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The Charlotte Hornets have made some impressive strides as a franchise in recent years. Their young core of talent has begun to grow and establish itself at a rapid rate. The franchise finished with a record of 43-39 and ended in 10th place in the Eastern Conference last season. While they were unable to make it past the play-in tournament there are a ton of positive takeaways to build off moving forward.
The focus will shift to improving this offseason as the Hornets hope to take the next step. One of the biggest areas of focus will be the NBA Draft as the Hornets hold the 13th, 15th, and 45th picks in the upcoming draft. NBA teams can get into trouble when drafting for need, but it is always important to keep in mind what roster areas need the most work. Here are the two biggest positional targets for the Hornets to watch as the draft approaches.
Hornets' 2 biggest needs entering 2022 NBA Draft
Athletic Center
The passing ability of LaMelo Ball is one of the most impressive and unique skill sets across the NBA. The 20-year-old has an unmatched ability to see tight windows and capitalize on fitting the passes through there. One of the best examples of this is the highlight reel lobs LaMelo completes with ease. The Hornets have done a solid job utilizing this already, but there is potential for even more. As the roster currently stands, it is unclear how many true lob threats will be in the rotation. Miles Bridges is currently a free agent, JT Thor and Kai Jones are still incredibly raw, and Nick Richards is the only center on the roster.
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Adding an athletic center who can run the floor would be an excellent addition to this Hornets team. There are a few notable options in the draft for the Hornets to target in this role. Jalen Duren and Mark Williams should each be high on Charlotte’s list of targets. Christian Koloko could also hold appeal but is projected to go a little later in the draft. Each of these guys shows unique flashes of athleticism and would flourish in the Charolette's system. Finding a true athletic big man who can catch lobs would set the Hornets up with a high-impact offensive option and ensure plenty of highlights are on the way.
Wing Depth
When looking at the current 2023 Hornets roster, there are quite a few pieces missing. As things currently stand, Charlotte only has 10 rostered players. One of the clear areas of weakness is in the shooting guard and wing positions. Gordon Hayward and Kelly Oubre Jr. are set to return but each holds their individual concerns. Both guys have also been in trade whispers for quite some time. PJ Washington is set to come back to the Hornets and Jalen McDaniels could also return on a team option.
While there are plenty of teams in a worse spot at the wing, the Hornets could use to add some depth. This draft class is loaded with wing talent and there are multiple guys who could contribute immediately. The Hornets should keep an eye on guys like Jeremy Sochan, Malaki Branham, AJ Griffin, Tari Eason, and Jalen Williams. There also are several second-rounders who project highly. Many of these players show impressive defensive production and potential which would be a huge asset to this Hornets team. Adding a defensive stopper to the already impressive offense could produce some great results. Expect the Hornets to remain active and be on the search for this in the upcoming draft.
