ESPN news: “Yeah, I’m disappointed, more reason why i want to leave the club: Rick Schnall…read more.

The concept of drafting a potential at No. 6 is one that the Hornets’ new front office is completely on board with.

The Charlotte Hornets are taking a more measured approach than teams like the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies, who have already made it known they are prepared to deal their lottery picks.

In an interview with Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer this week, Hornets co-owner Rick Schnall expressed his disappointment in the team’s draft lottery ranking of No. 6 overall, but he was upbeat about the team’s prospect options.

“Yeah, I’m disappointed, but I also think the sixth pick is a good draft position.” stated Schnall. Thus, I believe everything will work out OK. We are thrilled to have the sixth pick and we just spoke with our men. It’s disappointing, but we have faith that we will locate a talented player.

With no clear leader on draft rankings in a year like this one, Charlotte can still add a significant talent. A handful of prospects within their range make a ton of sense to potentially choose if they play their cards right and believe in scouting information.

When talking about the Hornets’ draft options on ESPN this week, new general manager Jeff Peterson of the Hornets likewise adopted a similar tone.

“I’m excited about this draft, as I’ve told our group,” Peterson remarked. “We have the chance to bring in someone who will ultimately affect our team and our ability to win.”

Additionally, Charlotte will be taking a comprehensive effort to getting to know these prospects who are ranked in the top 10. The Hornets will not only invite players in for pre-draft workouts, but they will also look at their general makeup. These days, in scouting, mental toughness is perhaps more crucial than on-court performance.

“You want to know why they play the game, what drives them,” Peterson remarked. “Who is in their social circle and has the ability to sway them in either direction? Find out how hard they want to work and how fast they work.

The Hornets have recently had success with starter center Mark Williams and No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller. But it seems like they will be focusing more on trying to find a franchise-changing star to go with an already potent young core led by LaMelo Ball under this new aligned management.

The 2024 NBA Draft will take place on June 26. For the first time ever, the second round will take place the next day.

For all the most recent draft coverage centered on the Hornets, keep an eye on Swarm & Sting.

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Why LaMelo Ball should remain the Hornets’ franchise player

Despite his injury struggles, LaMelo Ball is still a vital component of the Hornets’ future.

Due to recurring ankle ailments, Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has only appeared in 58 games over the last two seasons after having a breakout All-Star year in 2022. The squad witnessed the development of Brandon Miller, their 2023 second-overall choice, who scored 17.3 points per game on effective shooting during the previous season while Ball was out for 60 games.

In sports discourse, it is a recurrent refrain that availability is the best ability. Despite missing just eight games, Miller’s rise ahead of schedule has raised questions about Ball’s injury history among Hornets supporters.

Ball agreed to a five-year deal costing up to $260 million in July 2023. A major query in the community has surfaced in light of Miller’s emerging potential as a player of franchise caliber: should the Hornets move Ball while his value is still high?

The Hornets have struggled since its founding because of top draft picks who have either failed to live up to expectations or have shown a desire to join other clubs or play in larger cities. Two young guys who are true stars in the making for the organization—possibly for the first time ever. Despite his recent injuries, Ball should still be developed as a franchise cornerstone by the Hornets rather than being traded.

Ball, who will begin his fifth season in 2024–25, is only 22 years old. He is the rookie in 2023 who is either the same age as Chet Holmgren, Jaime Jaquez Jr., or younger than Trayce Jackson Davis. He became the fourth-youngest player to ever be selected as an All-Star in 2022, behind just Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant.

After leading the Timberwolves to a strong playoff run, Anthony Edwards—who was selected two spots ahead of Ball in the 2020 NBA Draft—has established himself as a legitimate superstar and could be the league’s future face. There were sincere discussions on whether Minnesota should have selected Ball with the first overall choice prior to Ball’s injury problems.

Without question, Ball has an impact on the game as a dynamic playmaker and scorer when he’s on the court. Ball averaged 23.9 points, 8.0 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.8 steals in his 22 games played the previous season. What’s more, when Ball was on the court, the club won 46% of its games as opposed to 30.4 percent when he wasn’t. Ball’s availability is the only thing preventing him from making the same kind of leap as Edwards.

Sadly, NBA history supports the notion of moving on from a young, talented, but injury-prone player. Recurring injuries prevented stars like Derrick Rose, Grant Hill, and Brandon Roy from reaching their full potential in the game. But one remarkable recuperation story raises the possibility that these worries are not as grave as they first seem. Early in his career, Stephen Curry experienced similar ankle ailments; in his first three seasons with the Warriors, he had two surgeries on the same ankle. Ball has improved each season despite playing little, whereas Curry has gotten worse due to injuries, averaging a career-low 14.7 points in just 26 games during the 2011–12 campaign.

In 2016, after four seasons, Curry won the title of NBA Most Valuable Player for the second time in a row. Curry is currently regarded as one of the greatest players to have ever played the game, a four-time champion, and the NBA’s all-time three-point leader.

Fans of the Hornets should put a stop to trade talks due to Ball’s enormous upside, age, and demonstrated ability on the court. Rather, they ought to take pride in having two players under 23 that are considered stars, reliable veteran signings, a reorganized management team, and a highly anticipated head coach.