Charlotte Hornets 2025 NBA Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

One of my favorite potential fits in the draft is Edgecombe going to Charlotte. I'm a huge believer in the two-way upside Edgecombe has. He can be a true two-way star at the next level one day. Edgecombe improved his shot throughout the season and is one of the most athletic players in his draft class. Edgecombe next to LaMelo Ball would be fun to watch.

Bailey, who was listed at 6 feet, 10 inches at Rutgers, measured in at 6 feet, 7 1/2 inches barefoot this week at the draft combine. He was highly touted because of his ability to score at his size, but after coming in a bit shorter than expected, it is unclear how that could affect his draft stock.

The All-Big Ten third-team selection should still be considered a top-five pick, with his scoring instincts, offensive movement and feel for the game. The Hornets didn't have the lottery result they wanted, but the organization should still be able to add a potential cornerstone in Bailey to the roster.

Edgecombe ticks a lot of boxes for the Hornets. They're a team that needs a better defensive infrastructure surrounding franchise centerpieces in LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. Ball is too inattentive on that end despite his impressive offensive skill set, and Miller is quite skinny and struggles to wall up on opposing guards and wings through his core. Edgecombe is a terrific defensive player with truly elite athleticism. He'd be a real running mate in transition for Ball early in his career while taking on the toughest defensive assignments from the two other perimeter players. On offense, the key will be how Edgecombe's game grows. He has a lot of potential because of his special athleticism, but he needs to continue working on his ball skills, particularly with his left hand and the tightness of his handle.

Even still, he averaged 15 points, nearly six rebounds and three assists as a freshman and has a long track record of knocking down shots off the catch. This pick makes a ton of sense for the Hornets, especially given that Edgecombe's intel is quite positive and that he is known to be a leader on the court at even this young age.

Pro Comparisons: Andrew Wiggins, Victor Oladipo, Iman Shumpert

Every team's tier behind Flagg and Harper will include VJ Edgecombe. Front offices that value his 100th percentile explosiveness, shotmaking and defensive quickness could slot him at No. 3, particularly if they question Ace Bailey's handle and tunnel vision, Tre Johnson's lack of rim pressure and Jeremiah Fears' shooting.

The draft process should only help illuminate his incredible athletic ability and improving shooting stroke.

Team Fit: With offense running through LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, Edgecombe gives Charlotte a different type of scorer and defender with his rim pressure and quickness.

Scouting report: The Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Edgecombe had a largely successful season showing off his physicality, intensity and rapid improvement as a ball handler, finisher and perimeter shooter. Edgecombe is the most explosive athlete in this class, has a real feel for the game and has had exceptional defensive moments, giving him significant upside to grow.

NBA teams have some questions about what position he best projects for, just how good a shot creator and overall scorer he is, and whether he was playing with the brakes on at times this season. -- Givony

NBA intel and fit: Although the Hornets were hoping to land atop the draft, staying in the top four while teams such as Utah and Washington fell is still a favorable outcome. Charlotte remains at an early stage of its rebuild, with LaMelo Ball coming off a career-best scoring season (25.2 points per game) and Brandon Miller emerging.

But the roster is still at a nascent stage overall, coming off a season in which both stars missed significant time because of injuries. Edgecombe's defensive acumen and athletic slashing chops would slide in neatly alongside them, as he has the ability to play with Ball in the short term and perhaps inherit more significant shot-creation duties if the franchise decides to pivot away from Ball. -- Woo

Edgecombe brings a combination of nuclear athleticism, spot-up shooting, and defensive playmaking that makes him a top contender for the first player taken after Flagg and Harper come off the board. The Baylor freshman can turn defense into offense in a hurry after posting a 3.8 percent steal rate and 2.3 percent block rate, and he was effective in transition by ranking in the 69th percentile of points per possession. Edgecombe has a lot of tools to work with, but he remains rough around the edges at this stage. He lacks any sort of off-the-dribble shooting threat, ranking in the 10th percentile on pull-ups. He was a surprisingly poor finisher at the rim (60.3 percent) given his bounce. Edgecombe just also isn't very big even after encouraging measurements (6'4 barefoot with a 6'7.5 wingspan) at the combine. If he can refine his offensive approach and figure out his shooting touch when attacking off the dribble, he has a high-floor for two-way upside and a high ceiling thanks to his burst and hang-time offensively.

They say a flea can jump 150 to 200 times its own body height—but Edgecombe might be able to do better. The Baylor guard will rank in the 90th percentile of NBA athletes from day one, and he pairs that athleticism with real indicators of on-ball scoring, playmaking juice, and a great instinct for cutting and quick, connective passes. He'll need time to refine that skill set, but he's primed to make a gigantic leap in his third or fourth season—and that's what Charlotte is likely hoping for. Edgecombe projects as a balancing third planet in the Hornets' backcourt galaxy, someone who can knock down open shots and work within the flow "give it, get it, give it" that should develop with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. He can also cross-switch to defend at the point of attack so that LaMelo is put in a position to roam defensively.

Charlotte's bad lottery luck may work out OK. Bailey didn't seem like a great fit for Charlotte and this gives the Hornets a potential chance to snag one of Edgecombe or Tre Johnson. Edgecombe would be my pick here as a high-upside scoring guard with elite athletic pop and skills to complement LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.

Edgecombe is an explosive, high-motor wing who flies out of nowhere for poster dunks and chase-down blocks. He pairs his elite athleticism with a knockdown spot-up jumper and fearless slashing. Edgecombe needs to improve his shot creation to become more of a primary creator, but that'll matter less in Charlotte as long as LaMelo Ball stays healthy.

The Hornets were 28th in 3-point percentage last season, so finding more shooting is a must in this draft. Marković is a modern stretch forward who also offers skill as a passer and post scorer. But to handle the rigors of the NBA and become a positive defender, he needs to add a ton of muscle.

Another shooter here for Charlotte. Brea projects as a shooting specialist who has a clear path to becoming a rotation player because of his highly sought after skill. But in order to avoid being a weak link on defense, he'll need to make improvements to his athleticism.