The Charlotte Hornets come into next season as a team trying to solidify an identity. In the NBA, the optimal situation for a team is to either be rebuilding or contending. Middle of the pack status is usually akin to dying a slow and predictable death. The Hornets have been middle of the pack for the past two seasons.
In the 2013-14 season, the then Charlotte Bobcats surprised the Eastern Conference with a scrappy, hard-nosed bunch that won with defense. They finished 43-39 that season, winning 8 of their last 9 games to grab the 7th seed in the East. They faced the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs and got swept. It finally seemed like Charlotte was starting to solidify an identity under head coach Steve Clifford as a tough, defense-first team. The front office even followed suit in the offseason by drafting Noah Vonleh and PJ Hairston in the first round of that year's draft and signing free-agent SG Lance Stephenson to a 3-year contract. All three can be considered defensive-minded players.
When you are a middle of the pack team, every move you make needs to come out right for you to continue being successful. One bad signing or draft pick and the entire thing can come down like a house of cards. That bad move for the Hornets likely came with the signing of Stephenson. The shooting guard never quite meshed in Charlotte and was eventually demoted to the bench in the middle of the season. His defense was aloof and his offense was atrocious. With their defense not quite on the same level as it was the previous season, and their offense one of the worst in the league, Charlotte struggled to keep pace in a weak Eastern Conference.
As the Hornets enter this offseason, one of their biggest areas of need is perimeter offense. They ranked 29th in FG% (42% from the field) and 30th in 3pt FG% (31.8%). With little to no scoring from the perimeter, the Hornets relied on an offense predicated on 1-on-1 action, which led to a stagnated offensive system that ranked 28th in assists per game.
Another need for them is perimeter defense. Many of their perimeter players are point guards with small wingspans (Kemba Walker, Mo Williams, Brian Roberts). This and the low-risk nature of their defensive scheme led to the Hornets racking up the least amount of steals in the league. Low steals means low transition oppotunities and fast-break points. And for a team that struggles to score within its own offense, negating itself fast-break points stagnates their point totals even more.
The Hornets tried to address their perimeter needs this offseason by trading Lance Stephenson to the Los Angeles Clippers for Matt Barnes and Spencer Hawes. Barnes will do a good job as a 3 and D wing, while Hawes, as one of the better stretch 4/5's in the league, gives the Hornets a good contrast to what Al Jefferson provides on the interior. But this was a move that was more about the present, and less about the future. The Hornets got rid of Stephenson, while also obtain an asset in Barnes, who is entering the final year of his contract.
The Hornets come into this draft with one pick in each round: No. 9 in the first round and No. 39 in the second round. In the first round, look for Charlotte to target a bigger guard that can shoot from the perimeter. They would love for Mario Hezonja to fall to them, but he will likely be off the board by the time their pick is up. Devin Booker will likely be an option for the Hornets. He is one of the better, if not the best shooter, in the draft. But, he may be a liability defensively with his short wingspan. Another option for the Hornets is Sam Dekker, who may not be as good a shooter as Booker, but has more defensive potential due to his size. Both Dekker and Booker have worked out for the Hornets.
Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer stated that the Hornets may not necessarily just target a perimeter player, "Much as the Charlotte Hornets need 3-point shooting, general manager Rich Cho wouldn't pass over a superior player purely to address that flaw." While the recent trade does address some of the perimeter needs, there is still no reason for Charlotte not to draft a gifted shooter in the first round if possible.
In the 2nd round, look for the Hornets to target a defensive big man they can develop. Jason Maxiell is a free agent and Bismack Biyombo is heading into his 5th season, meaning the Hornets either sign him to a qualifying offer of $5.5 million for next season or watch him walk with nothing in return. Rakeem Christmas and Mouhammadou Jaiteh both impressed scouts with their performances at the NBA Draft Combine last month. They are likely options for the Hornets at the 39th spot.
The Hornets have a good young nucleus in Walker, Hairston, Vonleh, Cody Zeller, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Adding a bonafide shooter to that mix will help the Hornets as they build for the future. The only problem is whether the front office thinks they are building for the future or loading up for the present.