Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets could have two opportunities to acquire Johnny Davis, and they’d be foolish not to spend one of their picks on the 2022 Lute Olson National Player of the Year. Adding his in-between scoring and defensive prowess to the backcourt should bring much-needed balance to the LaMelo Ball-led backcourt.
Last season, the Charlotte Hornets proved that they need an upgrade at their starting shooting guard slot. They’ve yet to identify a proper running mate for Ball, but it certainly hasn’t been for lack of effort.
Last year, they drafted James Bouknight with the 11th-overall pick, but former coach James Borrego deemed that he wasn’t ready to be a consistent member of the rotation. Instead, the starting two position was held down by Terry Rozier, Charlotte’s prized free agent acquisition in 2019.
While Rozier hasn’t disappointed as a Hornet, acting as a reliable gunner and consistent source of offense. His fit alongside LaMelo on defense, though, leaves much to be desired, and he’s certainly overpaid at over $24 million per year.
LATEST NBA DRAFT NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: These 3 Major Trades Would Shake Up 2022 NBA Draft
If Charlotte is looking to seriously improve on their Play-In Tournament appearance last season, finding a more defensive-minded partner for Ball in the backcourt is a mandatory benchmark this offseason.
Unless Bouknight is ready to step into that role, the Charlotte Hornets would be wise to address this need in the draft. Johnny Davis would be perfect as a two-way slasher alongside Ball, and his secondary playmaking abilities will fit right in with the Hornets’ up-tempo, pass-happy system and roster.
