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Charlotte Hornets: Grading The Offseason

By Gerald Bourguet

Apr 12, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15), center Bismack Biyombo (8), and forward Noah Vonleh (11) walk toward the bench during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15), center Bismack Biyombo (8), and forward Noah Vonleh (11) walk toward the bench during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Charlotte Hornets
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number nine overall pick to the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Drafting Frank Kaminsky

Some teams were extremely high on Frank Kaminsky heading into the 2015 NBA Draft; some were not. On the one hand, the Hornets replaced their raw stretch-4 in Vonleh with a more NBA-ready stretch-4 prospect. Again, Charlotte’s frontcourt is a bit cluttered, but Frank the Tank has a high basketball IQ and his shooting ability is exactly what the Hornets are looking for at that position.

However, there are some definite question marks surrounding this pick. For starters, Duke small forward Justise Winslow was still somehow on the board at No. 9 when the Hornets were on the clock. Winslow’s skills might have overlapped with what Michael Kidd-Gilchrist brings to the table, but that early into the draft you draft by best available, not by need.

Instead, Charlotte stuck with the plan to take Kaminsky and try and bolster their perimeter attack, even though the Boston Celtics reportedly offered six(!!!) draft picks for that No. 9 pick. His lack of athleticism, speed and question marks about his ability to defend at the next level permeate through his potential and make him a possible draft bust candidate.

By the way, remember when Cody Zeller was drafted in 2013 as someone who brought a somewhat similar skill set to the table? I think Kaminsky will actually be a serviceable stretch-big if he can hold his own in the paint and on the boards, and at the very least he should provide perimeter shooting. But here’s hoping Winslow doesn’t come back to haunt the Hornets in the future.

Grade: C

Next: Bye-ombo

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