Texas Basketball: Hornets trade up to get a steal in Kai Jones

Going around the point he was expected to in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft, former Texas basketball breakthrough sophomore power forward Kai Jones finally heard his name called on the night of July 29 at 19th overall. The Charlotte Hornets moved up in a reported trade with the New York Knicks to snag the former Texas big man just outside of the draft lottery and with the last pick in the teens.

Jones was expected to go between the late lottery and the early 20s in this draft. He was a really solid find for the Hornets, as the second pick for that team in the first round of the 2021 draft. The other first-round draft pick for the Hornets thus far was 11th overall in the lottery with the former UConn Huskies star sophomore guard James Bouknight.

The Hornets are getting a good one with the 19th overall pick in the 2021 draft. Jones has the physical tools and lofty ceiling to become a true quality starter at the four or the five at the next level. He won the honors for the Most Improved Player of the Year last season in the Big 12. And that was clear that he was deserving of those honors with the progression of his stat line from his freshman to sophomore campaign.

Texas basketball ex Kai Jones headed to the Charlotte Hornets

Last season, Jones averaged 8.8 points per game, 4.8 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks. And he shot 58.0 percent from the field, 38.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 68.9 percent from the free-throw line.

A big man that was a real gritty two-way player for the Longhorns during his freshman campaign really expanded his game last season. And that level of progression right away in college showed just how quickly Jones is progressing, as he hasn’t even been playing basketball for more than roughly a half-decade.

The Hornets will be adding a few nice pieces around a potential rising star at point guard in LaMelo Ball. This looks like a rising team to watch out for in the Eastern Conference if both Jones and Bouknight wind up panning out for them.

This is a special class of Texas big men. Jones was the first of three Texas bigs that could potentially be taken off the board on the night of the 2021 draft. The other two are the former senior standout center Jericho Sims and freshman power forward Greg Brown.

We’re still potentially waiting to hear what happens for two projected second-round draft picks between Brown and Sims. Expect Brown to fall off the board first, and then Sims potentially late in the second round. Former senior standout guard Matt Coleman could also make it to the next level in the next 24 hours or so, likely as an undrafted free agent signing.