2024 NBA Mock Draft: Grizzlies add key piece in lottery, Pistons get future star
By Tyler Watts
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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.