Could the Charlotte Hornets add this fantastic dunker to their roster?
The Charlotte Hornets have done a tremendous job building through the NBA Draft in recent years, putting together a spectacular young nucleus that now has the team firmly in playoff contention.
Because Charlotte is not exactly a free-agent hot spot, the Hornets will probably have to continue stockpiling draft talent in order to position themselves for a potential championship run in the coming years.
But based on how well executive Jeff Peterson has being drafting, that should not be a problem for Charlotte.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman recently posted an updated mock draft with the NCAA Tournament in full swing, and with the 13th overall pick, he has the Hornets selecting Michigan Wolverines high-flier Yaxel Lendeborg.
"A playmaking threat, tough rebounder and much-improved defender, he should look highly adaptable and easy to fit for most NBA teams," Wasserman wrote. "His offensive versatility has been on display for years, and his production at UAB have been officially validated by his impact for a No. 1 NCAA tournament seed."
Lendeborg dropped 25 points and threw down multiple highlight-reel dunks during Michigan's Round of 32 win over Saint Louis on Saturday, which definitely elevated his draft stock and helped him gain national attention.
Yaxel Lendeborg. Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images.Not that Lendeborg wasn't already a terrific player to begin with.
The 23-year-old has averaged 14.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists over 30.1 minutes per game on 51.5/36.1/83.0 shooting splits this season, winning Big Ten Player of the Year while also collecting plenty of other accolades.
Lendeborg played three years of JUCO ball before arriving at UAB in 2023, where he put together two fantastic campaigns with the Blazers. He averaged double-doubles both seasons, and in his second year, he logged 17.7 points and 11.4 board a night.
The Dominican-American — who has been tabbed as the "Dominican LeBron" — then proceeded to transfer to Michigan for his final collegiate campaign.
Charlotte could definitely use Lendeborg's versatility. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward boasts a 7-foot-4 wingspan and is widely viewed as one of the best defenders in this upcoming draft class, and even though the Hornets have improved defensively this season, they could still use some more help on that end of the floor.
Lendeborg would certainly be an exciting fit in Charlotte.
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