The Charlotte Hornets missed out on the top overall selection once again in the NBA Draft Lottery.
For a brief moment, it appeared the NBA Draft Lottery was leaning in favor of the Charlotte Hornets.
The Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards held the top odds heading into the NBA Draft Lottery, but were not repaid, landing the fifth and sixth picks.
This left the Charlotte Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers and San Antonio Spurs among the final four.
And while the Hornets held the top odds among those four teams, they emerged with the fourth overall pick, and the team with the smallest odds emerging with the first pick, the Dallas Mavericks.
Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty ImagesCharlotte Hornets reaction to NBA Draft Lottery
The Charlotte Hornets have come close several times to landing the top pick, and were desperate to luck into the first selection and enter pole position for Cooper Flagg.
It was not meant to be, and the Hornets are attempting to take the positives from the situation they find themselves in.
Head coach Charles Lee told Hornets media that he is optimistic about the path ahead for the team and is focusing on the positives.
Lee said: “I see a very deep draft class, excited that we’re able to stay in that top four.”
“Our front office has identified a lot of people in this class who fit that Hornets DNA and I look forward to continuing to build sustainable success with this new piece we’ll get.”
Charlotte Hornets continue to build
Dylan Harper is expected to be taken with the second overall selection, currently with the San Antonio Spurs.
The third pick is tipped to be Ace Bailey but it is less certain he will be taken, with VJ Edgecombe another tempting possibility for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Hornets will likely end up with one of these two players, dependent on the Sixers’ selection.
Both of these are exciting talents who the Hornets can add to their collection of talents including LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges.
Last season was a disappointing 19-63 campaign for the Hornets, and next year they must show improvement. Sooner or later they need to turn their talent into wins.