Hornets Mock Draft Roundup 1.0: Experts Predict Picks 2 & 27

What do the experts believe the Charlotte Hornets will do at picks 2 and 27?

Over the course of the next month, there will be a lot of discussion about what the Charlotte Hornets should do with not only the 2nd overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft but the 27th pick as well.

To make things easy for you, we'll gather a handful of mock draft projections each week leading up to the draft to show you what folks are thinking. Here is the first edition of our 2023 Charlotte Hornets Mock Draft Roundup.

Ian Black - All Hornets 

No. 2: G Scoot Henderson (G League Ignite)

"With Lamelo Ball already on the roster, adding the ferocious guard Henderson would create a backcourt pair that covers a wide variety of strengths. The 6’2” guard is a ridiculous athlete, savvy playmaker, and active defender, and has been improving his jump shot over time. Don’t overthink this one, Charlotte."

No. 27: G Rayan Rupert (New Zealand Breakers)

"Rupert is a menacing defender with his incredible 7’3” wingspan, who could also operate as a secondary ball handler next to LaMelo Ball or Scoot Henderson. The offensive consistency has not been there to this point in his career, and he’ll need to bulk up a bit, but his tenacity could lead to All-NBA level defense one day."

Matt Babcock - Sports Illustrated

No. 2: G Scoot Henderson (G League Ignite)

"Scoot Henderson is bursty, powerful, dynamic, and competitive. He routinely gets to his spots off the dribble and keeps the opposing defense on their heels by constantly attacking. Henderson is also incredibly explosive at the rim, routinely throwing down emphatic dunks. Perhaps above all else, Henderson has developed a reputation as a tireless worker and gym rat, and is visibly an alpha dog and team tone-setter. All signs point to Henderson emerging into a star-level player at the NBA level."

No. 27: G Rayan Rupert (New Zealand Breakers)

"Rayan Rupert is a long perimeter player whose best skill and value stems from his defensive impact. At 6-foot-6, with a 7-foot-3 wingspan and a tough mentality, Rupert has all the tools to become an effective defensive player at the NBA level. However, Rupert is inefficient on the offensive end. And specifically, he has room for improvement with his outside shooting. Still, Rupert is a talented prospect with a lot of untapped potential. Subsequently, Rupert will likely be among the first international players selected in this year's draft."

Zach Buckley - Bleacher Report

No. 2: F Brandon Miller (Alabama)

"If the Hornets value Miller and Henderson roughly the same, though, they might let positional needs enter the equation. Since LaMelo Ball already resides in Buzz City, that could be what tips the scale in Miller's favor."I think we can be a little bit picky and take into consideration not only the overall talent but also the position," Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak

told reporters

.

It's also possible Charlotte could simply view Miller as the superior prospect. The 6'9", 200-pounder fits the coveted big wing scorer archetype. He can score from all over, defend multiple positions and create scoring chances off the dribble."

No. 27: G/F Bilal Coulibaly (Metropolitans 92)

"Coulibaly is a long, sturdy defender who keeps hinting at having more offense than evaluators think. He can finish with a flourish and made big strides as a shooter this season."

Jason McInytre - FOX Sports

No. 2: G Scoot Henderson (G League Ignite)

"In a wing league, Brandon Miller makes more sense here, but I lean Henderson because he’s totally clean off the court, and Miller had one incident that might scare Charlotte, especially considering the huge suspension for Miles Bridges. We might want to chalk up Henderson’s pedestrian G-League season (27% on 3s) to the fact he knew he was going to be a top pick. At 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, he flies around like Derrick Rose, but must develop a 3-point shot."

No. 27: F Brice Sensabaugh (Ohio State)

"Yes, he’s a terrific shooter (40% as a freshman), but I don’t get the lottery vibes with Sensabaugh. He is a crafty scorer who excelled greatly in both games against Purdue (41 points total)."

Jonathan Givony - ESPN

No. 2: F Brandon Miller (Alabama)

"Miller solidified himself atop this draft class with an ultraproductive season, winning SEC Player of the Year and first-team All-American honors. A 6-9 guard who can facilitate, hit jumpers from anywhere on the floor and demonstrates strong defensive versatility, Miller is the archetypal player every NBA team is currently searching for. He's an easy fit on any roster thanks to his ability to play shooting guard through power forward, and would benefit from the shot-creation prowess of LaMelo Ball, while having the leeway to develop into a primary playmaker in his own right on a team starved for talent."

No. 27: F Maxwell Lewis (Pepperdine)

"With its second first-round pick, Charlotte might elect to take a swing for the fences on Lewis, who has more upside (and downside) than you typically expect to find at No. 27. Every NBA team is actively searching for fluid, long-armed 6-7 wings with shot creation, shot-making versatility and potential. His poor defense, decision-making, and overall end to the season damaged his standing, but the intrigue around his profile still gives him a good chance to be a first-round pick with a strong pre-draft process."

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