Report: Hornets Focused On Doug McDermott, Nik Stauskas At No. 9
The Charlotte Hornets have the No. 9 overall pick in this week’s NBA Draft. They earned their top-ten selection when the Cleveland Cavaliers got the No. 1 overall pick in the lottery, which bumped the Detroit Pistons out of their projected top-8 pick. As reported by Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, Charlotte now has their sights set on two particular players with the ninth pick,
Charlotte, which has the ninth and 24th picks, is said to be focused on consensus player of the year Doug McDermott of Creighton or Michigan shooting guard Nik Stauskas at No. 9. Look for the Sixers to take whichever one is still on the board at 10.
Encouraging for owner Michael Jordan and the Hornets was their trip to the postseason this year, despite somewhat of a funky Eastern Conference. Their immediate needs are shooting and scoring presences on the wing to accent Kemba Walker at point guard and Al Jefferson at center.
McDermott is nicknamed “McBuckets” because he can create offense from different spots on the floor as a skilled, hybrid forward. Stauskas is a shooting threat, but also showed versatility with the basketball in his hands more last season at Michigan post-Trey Burke. That said, I think Charlotte is thinking the right way, but as with most draftees, the transition and development will be a process.
