2023 NBA Draft: Charlotte Hornets Official Selections and Draft Grades

Who did the Charlotte Hornets select in the 2023 NBA Draft?

Entering the 2023 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets were the first team on the board following Victor Wembanyama going No. 1 overall. As such they had the chance to select a franchise cornerstone to pair alongside LaMelo Ball. While it will be tough for any prospect in this class to live up to Wembanyama's expectations, Charlotte should take a significant step forward following Thursday night.

How did their 2023 NBA Draft unfold?

Selections

• No. 2: Brandon Miller

• No. 27: Nick Smith Jr.

• No. 31: James Nnaji (via Boston)

• No. 41: Amari Bailey

Overall Draft Grade

A-

Draft Summary

It's still unclear whether or not the Hornets made the right move taking Brandon Miller over Scoot Henderson, but time will tell. Regardless of how that ends up turning out, Charlotte had one of the very best drafts on Thursday night with four quality picks. 

Once a potential top-five pick, Smith Jr. was injured most of his freshman season at Arkansas and slid near the bottom of the first round. This could very well end up being the biggest steal of the draft for the Hornets. From there, they landed 7-footer James Nnaji, who is extremely raw but has the physical tools to one day be a dominant big. Finally, one of the most underrated guards in this class capped off Charlotte's night as Amari Bailey was taken near the middle of the second round. 

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