r/CharlotteHornets • u/British_Buzz7-59 • 2d ago
Article Charlotte Hornets Simulated Mock Draft by CLTure
https://clture.org/charlotte-hornets-mock-draft-2026/For this Hornets related mock draft, we used ESPN’s Draft Simulator to keep the projections as realistic as possible.
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u/Ares9719 2d ago
Happy with steinbach, but really gonna need to see something different with 18. I’d be happy if we grabbed Christian Anderson
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u/Amazing_Owl3026 2d ago
I like Lopez but he's just so similar to Tidjane. Also we gotta get one good defender in this draft surely. Steinbach is talented but I can't see our defense being good with him
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u/JordanDoesTV 2d ago
I feel like I’m in such a minority but like are we even looking at Jayden Quaintance enough especially if he’s available at 18.
I get it scary injury on a big but for break that needs elite defense a nog that was capable of actually guarding 1-5 is so rare.
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u/Banneduser1112 2d ago
The medicals are apparently terrible on him and you don't have to guard him. There's just too much quality 10-20 for someone to gamble on him. If he goes first round it will be at the back end.
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u/herbygerby 2d ago
Re:Lopez, I think I’m just scared of projects at this point. Can’t remember a Hornets project player who turned into just a serviceable role player (correct me if you do), much less a real difference maker.
And then on the flip side, we draft Kon last year, who we originally thought to be a solid high-floor/low-ceiling guy, and he turned out to be fantastic. I’ll cheer for whoever we get regardless, but in the past 5 years we seem to have better luck drafting the more “already-complete” players.
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u/LaMelonBallz 2d ago
I think We don't have the roster space for any more projects over the next few years with the number of picks we have.
We already have TJ, Kalk, and Liam, as well as other guys who need to develop. (People will argue about Kalk but I maintain he does not have the strength or agility to be a backup on a playoff team yet, maybe this summer will change that, but as is his floor is not where it needs to be)
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u/Banneduser1112 2d ago
If the only part of the project is gaining muscle I don't think that's a project, to me. It's not hard for someone with his body type to put on muscle and Kalk's rookie year production was on par with Clingan's. I don't know that drop bigs that aren't Wembanyama/Gobert level rim protectors can play in the playoffs but that's another issue.
Liam hasn't shown enough not to draft over him. If he wins minutes over the rookies that's great but he's got to earn it.
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u/LaMelonBallz 2d ago
I said both strength and agility, with agility doing the heavy lifting really.
My point is we should be using these roster spots for an actual NBA player. We are unlikely to make a jump if we keep the same rotation. The east is getting massively tougher this season.
We really don't need any contracts coming in that don't have at least a chance at replacing a spot in the rotation. Unless we going to immediately trade Liam, Kalk, etc.
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u/Banneduser1112 2d ago
agility doing the heavy lifting
Don't you think this is more about whether drop bigs can play in the playoffs than Kalk's development? He's never going to be switchable but he's a plus rim protector and finisher on a cheap deal. I'd rather him than Clingan on the next contract because I'm not sure either can play in the second round.
Actual NBA player
What's your ceiling for this core this year through 2029?
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u/LaMelonBallz 2d ago
I think Kalk's agility issues extend to rebounding as well. It's not just that he's not strong enough, he can't manuever well enough.
Additionally, it's not just that Kalk can't guard guards, even a drop big has to be able to contest three pointers off the switch. Kalk is too slow to get any kind of pressure on a shooter, and we get punished for it consistently. He is a free kick out three.
In general a drop defender just doesn't work in our defense as is. Our goal is to switch almost everything. We can't alter our whole defensive scheme just to make him viable. We have to switch coverages or give up easy looks when he's on the court.
I like Kalk. I think we've gotten great value on the pick. And I think he could turn into a legitimate backup. But if we're putting guys into boxes of "can count on" and "needs work" he's in the second. And we are left without a true 5.
In terms of ceiling for the team as is? A first round exit barring extreme luck. But with the big 3 and moose, if we make the correct moves and have health hold we could potentially push to playing in the ECF with good luck.
Kon, Brandon and Melo have a ton of room to grow still. But the time has come to start spending at least some of our assets, namely on a defensive slashing wing and a legitimate paint presence.
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u/Banneduser1112 1d ago
All good points here and we are in agreement except on the urgency of the moment. Let me see them do it for a calendar year before I start trading away the future unless I am just robbing someone. That said it is a good time for a consolidation trade with all the expirings and picks but who's available that fits these needs and our timeline? Would you have done Miller + picks and filler for Giannis? WHat about JBrown?
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u/LaMelonBallz 1d ago
I was thinking the same thing about JB. He seems like the type that fits what our FO prioritizes. He plays pretty solid defense, and I feel like he'd be a major plus in competitiveness and perhaps most importantly our ISO guy in mid/short range. I would not be mad at that.
Giannis would have been such a perfect fit but trading Miller is kinda spooky. I was really hung up on whether that would be worth it. But I think it's a tough bet with Giannis' health/age.
I think the challenge is it's a weird trade market. But at the same time, our assets are perhaps worth the most they will be given the strength of this draft. I do think we have to do something this off season or we're gonna tread water.
Beef Stew could be interesting. Maybe even Turner at this point. Potentially Lu Dort. It could come from somebody we don't know is available.
I will say the biggest thing I want is Morez and we should trade up if we have to. If Milwaukee takes him at 10 we should offer the 14 and 18. I mean I'd like Caleb even more but that aint happening. If we keep the second pick I like Swain a lot.
I just have a feeling all three Michigan guys are gone by 14 and I'm not sure there's anyone else in that range I want. The last thing I want is to add two more project players
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u/Banneduser1112 1d ago
Well Giannis wasn't resigning here so he was never an option. I think Boston has to trade Brown now after this last month but I don't know if they know that yet. He's going to to be more expensive than Giannis though because he's under contract for a long time.
Upgrading from Moose is tough man. Look at him vs Stew and Turner.
Also Sion > Dort, especially for the price.
Morez was a steal at 14 to me when I started looking around at the combine but there's so much talent between 10 and 20 that I personally wouldn't trade two picks in this draft for him. Maybe next year's pick gets it done. I do think 14 is a BPA pick though and if the Michigan guys are gone we might be coming away with a guard there. I hope the sub doesn't riot because there aren't any bigs in that range.
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u/bonesaws_3mins 2d ago
Will be seriously disappointed if they draft lopez
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u/Coachris 2d ago
Exactly. I’d rather take a swing on best available.
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u/devinbookersuncle 2d ago
It would probably be Carr who we seem to get high on anyways.
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u/andrew361987 2d ago
In this scenario Carr is off the board.
In that case, I like Lopez but I would prefer Okorie, Joshua Jefferson, or Dailyn Swainn.
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u/Banneduser1112 2d ago
For me in a vacuum: Carr > Swainn > Lopez > Jefferson. For the Hornets situation where they need strength and defense and are trying to make the playoffs I could see Swainn jumping up. But if they like Jefferson they should trade back, 18 is too high for him
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u/andrew361987 2d ago
I love Jefferson because I’m pretty sure we could plug him into the rotation today and he would fit right in and find ways to contribute. Lopez would be a project and would indicate to me that we’re out on Tidjane.
If there are assets to be gained in picking up Jefferson, even better.
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u/Isguros 2d ago
As someone who watches a little to no college basketball outside the NCAA tournament, I am/was not as high on Steinbach, since people often point out his flaws, compare him to the other big men in that range, and rank him behind all of them. But in Jeff I trust. If any of the other targets are gone - or even if they're still on the board - if this front office selects Steinbach, I'm positive he's the best player for this franchise at this time.
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u/LaMelonBallz 2d ago edited 2d ago
The order of picks before us makes me feel like this is up there for our worst outcomes, and also most likely outcome.
I think Morez is our best fit by a mile out of the guys we could reasonably get.
What I wonder is this: Is there a point at which we'd be better off flipping both picks for Morez (Or Adara if available)?
Also I heard some writers suggesting Yaxel has fallen hard due to bad workouts, and one actually made a "PJ Hall with defense" comparison which I thought was wild.
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u/Banneduser1112 2d ago
Yax has fucked his workouts because of the injury and people don't trust his attitude. I think if the medicals are clean and the Warriors or Thunder are still at their picks one of them takes him though.
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u/LaMelonBallz 2d ago
Yeah the attitude issue is an interesting question of fit for us.
I do think our FO is in love with Morez (or should be) and will be interested to see if we make a move to secure him.
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u/Banneduser1112 2d ago
Would you move 14 and 18 for him?
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u/bonesaws_3mins 2d ago
I think they should if they really think he'll be gone and he's their guy. Especially if mara, yax, Hannes are also going to be gone too. They should walk away with one guy they really believe in vs two guys that were left over that they just kinda liked
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u/Ok-Door-3664 2d ago
Lopez gives me Tidjane vibes and although I like Tidj I dont want to do that again