THE 2024 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft is rapidly approaching, with each team making their final preparations ahead of adding some young talent to the best competition in the world.

There is some seriously impressive young talent available, with the crop stretching all around the globe as more international players begin to gain recognition. Suddenly, the collegiate system is not the only method to joining the NBA, which has allowed a broader range of players to compete at the top level.

With the NBA wrapping up the 2023/24 season as we speak, the teams already eliminated have spent the past few weeks considering which players they will select to prepare for the future, and the recent Draft Lottery saw the official order determined.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be taking a look at each team and how their draft will potentially pan out on June 26-27. With all 30 sides in their own unique situation, there is plenty to unpack ahead of the next injection of exciting players.

Kicking off the list for the week are the Charlotte Hornets, who have been down the bottom of the standings for a while, and will be hopeful another young gun can help push the team back into the playoffs.

Charlotte Hornets

Draft Selections

6, 42

Contracted Players

Davis Bertans, Grant Williams, LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Vasilije Misic, Cody Martin, Nick Richards, Seth Curry, Mark Williams (team option), Tre Mann, Nick Smith Jr., JT Thor (team option), Bryce McGowens, Aleksej Pokusevski

Despite having some high draft picks in recent years, the Hornets have been unable to show much development, especially given the team’s stars in LaMelo Ball has not been able to stay on the court and it has cost the side.

However, the sixth overall pick in the 2024 draft offers another opportunity to add a quality young player and fill a hole in the list.

Expect the Hornets to look to add another backcourt player, preferably a shooting guard that can act as a secondary playmaker, and there are a couple of options in this domain.

The first one is Reed Sheppard out of Kentucky, who would be a valuable two-way presence on the team. If Ball can get healthy, Sheppard certainly has the capability to play off-ball and still impact the game, but he can still orchestrate the offence if required. He is also defensively sound, bringing seriously quick hands to the table and playing on instinct, despite being undersized at six-foot-one.

Another option is UConn Freshman Stephon Castle, who is another defensive disrupter who has shown offensive capabilities at times. Although his shooting from behind the arc has been a concern, he has caught fire at times, and if it can improve at NBA level, he could be one of the best players in the draft class, especially considering his defensive work and eye-catching playmaking.

With their final pick, the Hornets could look to add Florida State forward Jamir Watkins, who does not need the ball to impact the game, and can switch well on the defensive end.