Charlotte is a team with two first round picks.  The first
of these picks is their own.  They are represented by:

  Thad Williamson

Thad used that pick on:

  Kobe Bryant, SG, 6-6, Lower Merion HS
  

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1. Team summary. 

After a stunning overhaul of its team roster in the past year, the
Charlotte Hornets are a franchise at the crossroads. After a very
strong playoff showing in 1993, the Hornets have been back only
once in the past 3 years, and last November unloaded the
cornerstone of what had been the franchise's championship ambitions
in sending Alonzo Mourning to Miami. (Despite a late season upset
at Chicago, the Hornets were beaten out by the Heat for the last
playoff spot over the last month of the season.) Moreover, there
are major question marks as to free agents, in particular whether
Kenny Anderson will return. (Almost certainly not.) The best case
scenario for 96-97 is for the Hornets to reach the top of the
Eastern Conference's third tier, a group including Cleveland,
Detroit, Washington, Atlanta, and Miami, with whom the Hornets will
be competing for a playoff spot next year. In my view, that will
require both the acquisition of a point guard and the emergence of
a credible inside performer to provide balance to the Hornets'
impressive perimeter shooting. That said, if the Hornets are ever
to get past the third tier, they need to also begin assembling, in
my view, the components of a different cast of characters then is
seen on the the current jump shot-happy, inconsistent, little-
defense playing ballclub. (The Hornets in 96 were 28th in the NBA
in FG% defense, 48.9%, including a painful 39.6% from 3.)

2. Point guard.

The key question here is Kenny Anderson, does he stay or go.  Still
just a shadow of what he potentially could be, Anderson nonetheless
ranks in the top half of starting NBA point guards by any
reasonable assessment and provides the speed and ballhandling to
make the Hornets buzz. Personally, I'd keep him if I could. The
problem is that his $5 million contract ties the Hornets' hands in
terms of getting a free agent up front. So he's already all-but-
gone, and the Hornets will take the savings and make a run at a
much cheaper point guard and a power forward for the same amount of
money. (How much does Mark Price go for these days?) Otherwise, the
aging but incomparable Muggsy Bogues is expected back to provide
defensive pressure and instant assists. Hopefully he can teach
Kenny a thing or two in practice. Michael Adams is a free agent
whom I hope the Hornets cast off without affection, although the
moments when he and Bogues shared the court were certainly
entertaining. Anthony Goldwire is a CBA pickup whom I still regard
as a marginal player, though real-world management for some reason
apparently considers him part of the Hornets "core" to build on.

3. Shooting guard.

Glen Rice (21.6 ppg, 42.4% 3FG) is going to play as a very large
shooting guard for this team as the Hornets attempt to go big.
Though no candidate for the all-defensive team, Rice is one of a
handful of scorers in the league capable of going into
"unstoppable" mode on any given night. What will be more important
than the occasional 40 point night from Rice is steady good
shooting from the outside and enough layups off the drive and break
to keep teams honest. He might benefit from developing some post
moves further to use against smaller guards at the 2 next year. 3
point bomber Dell Curry has worked hard to become at least
competent in other aspects of the game, but he is essentially a
shooter and I feel the Hornets need to start phasing him out,
possibly dealing him to a better team that could really use him in
exchange for size. Too many 3 point shots means no consistency, and
while Rice and Curry are great together at an Indian restaurant,
not so on a NBA hardwood, especially when the other team has the
ball. Still, look for Curry to hang around in town at least another
as a reserve. The Hornets also have Pete Myers, a capable defender
who is a free agent. I would include him in the team's plan for
next year simply to get some tenacity on the defensive end. Gerald
Glass is also on the roster as a tie-in from the New Jersey trade,
to no great effect.

4. Small forward.

Scottie Burrell is perhaps the truest small forward on the roster,
but Larry Johnson will play the 3 for the Hornets next season
assuming something comes through via free agency at the 4 spot, as
management plans. Made a bit old by injury before his time, Johnson
may never return to his second team all-NBA form of 1993, much less
rise to the Barkley level many expected, but at over 20 ppg and 8
boards a night he is still a formidable performer at both ends of
the court, and it is not unfair to say that much of the franchise
hangs on the continuing health of his back. From the 3 spot he will
take more 3s (36.6% 3FG) and better utilize his passing skills.
Johnson has tremendous quickness given his build but that may not
be enough on the perimeter defensively at the 3. This is where
Burrell, an amazing athlete who has yet to fully blossom as an NBA
player, fits in, as essentially the Hornets' "sixth" starter for
next year (again presuming the expected power forward acquisition)-
-if he can get and stay healthy after appearing in only 20 games in
95-96 (tallying 13.2 pgg and nearly 5 rb/game.) The Hornets need
Burrell on the floor 25-30 minutes every night to stay in playoff
contention next year. Journeyman Rafael Addison is also on the
roster; a better prospect for help from the deep bench is Darin
Hancock, a still-young, athletic player who scored 3.9 ppg on 53%
shooting in 96.

5. Power forward.

This lot open! The big vacancy, filled in by Johnson pending free
agent and draft acquisitions. The Hornets are looking to go big and
are willing to deal or shell out for a veteran power forward,
though probably not at the high-end (Howard, Rodman) of the market.
Or maybe the buzz could bring back Kurt Rambis. The other option is
to play one of the less-than superlative center talents at the 4.

5. Center.

Center by committee is the name of the game in the wake of
Mourning's move to Miami, led by the formidable banger Matt Geiger,
who showed real signs as a capable performer in 95-96, perhaps
buoyed by his preseason confrontation with Shaq. 11.2 ppg, 53.6%
FG, 8 rb--not bad!--all in roughly 30 minutes of work a night.
Though probably not the center for any title team coming in your
neighborhood, the Hornets can live with another year of Geiger.
(He's got the job Eric Montross would love to have). George Zidek
will be entering his second season and it's make or break time for
the Czech, slightly-hunched big guy. As 4.0 ppg and 42.3% FG shows,
that clear out the lane and let me take a hook shot stuff doesn't
wear well in the NBA. Zidek must significantly develop his game,
most plausibly on the defensive end but possibly also a longer-
range jumpshot, if he wants to stay in the league. The Hornets used
42-year old Robert Parish in major minutes on occasion in 95-96,
but he is a free agent and certainly not a priority for picking up
the option at $3 million. 

6. Overall needs:

Get a power forward who can play, get a point guard with size to
work in tandem with Bogues if possible, and move in the long haul
to build a team that's more than a bunch of frenetic 3 point-
shooters. Get Burrell back and on the court. Additonally consider
getting big warm bodies who can play defense. And get some real
leadership and continuity on this team--Rice and Johnson are the
most plausible candidates, but veterans Bogues and Curry are
worthwhile for these very traits. Dave Cowens, the new coach, would
seem at least first blush a better man than the late Mr. Bristow to
light a fire under this team night in and night out, which will be
what is needed if the Hornets are to get to 45 victories and
playoff land. 

7. My pick at #13:

....Kobe Bryant, 6-6 guard, Ardmore, PA....

Why: Simply too good an opportunity to pass up, especially with aim
towards long-term build-up of a more versatile, tougher team. The
Hornets have never had the all-round talent in the backcourt,
outside of the mercurial Kendall Gill, and this is a chance to get
him. Management expects perhaps very modest contributions, pending
the health of Burrell et al, in 96-97, though the typical up-tempo
Hornets style should suit Bryant just fine. I compare this
selection to the Sonics taking 19 year old Shawn Kemp in 89. The
danger of course, is that the Hornets could do the work in
developing Bryant and then not be able to sign him to that critical
second contract, but that's a risk I'll take. Given the veteran
presence on the team I think the impressively mature Bryant can
adjust tolerably well, if not easily, to the Hornets, and there's
not much doubt he can be a damn good NBA player--someday. If it
looks like he can't help next year courtwise, we'll just send him
to Chapel Hill for some basketball instruction from one of the
local intercollegiate coaches. Also the pick puts the franchise in
position to consider a deal to get a major league veteran big man
(or point if no Kenny), should the opportunity arise, by parting
with either Bryant or Curry.

8. Others I considered:

...Todd Fuller, NCSU..

Obvious help at 4 and 5, hard worker, shooting range, etc, etc.

...Samaki Walker, Louisville...

Defense! Defense! Very young too...

...Walter McCarty, Kentucky....

All round skills in a big body, but more of a 3 perhaps than a 4 in
the NBA.

...Othella Harrington, Georgetown...

Capable if undersized post player..

...Jerome Williams, Georgetown...

Serious rebounder with a handle but not enough shot

...Dontae Jones, Mississippi State

An attractive player but too much like Rice to draft...


Odds are in my favor that one of these players will still be in my
lap for the #16 pick; nor have I ruled out various giants from this
land and abroad.

9. Who the Hornets will probably take:

Bob Bass says the Hornets aren't trading 2 picks for 1 unless it's
to get into the top 3, despite all the trade rumors. The Hornets
will either draft 2 of the big men listed above (or others more
highly rated--Roy Rogers, etc.) who fall to 13, or take 1 and then
add probably Steve Nash as a point guard. I doubt the Hornets will
have the vision (and chutzpah) to take Bryant, unfortunately.

10. Other moves the Hornets should make.

1. Sign a power forward free agent
2. Resign Myers; be very sure a power forward is going to be in the
bag before letting Anderson walk away
2a.Given #1, let Anderson go and sign a point guard with the money
3. Let Adams, Parish go
4. Start phasing Curry out, and phasing a 2 guard who can take the
ball to the hole with authority in.
5. If Bryant is drafted, unload Curry by midseason; hire Joe Bryant
as assistant coach.
6. Start teaching defense in pre-season camp.
7. Have the city of Charlotte buy the team from George Shinn