The Charlotte Hornets have received a strong grade on their 2026 NBA Draft selections.
The Charlotte Hornets were a major player in the first round of the NBA Draft, as they held the 14th and 18th overall picks.
Charlotte utilized both selections, taking Hannes Steinbach with the 14th overall pick and Christian Anderson with the 18th overall pick.
In The Athletic's NBA Draft grades, the Hornets were given an A for their selections.
Charlotte did land two players who could be rotational pieces right away and develop into more long-term.
Steinbach is coming off a great freshman season at Washington, as he averaged 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game, shooting 57.7 percent from the field and 34 percent from three.
He was one of the best rebounders in the draft and can instantly contribute as a backup big man for the Hornets.
Anderson will also be impactful after two seasons at Texas Tech. In his freshman campaign, Anderson averaged 10.6 points per game along with three rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals, shooting 42.9 percent from the floor and 38 percent from deep.
While that was a solid year, Anderson broke out as a star in his sophomore season. He averaged 18.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from behind the arc.
Anderson's development as a playmaker was phenomenal, which will be needed after the Hornets moved star guard LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
While Anderson won't start in his rookie season, he could be a pivotal piece off the bench behind Coby White.
White inked a three-year $74 million extension with the Hornets, after averaging 15.6 points, three rebounds, and three assists per game, shooting 46.1 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent from downtown.
White is set to be the starting point guard as they build around Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller.
Although trading away Ball for the return they received has been questioned, the Hornets have the flexibility to make more moves, and their selections of Steinbach and Anderson will play a pivotal role in their future.
Hornets Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Hornets. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.
