Hornets select P.J. Hairston with the No. 26 pick in 2014 NBA Draft
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The Charlotte Hornets selected UNC wing, by way of the D-League, P.J. Hairston with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft on Thursday night.
You want NBA ready shooting, you got it. Hairston's time spent in the D-Legaue in 2013-14 may not have come for the best reasons - he left UNC following a suspension - but they surely helped convince the Hornets that Hairston can contribute in an NBA environment. After averaging 14.6 points and shooting 39.6 percent on threes as a sophomore in 2012-13, Hairston averaged 21.8 points and hit 35.8 percent of NBA threes in the D-League.
He can score, to be sure, thanks to a pure stroke and excellent size for the two-guard position. He's tough defensively and could become a 3-and-D type player, as his in-between offensive game isn't yet polished. Hairston could have been a lottery pick with a strong season with the Tar Heels, so there's solid value this late.
The Hornets likely had their eye on Hairston all along, as they netted the 26th pick by trading the 24th selection in Shabazz Napier to the Heat. He provides the Hornets with shooting on the wing, which is something they desperately need. With a solid offensive system built around their pillars in guard Kemba Walker and center Al Jefferson, Hairston will simply need to sit back and can open three-pointers. It's a solid pick.