The Charlotte Hornets head into Tuesday night’s NBA Draft with two first-round selections. Their own pick sits at 14, the final lottery slot, while the 18th pick was obtained from the Orlando Magic in a trade with the Phoenix Suns at the 2025 trade deadline. The draft begins at 8 p.m. ET, and both slots land in the middle of the lottery, giving Charlotte a chance to add two impact players.

One of the most talked-about prospects is the 19-year-old forward from Santa Clara. He posted a freshman season average of 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 40.7 percent from three-point range. Those numbers place him among the top freshman performers this year and suggest a player who can stretch the floor and generate turnovers on both ends of the court. His ability to space the floor aligns with the Hornets’ desire to improve outside shooting and add a versatile wing who can defend multiple positions.

The second candidate is a power forward known as Graves. Scouting notes describe him as a slow, big-bodied four who struggles as a point-of-attack defender and may never develop into a reliable NBA scorer. Despite those limitations, his size and potential for shot-blocking give him a clear ceiling as a defensive specialist. The Hornets have lacked consistent interior protection, and a player with a high ceiling in rim protection could fill that void if coached properly.

Both prospects align with the Hornets’ most obvious roster needs. A versatile wing with three-point accuracy and defensive activity could complement the team’s backcourt by providing spacing and additional perimeter pressure. Meanwhile, a physically imposing big who can be molded into a disciplined interior defender offers the kind of rim protection the Hornets lacked last season. Selecting a floor-spreading wing at 14 and a developmental big at 18 would give Charlotte a balanced blend of immediate upside and long-term growth.

Ultimately, the choices Charlotte makes on draft night will set the tone for the next two years. Adding a two-way wing and a defensively-oriented big addresses the gaps that forced the team to rely heavily on outside shooting and left the paint vulnerable. The success of those picks will hinge on how quickly the players adapt to Charlotte’s pace-and-space system and on the coaching staff’s ability to refine Graves’ defensive footwork.