2021 NBA Draft Mock 2.0: Charlotte Hornets draft Alperen Sengun, get their big-man
We know the Charlotte Hornets need big men. This is a team that is loaded with guards, and outside of Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo, they need something to get excited about.
Fans may be more enticed by the idea of a classic, hyper-athletic alley-oop catching big (like Kai Jones) than the slower Alperen Sengun.
Let’s not forget, what makes LaMelo Ball so special is not just his fastbreak passes but his awareness in the half-court. Pairing him in the pick-and-roll with Sengun may just break defenses.
NBA Draft – Alperen Sengun NBA player comparisons:
- Domantas Sabonis
- Luis Scola – Knack for creatively scoring down low
- Drew Gooden
Alperen Sengun is a Turkish big man currently playing for Beşiktaş J.K. The 18-year-old Sengun won’t be 19 until the end of July but already plays like he’s been in the league for years.
Hovering around 6’10, Sengun has somewhat of a thin frame, but one that he should fill out as he gets older.
Sengun is already such a savvy scorer. A wide array of pump fakes, hook shots, scoops – you name it, he’s already got an advanced moveset in the post. It’s just your typical crafty post player – Sengun has a nice combination of strength and fluid body movement that you don’t often see in young big men.
He hasn’t applied that savvy to defense yet. He’s not the supreme athlete that other big men in this draft are, so he’ll have to continue to learn how to patiently defend – but he can get there.
The savvy of Sengun doesn’t stop at his scoring. He has fantastic positioning on his rebounding – he’s going to be a beast on the boards in the NBA. Even more exciting his potential as a passer.
That’s where this gets really interesting – pairing him with the Hornets’ guards. Sengun can make nice reads and kick-outs from the post, and we could be looking at a really high level of playmaking with him and LaMelo Ball together.
It may take a few years to really find his groove in the NBA, but Sengun would be an excellent long-term option for the Hornets.