The Charlotte Hornets hold the No. 4, No. 33, and No. 34 overall selections in next week’s 2025 NBA Draft. With those draft picks, the Hornets need to capitalize on their 2025 draft class to set up the beginning of a rebirth in Charlotte. Since they drafted LaMelo Ball with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Hornets have been stuck in rebuild mode. They have selected players like 2023-24 third-place Rookie of the Year finisher, Brandon Miller, which have worked out. However, they’ve missed on more prospects than they’ve hit on. Their 2021 lottery pick, James Bouknight, has become one of the biggest busts in the past five seasons and their most recent draft selection, Tidjane Salaun, has looked anything but a top-six selection. Charlotte’s draft philosophy will forever be unpredictable. However, with three valuable picks, their roster has every chance to improve.

Apr 13, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Tidjane Salaun (31) shoots during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

The top-two picks are basically set with the Dallas Mavericks selecting Duke forward Cooper Flagg at No. 1 and the San Antonio Spurs selecting Rutgers guard Dylan Harper at No. 2. However, the draft will truly begin at No. 3 with Philadelphia where recent reports are pointing to them eyeing Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe as Rutgers wing prospect Ace Bailey‘s draft stock continues to plummet. If Bailey is available with their selection, his defensive deficiencies raise questions on whether he would even be a seamless fit in Charlotte.

The Hornets sit at No. 4 and there are many paths the team can ultimately pave. Many rumors surrounding the Hornets capitalizing on a trade down from No. 4 are evident:

"If the Philadelphia 76ers take VJ Edgecombe, the odds of the Charlotte Hornets moving back from #4 go up substantially, with the Washington Wizards a potential suitor for that pick." https://t.co/2PlEyskeH3 pic.twitter.com/NCXQ1krWnf

— r/CharlotteHornets on Reddit (@HornetsReddit) June 16, 2025

As much as Charlotte could have fallen for a player like Edgecombe as a prospect, there could be other fits that make just as much sense. An in-state connection with the Duke Blue Devils could create interest for the Hornets. Duke has three potential top-10 prospects including Flagg, freshman wing Kon Knueppel, and freshman big Khaman Maluach.

Knueppel and Maluach are realistic fits with Charlotte at No. 4. Knueppel would provide an effortless fit between Ball and Miller as a two-guard and give the Hornets a player who can make an immediate impact. With Maluach, there would be more of a developmental process, as he is one of the youngest prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft. However, the team could bank on his long-term potential as Mark Williams‘ place on the team remains uncertain.

Both Duke prospects could also be available in a trade-down scenario with another top-10 suitor. A team that is comfortable with taking a swing on Bailey like the Washington Wizards (No. 6) or New Orleans Pelicans (No. 7) could consider moving up in the draft.

A team’s draft class isn’t complete without the second round, and the Hornets have two early opportunities on Day 2 of the NBA Draft to truly capitalize. Sitting with back-to-back selections at No. 33 and No. 34, the team will have plenty of flexibility to draft for need, upside, or safety. There will be prospects who slide out of the first round and Charlotte will be in prime position to select them.

The Hornets possess an abundance of draft capital and need to learn how to take advantage of it. Just recently, in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors capitalized on their second-round selections, drafting impact rotational rookies in Jonathan Mogbo and Jamal Shead. Charlotte should feel the need to apply a similar approach.

High-upside prospects like French wing Noah Penda, or Chinese big Hansen Yang could be on the table while more NBA-ready prospects like Auburn big Johni Broome and Nevada forward Kobe Sanders could become possibilities.

Overall, whatever direction the Hornets lean toward in the 2025 NBA Draft, they need to capitalize on it. Charlotte has finished as a double-digit seed every year of Ball’s career. Not to mention, the team has shown little improvement, finishing bottom-three in the Eastern Conference for three straight seasons. Ball’s injury history is concerning for the organization. However, the Hornets heavily rely on Ball and when he’s absent due to injury, the team’s identity vanishes. The roster needs life and having three valuable draft picks next week could be the spark they need to finally blossom into a more complete team.