Brad Penner – USA TODAY Sports
The Charlotte Hornets recently traded for Nicolas Batum, greatly strengthening their depth on the wing and giving them a very good defender to pair with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Both of those players are extremely versatile and can match up with a variety of players. Their length and defensive ability may be able to offset the chance that the Hornets are taking on Frank Kaminsky, who is a very skilled big man who can provide an instant boost on offense. But the Hornets had plenty of other options, and taking a player with a similar skill set to Spencer Hawes is an interesting decision.
The team needed outside shooting and could have taken a player such as Devin Booker, who would have been great playing next to either Batum or Kidd-Gilchrist. Justise Winslow was also still available, and would have given the team a devastating wing combination on defense. The Golden State Warriors are a very good example of a team with numerous wing defenders who can switch on the perimeter with success. But the Hornets decided to go with Kaminsky, hoping that he can give them an inside-outside threat on offense.
The team certainly has some potential on offense should Al Jefferson stay, as Kaminsky could be an ideal stretch power forward. He has shown a strong skillset with a good outside jump shot to keep defenses honest. However, he will be going against talented defenders every night, and it is hard to see him getting as many buckets in the paint as he did in college. He played well against some high-profile players, but will have to adjust to be able to score consistently in the pros.
Kaminsky can certainly become a very good professional player, especially given his versatile offensive game. However, the Hornets have other needs and there were plenty of prospects available when it was their turn to pick. They could have looked to improve on an already potent wing combination, drafted a 3-point specialist, or even looked for a future rim-protector. Instead, they will have to hope that Kaminsky can fit in and prove that he was the right choice.
