Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Malachi Richardson (Syracuse) walks to the stage after being selected as the number twenty-two overall pick to the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

With the questionable drafting from the Charlotte Hornets in recent years, the team should be risking their future for instant success.

Going after a win now mentality, the Charlotte Hornets should be risking their future draft picks for instant success. The team has been one of the poorer drafting franchises in recent history. It would make more sense for them to move their future picks for players who could help them win now.

The Hornets currently hold all of their future first and second round picks, excluding their 2018 second, until 2024. Most successful organizations trade multiple picks to acquire players or to creat cap space. Charlotte has gotten to the point where they may no longer need all of their future draft picks.

The current team that the Hornets have may be their best team in over a decade. They have the talent to compete with some of the best teams in the league and they should be in contention for a high seed in the Eastern Conference Playoff race. Charlotte needed their first round picks when they were a struggling franchise but now that they are on the up-and-up they should be wheeling and dealing with their future picks.

This trend may have already begun as the Hornets traded their 2016 first round pick (22nd overall) to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Marco Belinelli. That move was made with a win now mentality as Belinelli is a veteran who could help the team have instant success rather than a rookie who would take time to develop. Charlotte doesn’t have time to wait as they are looking to become a top-tier team in the East.

The Charlotte Hornets aren’t title contenders or at the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Golden State Warriors but if they wager some future picks to acquire some big name player(s), they could become one of the best teams in the NBA. Bad teams with great players are always looking to acquire first round picks for their best guys. Charlotte has a chance for instant success if they were to move one, two, or even three of their first/second round picks for a big name.

While the Hornets’ franchise has done a better job of drafting in recent seasons, they are still far from being a great drafting organization. After years and years of top picks, they were never able to find a superstar through the draft. They have selected more busts than hits. Those disappointments have been overshadowed by their recent success in free agency and trades.

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Now that Charlotte should be a perennial playoff team, their first round pick will likely be in the mid-20’s each year. Not many rookies can contribute right away when drafted late in the first round. It would be better for the Hornets to move those picks and get some quality veterans in return.

Of course it isn’t easy to just move the picks for a great player but the team should be looking to make deals with their stash of future drafts picks. Unless Charlotte is going to go back to being a lottery team, there is no reason why they should be hanging onto these picks going forward. Although risking a team’s future isn’t a sure fire way to find success in the NBA, it is better than remaining a mid-level team for years.

Risking your future for instant success can go one of two ways, either years of struggling or seasons of glory. The Charlotte Hornets may be able to acquire a star player, like the New York Knicks did with Carmelo Anthony, if they choose to move some of their young players and future draft picks.