Charlotte Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson hopped on a call with reporters after the draft completed on Thursday for a second session of media availability. In the first, he mostly talked about first round pick Tidjane Salaun. This one encompassed a little bit more.

• He spoke very highly of 2nd round pick KJ Simpson and said the team felt he was a 1st round talent
• Answered Scott Fowler’s slowest question of all time by saying he is super excited about the draft haul and the way his group worked together to put it together
• He and his group have a lot of plans and backup plans depending on how different things shake out
• Peterson has made it very clear that he wants Miles Bridges to remain a Hornet
• This draft is meant to set the tone for the culture they want for this team
• The two draft picks and Nick Smith Jr are confirmed playing in the summer league
• Peterson loves Simpson’s shot profile and ability to shoot off the dribble

The rookies joined Peterson and head coach Charles Lee to answer questions from the media on Friday afternoon.

• Tidjane and KJ both said they were very thankful and excited to be drafted and excited to get to work
• Peterson sent Lee some players that he had identified as targets, and that made Lee even more excited to get to Charlotte. Lee said both players embody what the Hornets are going to be
• Tidjane says he’ll bring a lot of energy and effort and his smile (I think)
• KJ says his dad always taught him to be a complete player and wants to bring whatever the team needs from him
• A lot of talk about culture fits and the team drafting them as people and other cliches that teams always talk about at these things
• Lee says that defense is going to be the first thing the team talks about both at summer league training camp and NBA training camp
• Lee envisions Simpson as a ball handler and Salaun as a screener/roller/popper with some play making responsibilities off of short rolls and such. He was very impressed with Salaun’s outside shot.
• Salaun didn’t think he was going to be an NBA player until he was 16 or 17 years old, so he didn’t follow the NBA all that much before that. His sister and Evan Fournier are the two players he idolized.
• Simpson idolized Kobe; he doesn’t play the same way but tries to emulate his competitiveness and love for basketball. Collin Sexton, Tyrese Maxey, Andrew Nembhard, and Derrick White are current players he emulates.
• Salaun was asked about his impression of the city and what he wants to know. Simpson whispered to him “ask if they got Hornets.” The first place Salaun wanted to find was the gym.
• Salaun answered Scott Fowler’s second slowest question of all time about his journey saying that he followed in his sister’s footsteps as a basketball player

Both guys seem excited to be here and both seem to have a good heads on their respective shoulders. It’s always refreshing to see these guys try to emulate players that are more realistic as opposed to hearing them say something like “I model my game after a combination of LeBron James and Stephen Curry” or something.

It was said about 74 times during the two press conferences, but Peterson and Lee clearly have a type–they want guys that will play hard, work hard, and defend. They clearly think Salaun and Simpson will bring that to the table.