Much as the Charlotte Hornets need 3-point shooting, general manager Rich Cho wouldn’t pass over a superior player purely to address that flaw. “We’re going to take the best player available,” Cho said regarding the No. 9 overall pick in the June 25 NBA draft. “We’re going to address the shooting this summer, but it could be through the draft, free agency or a trade.” The potential candidates for the ninth pick include some good long-range shooters, including Kentucky’s Devin Booker and Arizona’s Stanley Johnson. But Cho said two players would have to be “neck-and-neck” on the Hornets’ draft board for him to sway primarily in the direction of filling a need. The Hornets were last in the NBA in 3-point percentage last season at 31.8 percent. But the NBA offseason schedule works in the team’s favor should they not draft a shooter, with free agency to follow in July. The Hornets don’t have big room under the salary cap this summer, as they did the previous two offseasons, but they would have the middle-level exception to sign a player for about a $5.5 million first-season salary. Cho said that mid-level slot is sufficient to acquire a solid rotation player this summer. So far the Hornets have held eight workouts involving about 45 prospects. They’ll audition Texas center Myles Turner on Friday in a solo workout. Among those who have yet to visit the Hornets: Arizona’s Johnson and Wisconsin center-power forward Frank Kaminsky. Cho said there will be enough good choices at No. 9 that the Hornets might select any of the five positions. - See more at: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/article24898924.html
