We’ve just about wrapped up all there was to talk about from the 2022-23 season from a Charlotte Hornets perspective. It’s time to shift focus to the offseason. And if there’s one good thing about being bad, it’s that it makes the offseason more exciting. That starts with the draft. Pre-lottery, the Hornets are slotted to pick 4th, 27th, 34th, 39th, and 42nd. That means just about every prospect is on the table. We’ll get into who these guys are as prospects as we approach the draft, but first, let’s hop around the Internet and see who the people think the Hornets will land.

4th: Amen Thompson, guard, Overtime Elite27th: Gregory (GG) Jackson II

Thompson is a scintillating if not terrifying consolation if the Hornets miss out on one of the top three. He’s a super elite athlete by NBA standards and complements that with good passing skills and strong finishing around the basket. However, he can’t shoot.

Jackson is a home run swing type of pick. He showed lots of potential as a shot maker and is the youngest player in the class, but he’s got a long way to go as a decision maker and a player that impacts winning.

4th: Amen Thompson, guard, Overtime Elite27th: Julian Strawther, wing, Gonzaga

We talked about Thompson above. Again, very exciting. Also scary. Strawther comes from the other end of the shooting spectrum. He’s a prototypically sized wing that shot 40% from three last season at Gonzaga. He’s perhaps best known as the guy that hit this absurd game winner against UCLA in the NCAA tournament.

4th: Amen Thomspon, guard, Overtime Elite27th: Dariq Whitehead, forward, Duke

Kevin O’Connor compares Thomspon to a taller Ja Morant or beanpole Zion Williamson, which is fun. Whitehead was a highly touted high school prospect that struggled a but at Duke, but he did end up as a 40% 3-point shooter and still has the untapped potential he showed in high school.

4th: Cam Whitmore, forward, Villanova27th: Jalen Wilson, forward, Kansas

A different pick at four! Whitmore is a tremendous athlete that has the strength to bully his way to the basket. He has an intriguing combination of ball handling, finishing, athleticism, and outside shooting potential very reminiscent of another recent Hornets draftee that may or may not return next season.

Wilson rose to stardom at Kansas after the departure of Ochai Agbaji. He was Big 12 Player of the Year and would add some versatile depth to the Hornets forward rotation.

4th: Amen Thompson, guard, Overtime Elite27th: Bilal Coulibaly, wing, Metropolitans 92 (France)

If you can’t get Victor Wembanyama, you might as well draft his teammate, right? Coulibaly is a super long wing that has shown potential as a slasher/3&D threat.

4th: Amen Thompson, guard, Overtime Elite27th: Brandin Podziemski, guard, Santa Clara

Podziemski is a big guard that filled the stat sheet at Santa Clara. He shot 43.8% from three, grabbed eight boards per game, and was WCC player of the year. He’s a relatively young sophomore too.

4th: Amen Thompson, guard, Overtime Elite27th: Marcus Sasser, guard, Houston

Sasser was the guy that got hurt that had everyone handwringing over Houston’s chances in the NCAA tournament. He’s a very strong defender at the point of attack and was a good 3-point shooter on high volume as a senior.

4th: Taylor Hendricks, forward, UCF27th: Dereck Lively, big, Duke

Always count on nbadraft.net to throw a curveball at us. Hendricks has been rising up draft boards, but four might be a bit lofty. However, he can do a little bit of everything and does a lot of stuff really, really well. He’s someone to watch in the lottery.

Lively is a prototype modern day center. He’s long and athletic and has a clearly defined role as a catch and finish big that protects the rim defensively.