After seeing the return on investment from players like LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, Hornets fans were rightly excited about their sixth pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The team finally decided on French striker Tidjane Salaun. It seemed a bit high at the time, but it was quite realistic to select the 2.08 meter tall striker who resembles a project.

Rumors about Salaun have increased since his selection. But the Hornets’ other 2024 draft pick – Colorado Guard KJ Simpson — has gone unnoticed for a long time. And it’s time we set the record straight: Simpson could be a long-term NBA employee.

Simpson was selected number 42 in the draft and managed to fly under the radar even among NBA teams. His 6-foot-3 height is certainly the reason for that, but his college performance more than made up for it.

In his third and final season with the Buffs, Simpson scored a team-high 19.7 points, dished out 4.9 assists, grabbed 5.8 rebounds — a strong performance for a below-average guard — and managed 1.6 steals on defense. In short, Simpson was a monster in terms of production and got Colorado through some real low points.

Simpson has the scoring potential to succeed in the NBA. His finishing and assist numbers – coupled with the fact that he can switch on or off the ball at 43% from beyond the arc – make him an offensive threat. Simpson needs to show his development in other areas, especially defensively. And he already has strong statistical indicators for that.

The Hornets have a lot of guards, but if Simpson can assert himself early in practice, he could easily earn playing time on a team that will be battling for back positions in the East.