
| james bouknight | 34 | 15.2 | 35.8 | 30.3 | 66.7 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 5.6 |
| Bryce McGowens | 46 | 17.1 | 39.6 | 32.5 | 75.0 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 5.3 |
| Cody Martin | 7 | 19.1 | 38.9 | 21.4 | 57.1 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 5.0 |
| Xavier Sneed | 4 | 12.1 | 50.0 | 50.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 4.3 |
| Jt Thor | 69 | 14.0 | 39.9 | 31.7 | 70.2 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 3.8 |
| Kai Jones | 46 | 11.9 | 55.8 | 21.1 | 73.1 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 3.4 |
| Kobi Simmons | 5 | 5.6 | 16.7 | 20.0 | 100.0 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
