Hornets surprise experts, fans with selection of Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- When it came time for the Charlotte Hornets to make their selection with the ninth-overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft on Thursday night, they found themselves in a position they most likely didn't imagine.
Not only was Wisconsin center Frank Kaminsky and Kentucky sharpshooter Devin Booker each available, but surprisingly so was Duke guard Justise Winslow.
And because all three of those players were still available, teams like Boston and Phoenix tried desperately to trade up into that spot.
After mulling over numerous possibilities, the Hornets selected Kaminsky, much to the chagrin of many a fan, and to the delight of a very select few.
What caught most off guard is that general manager Rich Cho said last week on several occasions during a press conference that the team would take the best player available, regardless of position. Not one national media outlet, including FoxSports.com, had Kaminsky rated higher than Winslow.
Cho said they had Kaminsky rated higher on their draft board.
"He's a guy we've been looking at for quite a while," Cho said. "I think he can come in and play. He's a winner."
At 7-foot-1, Kaminsky is very adept at handling the ball offensively. He can dribble, is a solid passer and can shoot with consistency from long range, including 3-pointers. However, he is very limited defensively due to very little speed.
It was reported that Charlotte owner Michael Jordan was a big fan of Kaminsky, therefore it shouldn't come as much of a shock that he was the player drafted. After all, Jordan has the final say-so.
Kaminksy is also a long-time fan of Jordan.
"I had all his posters on my wall," he said. "Space Jam's my favorite movie. Crazy to think he thought highly enough of me to take me ninth in the draft. I'm grateful for the opportunity."
Even so, for a team that needs to improve its guard play drastically, the fact that Winslow was still available caused many people to feel that Jordan's plans to take Kaminsky should have been altered.
Kaminsky isn't a bad player by any stretch. He averaged 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 blocks per game as a senior with the Badgers. He was the consensus National Player of the Year.
Of all the available players that were there for the Hornets to take, Kaminsky is the most offensively gifted at this point. But the downside is his ceiling for improvement is rather low when compared to others. It's not expected that he'll improve much offensively.
What you see is what you get.
"I feel like you're getting a good player," Kaminsky said. "You're getting somebody who can win, a guy that's willing to compete and come in and get better every single day. And I really want to bring a winning attitude and do whatever I can to help the team."
Oddly enough, Kaminsky's tune about Charlotte is quite different from this time last year when he wrote on his blog why he decided to return to Wisconsin for his senior season.
"I know the NBA has their crazy fans and all, but if you look at all of their games, there are games when teams like the Bobcats get hardly any fans, and it looks flat out boring," he said. "At the Kohl Center, we play in front of nearly 17,000 fans every single time we step onto the court.
When we travel, we play in front of sell-out crowds who absolutely hate us. Not because of who is on the team, but because of where we go to school. Who could leave that?"
When asked about his blog and comments about Charlotte late Thursday, Kaminsky explained himself.
"That was a different me," he said. "In hindsight, you'd like to take some things back. I never meant it to take shots at anyone. ... But I'm happy to get the opportunity to come to the fan base and connect with them and show them what I can really do on a basketball court."
With the 39th pick, the Hornets selected 19-year-old swingman Juan Vaulet of Argentina, but he was immediately traded to Brooklyn for two future second-round draft picks in 2018 and 2019 and cash considerations.
Follow Brett Jensen on Twitter @BrettJensenFOX
