The Charlotte Hornets should receive a top-10 pick, and they will have their eye on a few top draft prospects. The Hornets have a franchise point guard in LaMelo Ball, and rookie wing Brandon Miller is having a great year. Mark Williams, a 2022 first-round pick, has also been the perfect center complement to the above pair.
The Hornets also made big waves by trading starters Terry Rozier and PJ Washington. While there weren’t immediate returns outside of Grant Williams, they are clearly looking towards the future having also gotten a 2027 first-round pick.
With this future-based mindset, let’s take a look at the Hornets’ 2024 NBA draft prospects.
Charlotte Hornets 2024 NBA Draft Prospects:
1) Alexandre Sarr: Perth Wildcats (NBL Australia)
Alex Sarr is a French big man who plays in the NBL out of Australia. Sarr is the current favorite for the number one pick but could fall to the Hornets if they receive the second or third. Sarr is extremely mobile for his size standing at a lanky seven-foot-one with a seven-foot-five wingspan. He’s already NBA-ready on the defensive end blocking shots and using his length and mobility on the perimeter. This easily projected defensive skillset puts him at number one in a draft class that has so many uncertainties. He still has plenty of upside though as he’s also shown flashes of an intriguing offensive skill in face-ups and three-point shooting.
A pairing of Sarr and Williams in the frontcourt would make for an athletic and defensive duo blocking shots and catching lob dunks.
2) Cody Williams: Colorado
Cody Williams is coming off a run to the Pac-12 tournament final where they lost to Oregon. This loss may keep them from the big dance, which isn’t ideal for Williams. Towards the end of the season, scouts wanted more big games and aggression out of Williams. His talent is obvious though, and it’s easy to see why he’s a top Hornets’ NBA draft prospect. He’s a six-foot-eight slender wing in his freshman season at Colorado. Williams is the younger brother of the Thunder’s rising star Jalen Williams. He’s a smooth and fluid athlete who looks to have a very polished all-around game for his age. Young wings with production and upside like Williams are usually always at the top of the draft. Williams and Miller would give the Hornets two lengthy wings who impact the game in a variety of ways.
3) Ron Holland: G-League Ignite
Ron Holland is a six-foot-eight wing playing with the G-league ignite. Due to the Ignite’s record and not having consistent scoring numbers, many have cooled on Holland as a top prospect. As a Hornets’ draft prospect, Holland would be the vice versa of the aforementioned Williams or Miller. He didn’t produce a clean-cut or efficient season, but there won’t be questions about his aggression or energy. Holland has the ability to impact the game on both ends especially in transition. His NBA-ready size and athleticism should translate well to filling different roles for any NBA team. If the ball handling and shooting can start to better trend upward, he’s one of the few in this class with the possibility of star potential.
4) Reed Sheppard: Kentucky
Reed Sheppard was a surprise to draft boards and wasn’t expected to be one of the top prospects above other teammates at Kentucky. Sheppard would likely come into play if the Hornets fall out of the top six in the lottery. He’s only six-foot-three and doesn’t possess elite athleticism, but he’s shown that he can be a lethal shooter and high-IQ passer. He also has shown he’s an extremely adept team defender averaging a ridiculous 2.5 steals per game. As a Hornets’ draft prospect, Sheppard could play as a combo guard who can succeed in a variety of roles. Sheppard established himself as a top player on a loaded Kentucky team when not many expected him to. There’s more than enough reason to believe he’ll accomplish the same thing for an NBA team when finding a role.
5) Ja’Kobe Walter: Baylor
It’s an easy buy-in process when analyzing Ja’Kobe Walter’s skillset. He’s long, athletic, and can shoot the three-ball at a high clip. He uses this length and athleticism to be very effective on the defensive end as well. This 3-and-D archetype makes Walter one of the safer bets in this draft. He isn’t the strongest in the self-creation department, and this is why the Hornets probably would only consider this pick at five or lower. If other prospects are off the board though, Walter could be a great fit on the wing next to Miller and Ball.
