The Charlotte Hornets made noise on draft night, and not just because they walked away with two first-round picks. Before settling on Hannes Steinbach at No. 14 and Christian Anderson at No. 18, Charlotte tried to climb higher.
According to ESPN Warriors reporter Anthony Slater, the Hornets offered Golden State the 14th pick and a future draft pick in exchange for No. 11. The Warriors, Slater wrote, were weighing their own options while keeping the door open for a deal.
"The Warriors liked their pivot option - Yaxel Lendeborg, a 6-foot-9 Michigan wing who was next on their collective big board - but Dunleavy wanted to entertain trade calls until the last minute," ESPN Warriors reporter Anthony Slater wrote. "The Charlotte Hornets and Oklahoma City Thunder were among those inquiring about a trade up - the Hornets offering the 14th selection and a future pick, the Thunder floating a swap of the 12th and 11th pick for some future seconds, league sources said."
Charlotte didn’t get the move it wanted, but it still came out of the night with two young players who could matter quickly.
Steinbach, a 20-year-old freshman at Washington, put together a big season. He averaged 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 57.7 percent from the field and 34 percent from three. He built a reputation as one of the nation’s best rebounders and shot blockers, and he could fit right into Charlotte’s big man rotation as a rookie.
Anderson brings a different kind of value. With LaMelo Ball now traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, there should be room for him to step in and help right away.
Anderson spent two years in college, and his game took a major jump from his freshman to sophomore season. In year one, he averaged 10.6 points, three rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 42.9 percent from the floor and 38 percent from deep.
As a sophomore, he became a far more advanced playmaker, posting 18.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 47.2 percent overall and 41.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Even without moving up to No. 11, Charlotte added more young talent and more draft capital to a roster that already has plenty to build around.
In Other News...
Hornets May Already Have A Young Big Drawing Serious Trade Interest
The Lakers have already been one of the more active teams of the offseason, and Rob Pelinka is still working the phones as Los Angeles looks for more help before the season begins. One name that has surfaced in that search is Charlotte center Moussa Diabate, whose defensive energy and size make him the kind of young big a contender can circle when it wants to shore up the frontcourt.
For Charlotte, the interest is notable because it suggests Diabate has started to draw real attention beyond the usual summer chatter. Any move would have to clear a few hurdles, though, since the Hornets are not simply looking to give away a useful young player and the Lakers do not have a lot of easy answers to put on the table as they keep exploring ways to improve their roster. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Linked To Knicks Trade That Could Reignite Guard Debate
A speculative Knicks-Hornets trade idea has Charlotte sending Ryan Kalkbrenner to New York while bringing back a guard package built around Miles McBride and a handful of future second-round picks. For a Hornets roster still sorting out its backcourt, the appeal is obvious: McBride has shown enough growth to look like more than a throw-in, and his recent play has only strengthened the case that he could handle a larger role.
The fit discussion around McBride is what makes the proposal interesting for Charlotte, especially with the club always weighing whether it needs another steady creator or just more depth behind the starters. The idea also comes with draft capital attached, which gives the Hornets something tangible if they decide the guard debate is better solved by adding flexibility rather than forcing a quick answer. [Read more 🡒]