The Charlotte Hornets enter the draft armed with the 14th and 18th picks after a 44-38 season that ended in the play-in round. With top frontcourt prospects such as Aday Mara and Hannes Steinbach likely off the board by then, the best players available would be perimeter creators. That creates a problem for a backcourt already featuring LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller, while the frontcourt lacks the size and rim protection needed alongside Miles Bridges.

Selecting two more guards would only compound the overlap and slow the development timeline for young players who project as bench-level contributors at best. Charlotte's frontcourt struggles were obvious in its most recent postseason exit, and this draft represents a chance to address that weakness in what is considered a strong class for big men. Trading up with one of the picks or packaging both for a single higher selection makes sense, though rival teams have shown little interest so far.

Absent a deal, the Hornets would probably take the top guard on their board at 14 and then reach for the best remaining big at 18. That haul would still deliver two future rotation pieces but would push any meaningful frontcourt upgrade into the 2026-27 season and beyond.