NBA Charlotte Hornets

Did the Charlotte Hornets Make the Right Pick with Cody Zeller?

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By @Alex_NinerTimes

Curtis Wilson-USA TODAY Sports

Curtis Wilson-USA TODAY Sports

When the Charlotte Hornets chose Cody Zeller with the fourth pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, they thought that they were getting their franchise power forward to assist Al Jefferson in the frontcourt; he was one of the best players in college basketball, after all.

In one of the weakest drafts in recent memory, the Hornets selected Zeller early, but still have yet to see him perform. Noticeable picks from the 2013 draft are hard to come by, but include Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Carter-Williams, Victor Oladipo and Mason Plumlee.

In the 2014 NBA draft, the Hornets picked yet another forward from Indiana, selecting Noah Vonleh, who happens to be the exact same position as Zeller. What were the Hornets thinking when they picked the same position two years in a row within the top 10 spots?

They were either unhappy with Zeller and are looking toward Vonleh to take his spot, or honestly thought that selecting two power forwards in a row would be a good idea. My guess is that Charlotte is expecting Vonleh to take the spot in the near future, due to Zeller’s 2.0 points per game and 2.2 rebounds per game in the playoffs last season.

In Zeller’s rookie year, he put up semi-respectable numbers of six points per game and four rebounds per game, but has looked horrendous thus far in the preseason. In the game last night against the Indiana Pacers, Zeller played 22 minutes and put up a staggering four points and three boards, got dominated by Luis Scola in the post (who had 15 points and 12 rebounds) and didn’t look like he even wanted to be on the floor.

Has he lost his confidence with so many other options at the four position? Or is he honestly just that bad right now? At this point in time, Charlotte is at a complete loss in the cycle of Zeller’s career; he hasn’t produced enough to warrant any trade value, and he isn’t good enough to earn a respectable amount of minutes. Michael Jordan and Co. picked up Marvin Williams in the offseason to start at the four, as well as Jason Maxiell, adding even more uncertainty to the amount of confidence they have in Zeller.

I know it’s still preseason right now and Zeller isn’t the worst player in the league, but it’s a decent question to wonder how confident he is in himself, and how confident the Hornets are in him. With a hot prospect in Vonleh in the background and multiple forwards on the bench, one must ask how much time Zeller has left until he stops getting minutes.

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