The Charlotte Hornets have two picks in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft. Here are three prospect combinations they should target.
The 2023 NBA Draft lottery ended with mingled heartbreak and euphoria for fans of the Charlotte Hornets. On one hand, Victor Wembanyama was oh so close — just out of reach. On the other hand, it's hard to complain about the No. 2 pick in a stacked draft.
Charlotte also owns the No. 27 pick courtesy of the Denver Nuggets, giving them the opportunity to add two young contributors to a roster in desperate need of a facelift. The Hornets' recent draft history is spotty at best but picks like LaMelo Ball, P.J. Washington, and Mark Williams have given them a solid foundation to build upon. Now, they just have to build.
The No. 2 pick should yield stardom; the No. 27 pick has the potential to yield a very solid contributor if they find the right prospect.
Perfect NBA Draft combinations for the Charlotte Hornets
3. Scoot Henderson and Jordan Walsh
Scoot Henderson is the No. 2 prospect on our draft board and he should be the pick for Charlotte. There will be understandable trepidation about pairing another ball-handler with LaMelo Ball, but Henderson's game actually complements Charlotte's star quite well — and vice versa.
Henderson is on the smaller side, but he plays much bigger than his height defensively due to a 6-foot-9 wingspan. He'd also be a significant defensive upgrade over Terry Rozier, at least in due time, so Charlotte shouldn't get caught up in those concerns.
Offensively, Henderson is a deadly slasher who gets into the paint at will. He scores prolifically at all three levels and would benefit from Ball's knack for playmaking. The transition attack, with Ball lopping passes ahead to the sprinting Henderson, would be must-watch television.
In Jordan Walsh, Charlotte would get a stout defensive wing with a plus-8 wingspan. Walsh was a five-star recruit prior to his one-year stint at Arkansas, where he bought into a reduced role and bolstered the Razorbacks' defense with ceaseless hustle and razor-sharp instincts. Assuming he stays in the draft, Walsh would be a wise investment for Charlotte — and the perfect defensive prodigy for Steve Clifford.
2. Brandon Miller and Brandin Podziemski
While Henderson is the best player available in the No. 2 slot, there's a real chance the Hornets prioritize perceived "fit" and draft the highest consensus-ranked wing in Brandon Miller. There has been ample buzz around Miller's potential to ascend into the No. 2 spot and Charlotte receiving the pick (while employing an elite point guard already) probably won't silence that noise.
Miller lands at No. 7 in our most recent big board, but the top of this lottery is stuffed with high-end talent. He's an understandable, if risky pick in the No. 2 slot based on his size, shooting, and positional versatility. At 6-foot-9, Miller was one of the top 3-point shooters in college basketball. He can shoot off the catch or pulling up, and he showed more dynamism attacking the middle of the defense and getting downhill as the season progressed for Alabama.
The Hornets would have no trouble envisioning Miller's fit next to LaMelo as a spacer and slasher. He'd be well-positioned to splash 3s in transition while attacking off the catch and operating as a secondary creator in the halfcourt. He would also be well-coached on the defensive end with Clifford. Miller isn't quite an elite defender yet, but he has all the tools to be a valuable, switchable weapon on the wing.
Then, another Brand(o)in! Of the Podziemski variety, Brandin from Santa Clara is far less heralded than Brandon from Alabama. That said, he was highly productive for one of the best teams in the WCC, averaging 19.9 points and 8.8 rebounds from the guard spot. He competes hard, shows a lot of craft off the dribble, and is quite prolific from deep. Plus, some of his testing at the Combine could alleviate certain concerns tied to his athleticism.
1. Amen Thompson and Kris Murray
Amen Thompson would come as quite the surprise at No. 2, but he's honestly deserving of consideration — especially if Charlotte finds itself predisposed against Scoot Henderson for one reason or another. Thompson is a sort of marriage between Scoot and Miller; the size of a wing with the downhill playmaking of a star point guard.
In Thompson, Charlotte would immediately have one of the draft's best processors — an elite on-the-fly creator who can make every pass in the book. He's also the best athlete in the draft, if not the world. At 6-foot-7, he moves through the defense like a missile before detonating at the rim. His finesse on finishes inside — the man can hang in midair — could make Thompson a deadly off-ball cutter working alongside LaMelo, though that's not part of his game we've seen much in the Overtime Elite league.
The primary knock on Thompson is shooting. He doesn't command respect from deep yet, which makes the Ball fit all the more appealing. LaMelo can stretch the defense way out behind the 3-point line, potentially opening up driving lanes for Thompson. Plus, the LaMelo-Amen transition game would be must-watch television.
To complement Thompson's unique paint-oriented approach, the Hornets opt for size and shooting on the wing with Kris Murray, twin brother of last year's No. 4 pick Keegan Murray. He lacks the elite shooting touch of his brother, but Kris is a quality shooter in his own right and a strong connective piece on offense. Plus, you're drafting two twins — they'd have something to bond over.