2024 NBA Mock Draft: Grizzlies add key piece in lottery, Pistons get future star
By Tyler Watts
4. Charlotte Hornets draft Ja’Kobe Walter
Walter is one of the best shooters in this class. He has made 40.0 percent of his first 85 NCAA 3-point attempts and is showcasing he can shoot on the move. The 19-year-old should immediately hit jumpers in the NBA and has the potential to be elite.
He profiles as a 3-and-D wing. Walter is 6’5 with a 6’9 wingspan. His defense needs work, but teams will believe in his ability to guard multiple positions and switch. Walter does not have jump-out-of-the-gym athleticism, but he should be a plus defender and knockdown shooter.
There are questions about his ceiling, but it is difficult to find strong 3-and-D wings in the NBA. Drafting Walter could give a team a key role player for the next 15 years. He is already making difficult shots and his offensive game could pop more with NBA spacing. The 19-year-old may never become an All-Star, but his high floor helps him become a top-five pick in a class filled with uncertainty.
The Charlotte Hornets are 27th in 3-pointers made and 29th in defensive rating this season. They would love to add a strong 3-and-D wing to help them on both ends of the floor. Ja’Kobe Walter is one of the best in this class and could be a key piece of their mix in Charlotte for more than a decade.