4 Reasons drafting Scoot Henderson should be a no-brainer for Hornets

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CHARLOTTE, NC – CIRCA 1993: Larry Johnson #2 and Muggsy Bogues #1 of the Charlotte Hornets celebrate after a play during an NBA basketball game circa 1993 at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Johnson played for the Hornets from 1991-96. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Scoot will excite the team’s fanbase

For three years in the early ’90s, the Charlotte Hornets were one of the most popular teams in the NBA. Utilizing a duo of talented frontcourt mates, Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning, the team qualified for the playoffs in 1993 and again in 1995. While the future looked bright for the young Hornets, contract disputes and ego battles led management to dismantle the team.

Since that brief moment in time, the NBA’s franchise in Charlotte has seen intermittent success but never achieved anything sustainable over a long period of time. Unlike the Boston Celtics or the Los Angeles Lakers, the Hornets do not have decades of championship glory to rely on in order to secure the loyalty of their fans. If they are going to be a successful organization they must find a way to win and present a product the city can rally behind.

To say that Scoot Henderson plays an exciting brand of basketball would be an understatement. Although he did not participate in scrimmages at the NBA draft combine, his athleticism and strength have been raved about by everyone who has seen him play. LaMelo Ball has shown the fans in Charlotte that he has exceptional court vision along with the ability to make impressive passes to cutting players. Henderson’s presence will mean another set of young legs that can catch the ball above the rim and finish with an emphatic dunk from one of LaMelo’s dimes.

While winning is certainly the name of the game in the NBA, keeping the fans engaged during downtimes is almost equally as important. Before the Sacramento Kings were able to end their playoff drought, they maintained a raucous home crowd during their losing seasons. If the arena had been quiet and the stands had been empty, perhaps players like De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis would have forced their way out of town instead of sticking around and figuring it out. Henderson and Ball are two players who could eventually have the same impact in Charlotte if given the opportunity to do so.

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