Charlotte’s offseason will be an interesting one. With their future secured around LaMelo Ball, the Hornets will be making decisions based on how those players fit around their point guard. Heading into the draft, any number of possibilities are at hand. The team has a need for center but at the No. 11 pick, a center is not expected to be in that range.
As a result, the Hornets could go a number of different ways with their pick. One direction could be going after a wing like Corey Kispert from Gonzaga. Another way could be taking a guard that complements Ball like Baylor’s Davion Mitchell, which NBC Sports mocked to Charlotte in their latest mock draft.
Likely no player saw their stock rise in the 2020-21 season and during the tournament than Mitchell. Here is the analysis on the pick given by NBC Sports:
Mitchell raised his profile a good deal as one of the best players on Baylor as they won the national championship. He’s arguably the best defensive point guard in this draft and he can also pass and shoot lights-out from three. This season he hit 44.7% from long range on 4.7 attempts per game. Those are elite numbers to take into the draft.
On the season, Mitchell averaged 14.0 points on 51.1% shooting from the field and 44.7% shooting from the 3-point line on 4.7 attempts per game. Oddly, he shot just 64.1% from the free throw line, though he also added 5.5 assists as well.
His value to the Hornets would also come on the defensive end as well. As one of the best guards in the draft at that end of the court, he would complement Ball, who is not yet a good defender in the NBA.
Ultimately, it seems unlikely the Hornets draft another guard with multiple already on the roster. But Mitchell’s skillset is interesting enough that it could make him worth the risk.
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