Charlotte Hornets' Top Needs After 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Results
The NBA Draft lottery is in the books, and the Charlotte Hornets are now set at pick No. 14.
As they continue to evaluate the prospects who may be available there, we're here to break down the biggest needs for Charlotte to address in the draft.
A Wing/Forward
The Charlotte Hornets' midseason surge started just a little too late to make the playoffs, but they still have one of the deeper, more balanced rosters in the league.
So, they could probably just go "best player available" and be fine. But if that player happens to be a forward or wing, even better. Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller figure to be around for the foreseeable future, but the latter will be a restricted free agent this summer and Miles Bridges, Josh Green and Grant Williams will all be unrestricted. Re-signing Miller could require something close to the max, so another rookie contract for the forward rotation would help.
Stretch Big
The LaMelo Ball/Knueppel/Miller/Bridges/Moussa Diabaté lineup was a huge part of the midseason charge up the standings. And Ryan Kalkbrenner's rim protection and ability to finish around the rim made him one of this season's more effective rookies.
But neither Diabaté nor Kalkbrenner stretches the floor at all, and the Hornets could use a sweeter shooting big to more effectively play true five-out lineups.
Realistic Draft Targets at No. 14 Pick
- Karim Lopez (New Zealand, PF)
- Nate Ament (Tennessee, SF)
- Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan, PF)
The Hornets will do their due diligence, scouting players projected outside the lottery, since they don't need to swing for a home run at this spot.
Looking at lottery projections, though, via B/R NBA Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman, you see Karim Lopez, Nate Ament and Yaxel Lendeborg fit what the Hornets are looking for around pick No. 14.
Lendeborg doesn't offer the same size as his Michigan teammate, starting center Aday Mara (7'3"), who is also a projected lottery pick. But at 6'9", he spreads the floor to the tune of 37.2 percent from three on 4.5 attempts per game and showed a real toughness playing through injuries late in the NCAA Tournament.
Nate Ament is another potential "best player available" candidate here. And he happens to fill a need with 6'10" size and a desirable shoot-dribble-pass skill set.
*Check out full scouting reports for Karim Lopez, Nate Ament, and Yaxel Lendeborg.
