Hornets Eye Two Players with No. 2 Pick, GM Says – General manager Mitch Kupchak said the Charlotte Hornets likely will use the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft on one of two players, but he also did not totally rule out trading down.
Kupchak did not identify the two players, but ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported earlier this week that the Hornets are down to Alabama forward Brandon Miller and G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson, both of whom were in Charlotte for a private workout Monday.
“I anticipate that we would take the pick at 2, but I’m not going to rule out the possibility that we wouldn’t trade the pick,” Kupchak said Wednesday at a pre-draft news conference. “It’s a very coveted pick in our league right now. You would be surprised at some of the phone calls and players that I believe would be available.
“So up until the last minute, we are going listen, but at this moment I do expect to take the pick at 2.”
Miller is believed to be the better overall fit for the Hornets’ roster because Henderson plays the same position, which is point guard, as LaMelo Ball, the No. 3 overall selection in 2020. Kupchak said however that the Hornets, who haven not made the playoffs since back in 2016, are not totally focused on fit.
“I don’t think we’re at the stage where we’re good enough to focus on fit,” he said. “Next year, knock on wood, we’re healthy, we might be getting close where we could look a little bit more to fit.
“But right now, it’s about adding the best player that we could possibly add to the team. We’re going to take the player that we feel is best for this organization going forward.”
Kupchak acknowledged he did not gain a lot more insight getting a second look at Miller and Henderson on Monday, when outgoing owner Michael Jordan was also on hand.
“I’ve been looking at these players the whole year,” he said. “The second time around, they were much more familiar with what we were going to do and they gave us their very best in these workouts.
“In these one-on-zero workouts, there’s a lot of pressure, and then when Michael walks in, there’s even more pressure. For me, I was comfortable with where I was a week ago, but it’s always good to get a second look if you can.”
Kupchak refused speak about a specific player when asked whether the Hornets perceived any character flaws with Miller, who in January brought Alabama teammate Darius Miles a handgun that was used to kill a woman in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, according to police.
A police officer testified that Miles texted Miller asking him to bring Miles’ gun in the early-morning hours of January 15, the day of the shooting. Miller was not charged with any wrongdoing, and the university has described him as a cooperating witness.
“Certainly, at the 2 pick, you’re going to have a lot of intel that you’ve done,” Kupchak said. “Whoever we take at No. 2, we’re going to be very comfortable with anything that might not be isolated to the basketball court.”
Kupchak did not get into specifics of potential trade partners, but the Hornets have been linked to interest in New Orleans Pelicans star power forward Zion Williamson, the top pick of the 2019 draft whose NBA career has been marred by injuries and missed playing time.
Kupchak also clarified he does not anticipate a trade at No. 2 happening while Charlotte is on the clock.
“The No. 2 pick will be made,” he said. “There’ll be no activity — nothing’s going to happen an hour or 15 minutes before the draft. I don’t see that.”
Also…
Nuggets to get First-Round Pick from Pacers – The defending champion Denver Nuggets will acquire the 29th and 32nd overall picks in Thursday’s draft in a trade with the Indiana Pacers, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Nuggets will send a 2024 first-round pick and the 40th overall pick in this year’s draft to Indiana in the swap, sources said.
The 2024 first-rounder going to the Pacers was acquired by the Nuggets in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder made during the NBA Finals. It is thought to be the least consequential among the 2024 first-round picks owned by the Thunder, which includes Oklahoma City’s, the LA Clippers’, Houston’s (if 5-30) or Utah’s (if 11-30), according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. The Nuggets acquired that pick, as well as the 37th overall pick in this draft, for a protected 2029 first-round pick in the recent deal with Oklahoma City.
Denver, which is preparing for the possibility of losing sixth man Bruce Brown in free agency after he declined his $6.8 million option for next season earlier Wednesday, will now draft at Nos. 29, 32 and 37, respectively, on Thursday as general manager Calvin Booth continues to attempt to find young role players who can contribute right away during the franchise’s window as contenders. It is critical for the Nuggets to have contributors on rookie contracts to fill out a roster that features two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. on maximum contracts.
Christian Braun, the No. 21 pick last year out of the University of Kansas, was a rotation player as a rookie. The Nuggets are optimistic that Peyton Watson, the No. 30 overall pick last year who played sparingly as a rookie, but got time down in the G League, will be ready to fill a rotation role next season.
Do not feel bad for Indiana. The Pacers still own four picks on Thursday night (Nos. 7, 26, 40 and 55) and remain active in trade talks with other teams, sources said. Indiana, whose promising young core is headlined by All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who they acquired in a trade from the Sacramento Kings and All-Rookie shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin, who they selected with the No. 6 pick last season, now owns two first-round picks in the 2024 draft.
