Carolina Panthers musings

By CORY SPIERS coryspiers@gmail.com Surprise! The Charlotte Hornets will pick 11th overall in next month's NBA Draft. If that sounds familiar, it's because the team has picked between 9-12th overall eight times since 2008. The only higher pick outliers were when the team picked fourth overall in 2013 and second overall in 2012. Charlotte learned its 2018 draft fate at the draft lottery earlier this week. Their lack of luck with the ping-pong balls has them in draft no man's land once again. While it's possible to find perennial All Stars between 8-12, (see names like: George, Paul, Thompson, Clay and Nowitzki, Dirk) the Hornets certainly haven't done so with any degree of regularity. Charlotte's eight top 12 selections since 2008 have combined for two All Star appearances-- both by 2011 9th overall pick Kemba Walker. Five of the eight selections are still with the team. 2017: Malik Monk-- 11th overall--  It's still early to say exactly what kin

BY CORY SPIERS coryspiers@gmail.com The Panthers found their veteran running back to replace Jonathon Stewart, inking former Bronco CJ Anderson to a one-year deal earlier this week. The Anderson signing addresses a need fans and media were clamoring for someone to fill after the team chose not to take a running back in the draft. Carolina added former Louisville running back/quarterback/wide receiver Reggie Bonnafon as an undrafted free agent, but even with that addition, the team was still left with only Cameron Artis-Payne and Fozzy Whittaker behind swiss army knife Christian McCaffrey. Adding Anderson gives the Panthers the true between the tackles runner they were searching for. Other needs still exist, though. Carolina also chose not to take an offensive lineman in the draft, instead opting to add three guards-- Clemson's Taylor Hearn, Penn State's Brendon Mahon and West Virginia product Kyle Bosch-- as undrafted free agents. Proven offensive line depth remain