Throughout all the speculation that Charlotte would look to make a trade in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Hornets stood pat and selected Kentucky power forward PJ Washington with the 12th overall pick.
Washington, 6-foot-8 and 228 pounds, spent two years at Kentucky and averaged 15.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists this past season as a sophomore.
"He checked all the boxes," general manager Mitch Kupchak said. "He made a huge jump from his freshman to sophomore year. If he can continue that kind of jump, then he'll be a good player in this league for a long time."
Washington, 20, becomes the third player in the last seven years Charlotte has taken out of Kentucky in the lottery.
Small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was selected second overall in 2012, and shooting guard Malik Monk was chosen 11th in 2017.
Charlotte has drafted power forwards in the lottery in back-to-back years following a trade in last year's draft for Miles Bridges.
"I feel like I'm versatile on both ends of the floor and I'm ready to do whatever coach asks me to do," Washington said.
Washington shot 42.3 percent from 3-point range as a sophomore.
Washington declared for last year’s draft after averaging 10.8 points and 5.7 rebounds as a freshman, but he opted to return to school and had a breakout season being named Third-Team All-American.
"My freshman year, every time I caught the ball and went up with it I kind of dipped, so I tried to eliminate that and be quick in motion and a lot smoother," Washington said. "Just building my confidence with it."
Opting to draft the best available player and not by need, the Hornets have a plethora of big men on their roster that includes Bridges, center Cody Zeller, Willy Hernangomez and Bismack Biyombo.
"If we feel it's a clear-cut decision, we're going to take the best player," Kupchak said. "I would have no problem with our coach if we rolled out two guys at 6'4 and 6'5 and three guys at 6-7 and 6-8 and let them play. Fortunately, it wasn't played that way 40 years ago."
Charlotte had its eye on multiple players, but Washington said he only met with the Hornets during the draft combine and his workout was canceled by Charlotte. He did not say the reason why.
"I've known Malik since I was in high school and MKG (Kidd-Gilchrist) from Kentucky," Washington said. "I can't wait to see those guys and meet the rest of the team."
The Charlotte Hornets selected Nevada small forward Cody Martin with the 36th overall pick.
The Hornets acquired the 36th pick from the Bismack Biyombo trade with the Orlando Magic.
Martin, 23, spent his first two years of college eligibility at NC State before transferring to Nevada after averaging just 3.4 and six points per game his freshman and sophomore year, respectively.
At Nevada, Martin and his identical twin brother, Caleb Martin, broke out and Martin was named Second-Team All-Mountain West Team and MWC Defensive Player Of The Year.
Martin averaged 14 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game as a junior.
During his senior season, Martin averaged 12.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists.
McDaniels averaged 13.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in two seasons at San Diego State.