NBA Draft 2024: Top 3 player options for Charlotte Hornets to pick at No. 6

Most experts are not high on the overall strength of this year's draft class, but there are still players that could help the Hornets get back to respectability.

The Hornets are in desperate need of help for LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller / Jacob Kupferman/GettyImages

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3) Reed Sheppard, Kentucky

Reed Sheppard was one of college basketball's most surprising success stories this past year. The freshman only started five games, but his scoring efficiency and talent for stealing the ball still propelled him to a spot on the All-SEC Second Team.

Sheppard's performance fluctuated wildly from game to game, but that can be laid at the feet of now-former Wildcats coach John Calipari, who perplexingly refused to play Sheppard, Antonio Reeves, and Rob Dillingham, his three best players, in the starting lineup together.

Sheppard doesn't need the ball in his hands all the time to be effective, and he'd slot in ideally alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller as a third scoring option. He shot over 50% from three this past season, which in today's NBA is the most important skill you can have, especially with someone like Ball who can drive and kick so effectively. His presence on the floor would stop teams from keying too heavily on Miller on the perimeter, which would allow the All-Rookie First Team selection to continue to grow into his role as a potential future star.

Charlotte has plenty of experience drafting Kentucky players, having selected PJ Washington, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Malik Monk in consecutive years from 2017-19. All three have thrived in the NBA, though unfortunately for the Hornets, it was after they left town (SGA never played for the Hornets after being traded on draft night for Miles Bridges and picks). Drafting Sheppard seems like a good idea, the only trick for the Hornets is to not let him leave before he reaches his potential.

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