FULL NBA Review From February 28, 2021

MICHAEL JORDAN’S HORNETS HAVE BECOME THE BEST DRAFTING TEAM IN THE NBA

Michael Jordan‘s ownership tenure with the Hornets has been described as disappointing and underachieving. Once the most dominant player in basketball history, MJ’s post-playing days have been defined by losing in his home state of North Carolina. However, that all seems on the cusp of changing, and a big reason for that is the addition of GM Mitch Kupchak. 

After an unsuccessful ending to a legendary run in Los Angeles (5x NBA Champion), the Hornets were able to finally add a proven General Manager to make the basketball decisions and add more championship-DNA to the front office. While his big decisions in LA hadn’t turned the corner yet at the time, Kupchak actually ended his Lakers tenure on a tear.

In 2014, he selected PF Julius Randle with the seventh overall pick (who’s now the second-best player taken in that first round behind only Joel Embiid). Then in 2015, he drafted D’Angelo Russell second overall and stole Larry Nance Jr. with the 27th pick. And to cap it off, he picked Brandon Ingram at second overall in 2016 and then snagged Ivica Zubac during the second round. Five picks in his final three years… five hits. 

Kupchak then brought that same drafting expertise with him to Charlotte as he has turned the worst drafting franchise into the best, almost as if he has the Midas touch. He started in 2018 by taking Miles Bridges at 12th overall over the likes of Jerome Robinson, Troy Brown, and Zhaire Smith. While that’s a solid start, no selection in that draft was more impressive than Charlotte’s 34th overall pick of Devonte’ Graham, the only second-round pick that has averaged double-digit points per game. 

As an encore, Kupchak took PJ Washington 12th overall with Chuma Okeke, Sekou Doumboiuya, Romeo Langford, and Tyler Herro as the next player’s on the board. Washington’s 42 points are what helped lift Charlotte to a shocking win over Sacramento on Sunday night and he’s become a quality starting player already. Then, his most famous move came four months ago with the addition of LaMelo Ball to be the new face of the franchise after sign-and-trading Kemba Walker away the year prior for Terry Rozier. 

Rozier, Graham, Bridges, Washington, and Ball are all 26 years old or younger. Add in a 23-year-old Malik Monk who was inherited by Mitch, and the Hornets have one of the best young cores in the NBA and they’re currently just 1 GB of home-court advantage in the crowded Eastern Conference this season. 

As much credit as Mitch Kupchak deserves for turning this Hornets franchise around, Michael Jordan still has the final say on all personnel decisions and has certainly helped construct Charlotte’s promising young roster. The two of them have turned this organization around and deserve to be recognized as the current Kings of drafting in the NBA thanks to their recent three-year track record of success as the only team with FOUR starting-caliber players drafted over the last three years.  

COLORS KEY | FULL HORNETS FUTURE OUTLOOK 

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