NBA Draft 2020 Mock Draft 1.0: The New Orleans Pelicans Can Try for Homerun
170. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Charlotte Hornets. Killian Hayes. Guard / Ratiopharm Ulm. 3. player
The Tankathon machine rewarded the Hornets for actually trying to win games by bumping them five spots into the third overall pick in the draft.
Obviously the Hornets would be thrilled with this result, as they also lack talent just about everywhere on the floor since losing superstar point guard Kemba Walker.
With no clear star at small forward in this draft, the Hornets will likely take a chance on a point guard, which is a much deeper position.
The Hornets need help at center but may ultimately decide that this pick is too high to risk on a big man like James Wiseman.
Killian Hayes has good size at 6-foot-5, 187 lbs. and has the type of competitive attitude and creativity that made Walker a star in Charlotte.
The Hornets’ salary cap situation is one of the worst in the NBA, as they still have Nicolas Batum locked up for another year at $27.1 million and Terry Rozier for two more years that will cost them $18.9 and $17.9 million a year respectively.
If the Hornets can somehow find a taker for Rozier, they could start their rebuild for real and hand over the team to rookie Hayes, who would be a solid foundation from which to start.
The Charlotte Hornets are a mess, stuck in purgatory and unlikely to be good for some time. Hayes would give them a solid piece to build around and would represent one of the safest picks in a draft full of risks.