Hornets Select Noah Vonleh With Ninth Pick In 2014 NBA Draft

The Charlotte Hornets tonight selected forward Noah Vonleh with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft. The team also acquired the rights to guards P.J. Hairston (26th overall pick) and Semaj Christon (55th overall pick), along a 2019 second-round draft pick and with cash considerations, from the Miami Heat in exchange for the rights to guard Shabazz Napier (24th overall pick). The Hornets then traded the rights to Christon to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for cash considerations.

An early entry candidate, the 6-10 Vonleh was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Third Team All-Big Ten in 2013-14 at Indiana University after averaging 11.3 points, a Big Ten-high 9.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 26.5 minutes per game. The team

Vonleh gives the Hornets some added height and a potential replacement in case the team is unable to re-sign Josh McRoberts, who opted out of his contract earlier this month.

''We had Noah rated a lot higher, but for whatever reason he slipped down to nine,'' Cho said. ''We were ecstatic when he was there. He's a skilled big man who can play inside and out.''

Second-year coach Steve Clifford emphasized size as a big need for the Hornets this offseason and Vonleh, with his 7-foot-4 wing span and 9-foot standing reach, brings just that to the table.

-- AP

Rich Cho is a genius. We get Vonleh and Hairston, dump Haywood's contract and pick up some cash. Next up is free agency. Who should we go after?

[QUOTE=rufuspaul]Rich Cho is a genius. We get Vonleh and Hairston, dump Haywood's contract and pick up some cash. Next up is free agency. Who should we go after?[/QUOTE]

Season after season our FO is exasperatingly quiet about what their thoughts/plans are. It's at the last minute that the fans finally find out what our FO has been working on for weeks if not months. Whomever we pick up in FA we need consistent three-point shooters. That has always been our weakness along with offensive rebounding. Seems to me a rarity that we get second -chance points.