Rationale For The Charlotte Hornets
There’s a clear perspective for the Charlotte Hornets if they were to move up to the No. 1 spot in the NBA Draft. They’d have to view a particular prospect as a can’t miss talent worth trading up to get.
The main question for the Hornets has to be whether or not there even is a prospect that happens to match such a description. If so, would it be LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, or James Wiseman? If it’s anybody else, they already are in a prime position to select that prospect.
It seems highly unlikely the Minnesota Timberwolves would use the No. 1 pick on James Wiseman when considering they already have Karl-Anthony Towns. If he’s the prospect they want, trading up may not be required—at least not up to No. 1 overall.
If the Hornets desire to select a guard prospect like Ball or Edwards, then trading up may be the best course of action. However, the Golden State Warriors could end up taking either Wiseman or Deni Avdija—resulting in one of Ball or Edwards to fall to No. 3.
One potential concern is that it has been a struggle for the Hornets to experience strides in the player development department in recent years. However, Charlotte has to take risks being a small-market organization in order to land high-level talent.