Mock Draft 2.0: New Orleans Pelicans Jump into Top Four
Pick Analysis. Guard / Rationpharm Ulm. Charlotte Hornets. Killian Hayes. 9. player. Scouting Report. 170
The Hornets still need an influx of talent since losing superstar point guard Kemba Walker, but are starting to put together something special with the trio of Devonte’ Graham, Miles Bridges and P.J. Washington.
With no clear star at small forward in this draft, the Hornets will likely take a chance on a 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.
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.
He can also play off the ball, gives the Hornets some size to go along with the 6-foot-1 Graham and has shown decent long-range shooting, averaging 39 percent on 3-point shots in his short professional career.
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 Graham and Hayes, which 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.