2024 NBA Mock Draft 5.0: Spurs find point guard, Raptors keep lottery selection

3. Charlotte Hornets snag Cody Williams

The Hornets have not made the playoffs since 2016 and have not won a postseason series since 2002. They believe in LaMelo Ball as their lead ball-handler and playmaker of the present and future. Brandon Miller looks like a future star, and Mark Williams is a young starting caliber center. Charlotte needs complementary pieces to round out their roster.

The 6’8 wing is the younger brother of Thunder future All-Star Jalen Williams. Finding a teenage prospect with his size, length, versatility, and upside is not easy. Add in having a sibling who instantly raised his game when he arrived in the NBA, and there is plenty of excitement about the former Colorado wing.

Williams averaged 11.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.7 blocks in 28.4 minutes per game during his lone college season. He shot 55.2 percent from the field and 41.5 percent on his 3-point attempts, but both were on limited volume.

There were flashes of two-way potential, but injuries limited him to 24 games. Can he stay healthy and increase his volume while maintaining his percentages at the next level? Those are questions teams are asking themselves.

The Hornets likely target a wing with size with this selection. They have several options, but Williams has the safest floor and plenty of upside to go with it.