Charlotte Hornets Rumors: Buying or Selling Gossip Ahead of 2015 NBA Draft

The week before the NBA draft is as fun and informative as it gets. Predraft workouts and interviews? Who cares about that when there's a frenzy of endless rumors and gossip taking place! 

The Charlotte Hornets have been one of the quieter teams amid all the league-wide buzzing, but there's still plenty to dissect.

Armed with the No. 9 pick for a second consecutive year, the Hornets are positioned to pounce on one of the draft's premier prospects once again.

The super-talented Noah Vonleh slid to them last year in this slot, and general manager Rich Cho will be crossing his fingers for similar luck this time around. But Vonleh wasn't allowed to show much last year either, and was just dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers for Nicolas Batum.

So, one poor selection could shift rumors from the draft to Cho's desk. He may be one swing and a miss from unemployment.

Charlotte Needs Shooting, But Won't Reach For It

The Hornets' outside shooting woes have been well-documented for years. They were last in the league in 2014-15 with a 31.8 percentage from three-point range, which hopefully for the franchise, represents rock bottom in that category.

There are certainly worse years to desire outside shooting. This crop is full of talented marksmen, but it's feasible that there won't be any of them representing a good value at No. 9.

According to Steve Reed of the Associated Press, Cho acknowledged the dire need for perimeter help, but stressed that there's no guarantee that problem will be addressed with the No. 9 pick.

"We're going to address the shooting this summer, but it could be through the draft, free agency or a trade," Cho said during a press conference on Thursday.

Cho also noted that trading up is on his radar, but it isn't always that simple. Should they stay put, guys such as Kentucky's Devin Booker, Wisconsin's Sam Dekker and maybe even a few long shots in Kansas' Kelly Oubre and Murray State's Cameron Payne might be in play.

Yet, each one would be considered a reach except for possibly Booker.

Then again, Cho apparently isn't all that picky, per his comments provided by the team's official Twitter feed:

Charlotte's need for a shooter cannot be understated. It is a copycat league, and the Golden State Warriors just put on a clinic all throughout the postseason behind the Splash Brothers. The Hornets need to spread the floor to help out its bigs, and the Kemba Walker-Gerald Henderson tandem isn't getting that done.

I am selling this notion because Booker makes too much sense. He has enough upside and is a good enough fit to warrant taking him at No. 9. If nobody slides a few spots and forces Charlotte to run to the podium, Cho couldn't go wrong with Booker.

Verdict: Sell

Stanley Johnson Is Not Buzzing

One prospect who made a ton of sense has apparently taken himself off Charlotte's draft board. Stanley Johnson either isn't feeling the teal or is afraid of playing Michael Jordan one-on-one. Whatever the reason is, he is out.

According to Jonathan Givony of Draft Express, Arizona's Stanley Johnson has refused to work out for the Hornets. Johnson supposedly is hopeful of going No. 8 to the Detroit Pistons or No. 10 to the Miami Heat.

It's a shame and also disconcerting. Johnson has worked out for plenty of teams but doesn't see the Hornets as a fit. For months, this has been a legitimate choice for Charlotte. Johnson would blend well with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and form one of the league's youngest and most potent perimeter tandems on the defensive end. The Hornets also desperately need a new go-to scorer.

Johnson hit 37.1 percent from three as a freshman, which would have been a massive upgrade over the newest Los Angeles Clipper, Lance Stephenson. Charlotte shipped out its prized free agent of last summer after posting the "worst three-point shooting season ever" in exchange for Matt Barnes and Spencer Hawes.

It's happened before where a team has drafted a guy who refused workouts with them, so it isn't out of the question. However, after a 33-49 season, the last thing the Hornets need is to take a chance on an unfamiliar disgruntled player. Unfortunately, you have to buy this rumor.

Verdict: Buy

The Hornets Can't Forget About Willie Cauley-Stein

Yes, Al Jefferson has opted in for next season by exercising his player option at $13.5 million. Yes, restricted free-agent center Bismack Biyombo is still in the picture for the Hornets. And yes, Charlotte has been working out former No. 1 pick Greg Oden.

Wait, what?

I know, I couldn't believe it either, but Real GM's Shams Charania (via Kurt Helin of NBC Sports) confirmed it.

This could mean one of three things. One: Charlotte has little faith in retaining Al Jefferson after this upcoming season. Two: Cho doesn't see Biyombo returning. Three: The Hornets are completely desperate.

Charlotte wouldn't be working out a guy with three microfracture surgeries under his belt if it weren't desperate for rim protection. A particularly athletic center by the name of Willie Cauley-Stein just so happens to be just the guy to solve that problem.

His availability at No. 9 is up in the air. Cauley-Stein is a polarizing prospect who could go anywhere from fourth to the end of the lottery. But if he falls to ninth, then Charlotte almost has to pull the trigger.

Better yet, WCS would actually relish being in the presence of the "GOAT," unlike Johnson. His comments, courtesy of the team's Twitter feed, confirmed that:

It is easier to find shooters than it is to land a defensive anchor who can run the floor and eradicate anything and everything under the rim. Cauley-Stein owned real estate in the top-10 list all year because of his punishing dunks and blocks.

More than anything, Charlotte is boring, and Cauley-Stein is riveting. This is the kind of guy who will bring the buzz back and make the Hornets fun to watch again.

He has the energy that can finally get this team out of the mud and in transition. Imagine fast-break attacks with Cauley-Stein and Cody Zeller trailing the ball-handler. Not bad, right?

Verdict: Buy