Mar 23, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Creighton Bluejays forward
Doug McDermott(3) reacts after the loss to the Baylor Bears in the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
9. Charlotte Hornets – Doug McDermott
There hasn’t been a lot of talk about the Hornets moving around. They seem to be content with sticking at nine. However, the rumors that are floating around out there are saying that Charlotte is in love with McDermott.
There is good reason to love McDermott’s game. He is arguably the best shooter in this draft, and the Hornets could use his scoring ability. In the playoffs last year against the Miami Heat, the Hornets were limited to Al Jefferson being the only true scorer on the court. When Big Al got injured, they needed someone else to step up and help take the scoring load off his shoulders. There were a few guys that tried, but nobody did it.
Adding a guy like McDermott would help take that scoring load off of Big Al. It also helps spread the court a little bit. Big Al is one of the best big men in the league, and attracts a ton of attention on the low block. He gets double teamed on a regular basis. If you can add McDermott, it helps in that aspect. If they double Al, McDermott is open for a three. If they stay on their man, Big Al has a one-on-one at the basket that he is going to win every single time.
Adding McDermott here makes a ton of sense, and the only other route that I could see the Hornets taking is with Nik Stauskas. However, I just think with as much as they have reportedly said they love McDermott, there won’t be another route they go.