Charlotte Hornets: 5 options for pick No. 11 in 2017 NBA Draft
3. Luke Kennard, SG, Duke
The Hornets definitely need more shooting. They ranked 18th in the NBA last season in terms of three-point shooting efficiency. That has to get better if they’re going to climb back into the postseason in 2017-18.
As I’ve noted, the Hornets don’t have the salary cap room to find a shooter through free agency. J.J. Redick would be a great fit back in North Carolina, but that isn’t financially possible. The good news is, if they want a Duke Blue Devil that can shoot, one should be available in the NBA Draft.
Luke Kennard skyrocketed up draft boards after a stellar 2016-17 season for Duke. On a roster loaded with pro prospects such as Harry Giles, Grayson Allen, Jayson Tatum and Frank Jackson, Kennard was clearly the best player.
Kennard led the Blue Devils in scoring, averaging 19.5 points per game on 49 percent shooting and 43.8 percent from three-point range. He is a crafty scorer, and can score all over the court, but NBA teams undoubtedly covet his outside shot the most.
His three-point stroke is what stands out, but he’s not just a shooter. Here’s what The Ringer‘s Kevin O’Connor wrote about him in March:
"“Kennard is one of my favorite prospects in this draft. He’s a below-average athlete but makes up for it with his craftiness, feel, and killer mentality. “The level of improvement he made as a ball handler from his freshman to sophomore seasons unleashed his pick-and-roll playmaking and scoring ability. Even if he isn’t quick or athletic enough to become a go-to-scoring presence, the ability to make plays off a screen gives him an additional wrinkle on top of his already-established elite shooting. In a draft with a talent drop-off in the late lottery, I’d gamble on Kennard.”"
By drafting Kennard, you get an elite shooter, a secondary ball-handler, and a player that can score in a variety of ways. He doesn’t have the ceiling of a player like Zach Collins or Lauri Markkanen, but you know what you’re getting with Kennard and what you’re getting is valuable.
There are some questions about his defense and athleticism, but I think his strengths far outweigh his weaknesses. It’s a shooter’s league and the Hornets don’t have enough shooters. Picking Kennard helps change that.
The latest Draft Express mock draft has the Hornets selecting Kennard. This may not be the pick Hornets fans are hoping for, but it’d be an excellent selection nonetheless.