The Charlotte Hornets are being predicted to land a dynamic partner for LaMelo Ball.
The Charlotte Hornets have been dominant over the last couple of months, having gone 23-6 over their last 29 games to establish themselves as serious playoff contenders.
Had the Hornets not started 16-28 on the year, they would probably be one of the highest seeds in the Eastern Conference, but nevertheless, they must play the hand they have been dealt ... or the hand they dealt themselves.
Regardless, Charlotte has been a sight for sore eyes recently and actually owns the highest margin of victory in wins in the history of the NBA. Pretty incredible.
The Hornets are winning games on the strength of their young nucleus, led by LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, among others.
Could Charlotte add yet another piece to its core?
The Hornets have drafted incredibly well in recent years, so they'll definitely have the opportunity to bring in another talented player this offseason.
Christian Anderson. Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images.On that note, Adam Finkelstein of CBS Sports recently ran a mock draft, and with the 18th overall pick, he has Charlotte selecting Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson.
"The Hornets are committed to letting this core grow together, but it wasn't that long ago it seemed Ball's future in Charlotte was limited," Finkelstein wrote. "If that ever resurfaces Anderson provides a contingency. His season may not have ended in ideal fashion, but he's highly skilled and equally cerebral with the ball in his hands."
It may seem a bit odd to add another point guard given how well Ball has played this season, but he does have an injury history, and the Hornets could always use another ball-handler.
Anderson averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals over 38.4 minutes per game on 47.2/41.5/80.5 shooting splits this season.
The 6-foot-2 floor general arrived at Texas Tech in 2024 and spent two years with the Red Raiders, establishing himself as one of the top guards in the country.
Charlotte really doesn't have any glaring needs, so it may as well just take best player available with its top pick. Getting Anderson at No. 18 would certainly represent a potential steal.
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