BREAKING: Charlotte Hornets Select Frank Kaminsky with Ninth Pick in 2015 NBA Draft

By Peyton Wesner

"With the ninth pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets select Frank Kaminsky from the University of Wisconsin."

The great Michael Jordan (Principal Owner and Chariman of the Charlotte Hornets) and General Manager Rich Cho didn't just take a big man from Wisconsin, they selected a weapon. "Frank the Tank" is the definition of a late bloomer at the collegiate level as he went from playing 7.7 minutes and 10.3 minutes per game his Freshman and Sophomore years respectively to 27.2 minutes and 33.6 minutes per game his Junior and Senior seasons. With a rise in playing time came an increase in every statistical category for Kaminsky besides blocks per game between his Junior and Senior season. During his Senior season, the Lisle, Illinois, native (18.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, & 1.5 BPG) was the star on a Wisconsin Badgers team that lost in the 2015 National Championship.

Despite being a twenty-two year old, the Hornets picked him rather than a younger player because of his skill as a shooter. Kamnisky shot an impressive 41.6% from beyond the arc, which is actually better than the second overall pick D'Angelo Russell! In addition, the seven footer knows how to attack a defense inside and outside of the paint with pump fakes and his dribbling ability. 

2015-2016 Projected Starting Lineup

PG-Kemba Walker 

---17.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 5.1 APG, & 1.4 SPG.

SG-Jeremy Lamb

---6.3 PPG & 2.3 RPG.

SF-Nicolus Batum

---9.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.8 APG, & 1.1 SPG.

PF-Cody Zeller

---7.6 PPG & 5.8 RPG.

C-Al Jefferson

---12.0 PPG & 7.9 RPG.

6th-Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

---10.9 PPG & 7.6 RPG. 

Tonight's selection of Kaminsky, who is the third Big Ten player to be selected by a Charlotte first round pick in the last three years, is not the only move the Hornets have made this offseason to upgrade their team as they traded Lance Stephenson to the Clippers for Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes, Gerald Henderson and last year's first round pick Noah Vonleh for Nicolus Batum, and newly acquired Matt Barnes to Memphis for Luke Ridnour, who was later sent to Oklahoma City for Jeremy Lamb. The mentioned transactions have added depth to Charlotte while making them a contender for a 2016 NBA Playoffs' spot, if their key contributors can stay healthy. Last season, star Kemba Walker missed twenty games while big man Al Jefferson missed seventeen due to injury, which ultimately popped their balloon of hope to make the playoffs.