Grading the draft of the Charlotte Hornets

After finishing 14th in the Eastern Conference and missing the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season, the Charlotte Hornets continue to retool their roster. Here are grades for their four selections in Thursday's NBA Draft.

Brandon Miller (No. 2, first round): B- 

In the lottery, the Hornets (27-55) had the fourth-best odds for the No. 1 pick, but after moving up to No. 2, some expected Charlotte to pick Scoot Henderson. the G League star who went to Portland with the No. 3 overall pick. Miller, however, was Charlotte's favorite all along, Hornets GM Mitch Kupchak told the media about the Alabama forward.

While the 6-foot-9 Miller's size on the wing appears suitable for star guard LaMelo's Ball's game, questions about this pick remain.  

In January, Miller was linked to a case in which his former Alabama teammate, Darius Miles, was charged with capital murder. In February, Tuscaloosa (Ala.) police alleged in court that Miller provided the firearm used in the killing. Miller was never charged with a crime and police say that he is not currently under investigation.

Legal issues with young players surfaced for Charlotte last season. The NBA suspended Miles Bridges for 30 games for felony domestic abuse. Bridges, now a restricted free agent, did not play last season.  In October, James Bouknight was arrested for DWI but received no suspension. 

Miller and the Hornets will play the Spurs and No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama on the first day of Summer League on July 7.

Nick Smith Jr. (No. 27, first round): A

After being projected as a lottery pick, Smith Jr. slid to the late first round following an injury-riddled (knee) freshman season at Arkansas. The 6-foot-5 combo guard with this level of talent is a steal for the Hornets if he can stay healthy.

However, his ability to effectively shoot the NBA three-ball could be a question -- he shot 33.8% from deep last season. Per Bleacher Report's Doric Sam, Smith Jr. has drawn comparisons to New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley, who averaged 14.9 points last season.

James Nnaji (No. 31, second round): B 

With five total picks in this year's draft, it was going to be tough to use all of them, so Charlotte sent its  34th and 39th picks to Boston to select Nnaji 31st overall. 

Nnaji, originally from Nigeria, played in Spain last year, averaging two points in only 6.3 minutes per game, and the extent of his game remains largely unknown. The 7-foot center has a 7-foot-7 wingspan, but it is unclear how he will work in the rotation with seven-footers Mark Williams and Nick Richards already on the roster.

Amari Bailey (No. 41, second round): A+

With an impressive NCAA Tournament performance and a huge leap in his abilities as a playmaker, the former UCLA star's stock soared in the draft. A former McDonald's All-American, the 6-foot-5 guard  will likely have plenty of competition in a backcourt with Ball, Terry Rozier, Smith Jr. and Bouknight.