By June 12, 2025
Photo: Scott Winters / AP
After a disappointing 19-win campaign, the Charlotte Hornets once again find themselves leaning heavily on the NBA Draft to spark a turnaround. With Dallas, San Antonio, and Philadelphia vaulted into the top three, Charlotte slipped to the fourth pick — and in a class where the top two prospects stand above the rest, that drop could prove costly.
With draft night approaching, the Hornets are armed with the 4th, 33rd, and 34th picks. Yet instead of clarity, the pool of players linked to Charlotte continues to widen. One-and-done prospects like Tre Johnson (SG), VJ Edgecombe (SG), Kon Knueppel (SG/SF), Ace Bailey (SF), Khamen Malauach (C ) are all in play, leaving fans wondering who might be tasked with helping lift this franchise out of its long-running funk.
In this mock draft, I’ll be making selections for all three of the Charlotte Hornets’ picks based on who’s projected to be available at each spot. The goal is to predict what the Hornets will do, and each pick reflects my best read on the franchise’s likely direction, not my personal big board.
Charlotte’s new ownership group and front office run a tight-lipped operation when it comes to the draft. Nobody projected them to select Tidjane Salaun last year until the day of the draft, so keep that in mind when seeing so-called “sourced” reports this year.
That said, there does appear to be a frontrunner in VJ Edgecombe (short for Valdez Jr.). For the purposes of this mock, he’ll be the pick at No. 4. However, Edgecome is reportedly under consideration by the 76ers with the third pick.
4th Pick (Plan A)
V.J. Edgecombe | SG | Baylor| Age 19 | Ht 6’5 | Wt 193lb | Wingspan 6’7.5
15.0 points | 5.6 rebounds | 3.2 assists | 2.1 steals | 0.6 blocks
43.6 FG% | 34.0 3P% | 78.2 FT%
Standing 6’5″ in shoes, weighing 193 pounds with a 6’7.5″ wingspan, Edgecombe has physical measurements that closely resemble Boston’s Jrue Holiday. While Holiday entered the league as a point guard, he has since evolved into a defensive Swiss Army knife at the off-guard position — a role Edgecombe projected to fill in the NBA. He would fit both positionally between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller and complement them with his skill set as an off-ball spacer and someone who can take on the primary perimeter defensive responsibility.
Despite some early-season efficiency struggles — and at times playing out of position at small forward — Edgecombe managed to have an impressive season, earning second-team All-Big 12 and Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors while leading the Bears to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Duke in the second round. Edgecombe also represented the Bahamas senior team in the 2024 FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament, where he averaged an impressive 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists as an 18-year-old.
The DX database flagged Jrue Holiday as a strong physical comp for VJ Edgecombe at the same age. Edgecombe has added 15 pounds in the past 2 years and still has more room to grow physically. pic.twitter.com/bZzbAMuAIE
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 14, 2025
The Bahamian shooting guard’s journey from an unranked high school sophomore to five-star senior is one of the more compelling development arcs in this class. His late-blooming status as a prospect stands out for two key reasons.
First, Edgecombe learned to impact the game without needing the ball early on — an uncommon trait among elite recruits. Per Synergy, he shot an impressive 45.8% coming off screens and consistently plays with a desperate (in a good way) defensive-minded approach rarely seen in top-tier high school talent.
Second, there’s real optimism that his recent developmental surge is just the beginning. Edgecombe didn’t have access to high-level basketball until age 14, when he moved from the Bahamas to the United States. The learning curve he’s climbed in just a few short years suggests there’s still untapped upside. Of course, late bloomers come with risk: for every Giannis, there’s a Kai Jones — a fellow Bahamian whose elite athleticism couldn’t make up for, well, a lot of things, but mainly a feel for the game and commitment.
But here’s the difference: Edgecombe has elite intangibles. By all accounts, he’s one of the most respected workers in the class. Sources I’ve spoken with describe him as “unselfish, mature, hardworking, self-aware, and high-character.” This would be the primary reason the Hornets select him, outside of his talen. He checks every box of what President of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson and head coach Charles Lee have said they value: unselfish, two-way players who bring a competitive spirit every night and maximize their potential. It’s also worth noting that Peterson, in his previous role with the Brooklyn Nets, was based less than an hour from Edgecombe’s high school and is likely very familiar with him.
4th Pick (Plan B)
Kon Knueppel | SF/SG | Duke | Age 19 | Ht 6’6 | Wt 219lb | Wingspan 6’6 |
14.4 points | 4.0 rebounds | 2.7 assists | 1.0 steals | 0.2 blocks
47.9 FG% | 40.6 3P% | 91.4 FT%
While he may not deliver as many highlight-reel plays as Tre Johnson or Ace Bailey, Kon Knueppel stands out as the most well-rounded of the trio.
The oldest of four brothers and the son of two former college basketball players, Knueppel carries himself with the maturity of an old soul. At just 19, he’s known for his relentless work ethic, quiet confidence, and ego-free demeanor. On the court, he’s a sniper as an off-ball movement shooter, using his sturdy frame to attack closeouts, get into the paint, and finish with crafty footwork and soft touch that could make Larry Bird purr.
He’s also an excellent passer. Knueppel developed an impressive connection with center Khaman Maluach, often finding him on the roll for alley-oop finishes in nearly every game they played together. Knueppel compared his own game to that of Klay Thompson — a lofty comparison but not an outlandish one.
Though his game doesn’t lend itself to flashy highlights, Knueppel is an incredibly adaptable and effective wing. At Duke, he played in a lower-usage role behind Cooper Flagg, which limited him mostly to spot-up shooting and secondary creation. That experience should translate seamlessly to a complementary role alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. But there may be more in the tank. Early reports from Duke’s training camp suggested Knueppel was outperforming Flagg and looking like the team’s best player. It raises the question: what might he have looked like in a more featured role?
Some analysts have expressed concern that Knueppel lacks the kind of upside potential a team like the Hornets might crave. However, it’s worth noting he ranks second in ESPN analytics expert Kevin Pelton’s projections. In fact, Knueppel posted the highest projection of any player who competed in the Nike EYBL in 2022 or 2023. His 2023 EYBL numbers were elite, with a .642 true shooting percentage on 35 percent usage. That suggests more self-creation upside than he showed while sharing the court with other top-tier talent at Duke.
The main knock on Knueppel is his athleticism. By NBA standards, he’s a below-average mover on both ends. Can he create and maintain separation as a shooter? Will defenders recover on his drives? Can he stay in front of NBA-caliber wings? These are all valid concerns.
That said, Knueppel has three key counters that help mitigate these weaknesses.
First, he’s incredibly strong. As a freshman, he weighed in at 219 pounds — more than Josh Green, Brandon Miller, and Tidjane Salaun, and just five pounds lighter than Miles Bridges. That strength gives him the versatility to guard bigger forwards.
Second, Knueppel possesses an elite basketball IQ. He processes the game quickly, makes smart decisions, and adapts well in real time. This gives him an edge in overcoming physical limitations.
Third, his motor never stops. Even if he occasionally gets blown by on the perimeter, he makes up for it with effort plays — diving for loose balls, contesting shots, and creating turnovers.
Ace Bailey and Tre Johnson were both serious considerations for this pick, but Knueppel’s versatility and ability to contribute in ways beyond scoring ultimately tipped the scales in his favor.
Second Round
Charlotte holds two early second-round picks in this year’s draft, back-to-back selections that offer flexibility. It’s unlikely they’ll keep both, as doing so would mean entering next season with three rookies on standard contracts, a scenario that feels improbable for a team looking to retool around its young core. A trade up, down, or out of the draft entirely with one of those picks seems like the most likely outcome. While it’s impossible to predict exactly who will be on the board at that stage, I’ve identified four prospects who have a realistic chance of being available when the Hornets are on the clock.
Noah Penda | F | Le Mans (France) | Age 20 | Ht 6’8 | Wt 242lb | Wingspan 6’11
10.2 points | 5.5 rebounds | 2.7 assists | 1.2 steals | 0.9 blocks
44.7 FG% | 32.2 3P% | 66.7 FT%
Penda is my biggest sleeper in the 2025 draft, and he’s currently 11th on my board. Yet most analysts still have him projected in the late first or early second round. A high-feel, playmaking forward, he brings real value as a rebounder, uses his long wingspan and quick hands to generate deflections, and consistently impacts the game with his motor. His rapid development over the past year also suggests intriguing late-bloomer upside.
If the Hornets were to draft him, there’s an added bonus: he and fellow French prospect Tidjane Salaün could potentially help one another adjust to life overseas, providing valuable off-court support during their NBA transition.
I believe his shot will likely come around — he hit 40% of his open catch-and-shoot threes this past season — and much of his inconsistency stems from questionable shot selection rather than poor mechanics. With his blend of size, strength, versatility, and the ability to dribble, pass, and shoot, it’s hard to understand how a player like this could slide into the second round. But as things stand, that appears to be a real possibility.
Bogoljub Markovic | F | Mega (Serbia) | Age 19 | Ht 6’11 | Wt 213lb | Wingspan 6’11
13.9 points | 6.9 rebounds | 2.6 assists | 0.8 steals | 0.9 blocks
54.6 FG% | 38.8 3P% | 76.5 FT%
If the Charlotte Hornets decide to keep both of their second-round picks, I’d expect at least one to be used on a draft-and-stash prospect who remains overseas for further development. Markovic fits that mold. Coming off a strong season with Mega — yes, the same club that produced Nikola Jokic — Markovic has emerged as one of the top stretch-five options in this class, shooting 39% from three.
The main concern is his frame. At just 213 pounds, he’s roughly 30 pounds too light to hold up physically against NBA centers, and he’ll likely get overpowered on the interior early in his career. His shot-blocking numbers (0.9 per game) won’t wow anyone, but context matters. Markovic held opponents to just 37% shooting at the rim this season, demonstrating solid positional defense and timing.
He’ll need time, strength, and seasoning, but with his combination of size, shooting ability, and playmaking instincts, Markovic could prove to be a valuable long-term investment.
Maxime Raynaud | C | Stanford | Age 22 | Ht 7’1 | Wt 237lb | Wingspan 7’1
20.2 points | 10.6 rebounds | 1.7 assists | 0.9 steals | 1.4 blocks
46.7 FG% | 34.7 3P% | 77.0 FT%
Despite spending four years at Stanford, Maxime Raynaud is a product of France’s basketball development system, where he was once junior teammates with Victor Wembanyama. At the NBA level, Raynaud projects as a scoring/stretch five, having connected on 35% of his three-point attempts on 2.5 shots per game over his college career. His offensive skill set goes beyond shooting — Raynaud has the fluidity to attack closeouts and finish around the rim using a mix of pump fakes, footwork, and finesse.
Defensively, he brings a solid foundation of fundamentals, using his size effectively and moving laterally better than expected for a player of his frame. That said, the transition to the NBA’s pace and spacing could prove challenging. At Stanford, Raynaud often operated in traditional low-post sets — a style that may not translate seamlessly to the modern NBA.
One area of concern is his playmaking. Bigs with Raynaud’s profile often display the passing instincts of players like Nikola Jokić or Alperen Şengün, but Raynaud has struggled in that regard, posting 1.7 assists to 2.4 turnovers in his final collegiate season. At 22 years old, his developmental upside is limited, making it unlikely that he suddenly evolves into a high-level facilitator. He’s also likely to face physical disadvantages—less strength, speed, and vertical explosiveness compared to most NBA bigs—which may confine him to a backup role, primarily against second units.
Adou Theiro | SF | Arkansas | Age 21 | Ht 6’7 | Wt 218lb | Wingspan 7’0
15.1 points | 5.8 rebounds | 1.9 assists | 1.6 steals | 0.7 blocks
54.5 FG% | 25.6 3P% | 68.6 FT%
Adou Thiero considered a return to college but ultimately chose to remain in the draft following a breakout season under John Calipari at Arkansas. An explosive athlete who thrives attacking the rim, Thiero led the Razorbacks in scoring before a knee injury cut his season short.
While traditional shooting indicators — such as his three-point and free-throw percentages — don’t suggest strong upside, there’s still some reason for optimism. His shooting form is clean, and he converted an impressive 36.7% of his contested catch-and-shoot threes. Ironically, he shot just 22% on open catch-and-shoot looks (per Synergy), hinting that his struggles may stem more from confidence or mental pressure than flawed mechanics.
At the NBA level, Thiero will need to shift from a primary scoring role to that of a complementary piece who embraces the little things. Fortunately, his athletic tools and physical profile provide a solid foundation for that transition. He has the potential to be a highly versatile defender, capable of guarding up to three positions. Thiero can compete with bigger players inside, switch onto smaller guards on the perimeter, and use his long arms and active hands to disrupt plays. He’s also flashed strong weak-side instincts, flying in unexpectedly to swat shots with emphatic two-handed blocks.
His feel for the game is an area of concern. Thiero can look erratic and out of control, making mental mistakes on both ends of the court — his decision-making and situational awareness will also need refinement. Still, the combination of athleticism, defensive potential, and a downhill-oriented offensive game gives him a real shot to carve out a role — especially if he can become even a marginally respectable shooter at the next level.
The NBA Draft will take place on June 25-26 at 8 p.m. live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and will air on ESPN.
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