Hornets May Be Leaning Toward Scoot Henderson at No. 2 in Draft

Hornets president of basketball operations/GM Mitch Kupchak is offering no clues on who the Hornets intend to select with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

That’s not really a surprise. Part of the draft game is to keep everyone guessing.

“We’re getting a little more advanced in putting this team together,” Kupchak said, via Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. “I think three years ago, or even two years ago, I would have said without question that we’re going to take the best available player. That’s been our position for the last three or four years, when you try to accumulate talent.”

While the Hornets already have point guard LaMelo Ball and combo guard Terry Rozier (for the time being), there’s a sense around the league that they are leaning toward taking G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson at No. 2 overall.

One opposing executive told Hoops Wire that the Hornets dangled Rozier at the February trade deadline and could do so again this summer. But even if Charlotte doesn’t move Rozier, they could take Henderson and give him time to develop behind the starters.

“I don’t think we’re where we need to be from a talent level, but we’ve got a lot more talent than we did two or three years ago,” Kupchak said. “So I think we can be a little bit picky and take into consideration not only the overall talent but also the position.”

The Hornets were decimated by injuries and the absence of small forward Miles Bridges this past season, finishing 27-55 in the first year of the return of coach Steve Clifford.

Saying hello to some new faces today at the Hive ? #HornetsDraft | https://t.co/AQGRVq66xI pic.twitter.com/gne1YLCM6Z

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) May 22, 2023