After seeing the return on investment from players like LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, Hornets fans were rightfully excited about their sixth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Eventually, the team secured the services of French striker Tidjane Salaun. It seemed a bit far-fetched at the time, but it was well within the time frame to select the 2.08m forward.
The buzz around Salaun has grown since his selection. But the Hornets’ other pick in the 2024 draft is the Colorado guard. KJ Simpson — has gone unnoticed for a long time. And it’s time to say it clearly: Simpson could be a long-term contributor to the NBA.
Simpson was selected 42nd overall in the draft, managing to remain unnoticed even by NBA teams. His height of around 6 feet 1 inches is probably the reason, but his college production more than made up for it.
In his third and final season with the Buffs, Simpson averaged 19.7 points, 4.9 assists, 5.8 rebounds (good for a small guard) and 1.6 steals on defense. In short, Simpson was a pure production monster, helping Colorado through tough times.
Simpson has the scoring chops to succeed in the NBA. His finishing and assist numbers, coupled with the fact that he can switch between the ball on and off the court at 43 percent from three-point range, make him an offensive threat. Simpson will need to prove his progress in other areas, especially defensively. In that area, he already has good statistical indicators.
The Hornets have a solid base of guards, but if Simpson can assert himself early in practice, he could easily earn playing time on a team that’s expected to be battling for the lower seeding positions in the East.
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