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The Player Who's the X-Factor for the Charlotte Hornets
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The Charlotte Hornets have trying to build around their young core. This offseason, they didn't just add talent. They added players who fit areas where the roster needed help.
Hannes Steinbach could be the biggest difference-maker. Charlotte nabbed the German center with the No. 14 pick, giving the team some much-needed size in the middle. The Hornets made progress last season, but their lack of interior depth was hard to ignore. They needed someone who could bring a physical presence around the basket, and Steinbach has the tools to eventually fill that role.
He won't be asked to carry the offense. That's not what Charlotte needs from him. The Hornets already have players who can create shots. What they need from Steinbach is rebounding, defense and the ability to give them a different option when they need more.
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The adjustment to the NBA will be the biggest test. Steinbach spent last season at Washington, and now he'll have to deal with stronger players and a much faster game. But his skill set gives him a chance to carve out a role early if he can handle the physical side of the league.
Charlotte also added Christian Anderson with the No. 18 pick, bringing another shooter into the mix. The Texas Tech guard slipped outside the lottery because of concerns about his defense, but his ability to sink shots could be valuable for a Hornets team that loves to let it fly from deep.
Those two picks couldn't be more different. Steinbach helps address a weakness inside. Anderson adds another perimeter threat. For a team trying to take another step forward, both are super good choices.
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The Hornets aren't relying on one player to change everything. They already have young talent in place, and now they're trying to find the pieces that make the group work better together.
If Steinbach develops into the interior presence Charlotte has been missing, he could become one of the more important additions to the roster. Late in the lottery, that's exactly the kind of impact teams hope to find.
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