ESPN news: Hornets Made the Best Trade Ever in 2024 NBA Mock Draft, Land in NBA Top Rated Star…..

ESPN recently finished their first mock draft and had the Charlotte Hornets select a gifted big man after they won the sixth choice in the NBA Lottery.

The 2023–24 season for the Charlotte Hornets was dismal due to LaMelo Ball’s injury struggles. Despite Ball’s limited playing time in the previous season—22 games—the team still hopes he can be a key component of their future.

The Hornets, who welcomed their role as sellers, also traded a lot of players during the season. As they parted ways with veterans who weren’t part of their long-term plans, we will have to wait and see how those transactions work out for Charlotte.

The Hornets were able to secure the sixth overall pick in the NBA Lottery. ESPN has concluded their inaugural mock draft, in which Donovon Clingan of UCONN was selected by the Hornets. What they thought about the pick is shown here.

To bolster the team and develop around Brandon Miller, the No. 2 choice from the previous year whose future appears to be bright after placing third in the Rookie of the Year competition, the frontcourt is an obvious place to explore. Clingan puts his defensive influence front and center in his convincing case for becoming the next big man off the board. Clingan, who is only 20 years old and fresh off back-to-back national titles at UConn, possesses the size, length, rim-protection, and passing abilities that would undoubtedly draw the attention of the Hornets. – Givony

Clingan would be a fantastic choice for the Hornets. Clingan knows what it takes to be a winner and how to win having won two national championships with UConn. Clingan played a very selfless type of basketball in college, particularly on the offensive end, even though he was a predicted lottery choice.

Clingan appears to be most effective when he is playing defense. Clingan showed that he could go toe-to-toe with Zach Edey in the National Championship Game, demonstrating that he can match up against any big man in the NBA down low given his size.

Clingan is also a good positional fit for the Hornets, who have youthful players in Ball and Brandon Miller. On paper, Clingan seems like a perfect fit for the Charlotte Hornets at six.

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Will Hornets be pushed away by Stephon Castle’s point guard wants as a draft fit?

Castle has been closely associated with the Hornets as a predicted top-10 pick. Might that now be different?

A greater number of highly regarded prospects attended the Chicago, Illinois, NBA Draft Combine in 2024 than in previous years. Prospects must now attend the combine due to new restrictions outlined in the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement. It also gave the media an opportunity to properly present itself to this relatively unknown group of prospects during what is generally acknowledged to be one of the worst downturns in a decade.

Stephon Castle, a combo guard from Connecticut, hinted at an intriguing idea in a speech earlier this week. As a five-star prospect in high school, Castle not only wants to play point guard in the Association full-time, but he may even change his top travel priorities as a result.

“I feel like I should have been a point guard for the team the last few months, and I feel like I had to make sacrifices for that,” Castle remarked.

Due to his predicted quick defensive impact, Castle is considered one of the safest lottery-level prospects. Castle, who is 19 years old and stands 6 feet 6 inches tall, has a strong build and should have no trouble covering numbers one through three. Some NBA scouts have even compared Castle to Josh Hart, the versatile wing for the Knicks.

In his single season as a college student, Castle led the Huskies in scoring with 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals/blocks per game. Castle undoubtedly demonstrated his versatility throughout, but his ability to shoot from outside the area is a major concern.

Castle is currently expected to play more off-ball rather than take the lead as an offensive initiator because of his shooting struggles.

With Castle as the starting point guard, Castle thinks NBA executives may see a lot of unrealized potential.

Castle remarked, “I think my skill set is underappreciated in that regard.” “I believe that because I was more aware of things in high school, I showed that a lot more. Yes, I believe that I can see the court fairly well and hit players in the pocket. That is, in my opinion, a quality that a point guard in this league must possess. I believe I have one.

Based only on his response, Castle appears prepared to demonstrate his ability to initiate at the highest level and provide superior defense.

What really caught everyone’s attention was what Castle stated a short while later regarding a team that already had a starting point guard.

Regarding Ja Morant’s possible suitability with the Grizzlies at No. 9 pick, Castle remarked, “They have a star point guard in Ja Morant.” “I believe that I can contribute to any type of squad. My style of play seems to be quite adaptable. I think I can play in any sort of method and with any kind of guy. In college, though, I believe I also made that sacrifice. We’re now discussing my career, which is something I’m proud of. I want to play the one so bad right now. That’s just something to consider, then.

Really, really, really fascinating that information from Castle. Hence, he doesn’t seem to want to be selected by Memphis in the draft, but what about any other lottery team that also happens to have a starting point guard?

Is it now appropriate to disregard the Hornets due to LaMelo Ball’s presence? Perhaps, as this seems to suggest that Castle and his group may be attempting to make a move to a team without a point guard at the moment.

I’m watching Castle carefully to see where he likes to go in the lottery just because of that.

We have also seen this before. This is not the first time. According to reports, Tyrese Haliburton took this action to sign with the Kings and play with De’Aaron Fox. As of right now, both players are prospering independently of one another.

In just five weeks, the 2024 NBA Draft will take place. Be sure to check back with Swarm & Sting for all the most up-to-date draft news leading up to Charlotte’s selection at No. 6 overall.