So, what’s first order of business every offseason? The NBA Draft. Technically, teams may complete trades as soon as they’re eliminated from the playoffs, but draft night (or the days leading up to it) often marks the first action-packed day of the summer. As rumors of an unlikely-but-possible Mitch Kupchak retirement swirl and the organization looks to fill the head coaching vacancy, the Hornets probably won’t make moves much before the draft while the front office determines course of action and gets their offseason plan in order. The 2022 NBA Draft will be held on June 23 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, marking a return to the draft’s usual schedule after the pandemic altered it in 2020 and 2021. The Hornets’ own pick holds the 13th-best lottery odds and they received the 15th pick via New Orleans after the Pelicans made the playoffs. The Hornets also hold the 45th overall pick in the second round. The draft lottery is on May 17, and from that point the Hornets’ pick can fall to 14, stay at 13 or jump into the top-four. Charlotte has a 4.8 percent chance to receive a top-four pick and a 1 percent chance to pick first overall. The odds are quite slim, but it’s not impossible.
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