Could the Charlotte Hornets draft Hannes Steinbach in the 2026 NBA Draft?
Many NBA analysts believe the Charlotte Hornets need to draft a center in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report is in that camp as well.
In his latest mock draft, Buckley has the Hornets selecting Washington big man Hannes Steinbach with the 14th overall pick.
"The Hornets found a serviceable center rotation with Moussa Diabaté and rookie second-rounder Ryan Kalkbrenner, but serviceable isn't a reason to avoid adding to this position," Buckley wrote. "Especially when this perimeter group is already so strong.
"If Charlotte is thinking center here, then it should be thinking Steinbach. He's big, he's skilled around the basket, he's busy on the boards and he'll maybe be a viable three-point threat in time."
In 30 games for Washington this past college basketball season, Steinbach averaged 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 57.7% from the field, 34.0% from beyond the arc and 75.9% from the free-throw line.
The Hornets started LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate this season. You can make a case that Steinbach is already a better player than Diabate, who averaged 7.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game this season.
Diabate is better served to be a bench player. If the Hornets draft Steinbach, putting him in the starting lineup would make Charles Lee's offense more explosive since Steinbach is more of than offensive threat than Diabate.
The Hornets didn't make the playoffs this season, but they have a bright future with Ball, Miller and Knueppel leading the way. Charlotte has two picks in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. After selecting four rotation players a year ago, the Hornets have another opportunity to deepen their roster this year.
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