Not Flagg? 5 potential non-Cooper NBA Draft lottery picks for the Charlotte Hornets
Cooper Flagg is officially in the NBA Draft and the Charlotte Hornets are still looking to end their historic playoff drought.
It’s been nine years since the Hornets were last playing in the NBA Playoffs, marking The Association’s longest active skid and Charlotte’s worst in franchise history.
Flagg, the reigning national player of the year, figures to be Duke’s third No. 1 overall pick in the past seven years, and the NBA team based in the Carolinas has a 14% chance, along with two other teams, to win the lottery, which is May 12, and the top pick in the draft.
Should it not be Flagg whom the Hornets land in the first round, here are five top prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft class looming behind the generational talent:
Ace Bailey
A pair of former Rutgers stars are widely expected to become the first teammates selected in the Top Five since the Blue Devils’ Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett six years ago.
Ace Bailey, the 6-foot-10 standout forward, is a prolific scorer who averaged 17.6 points per game this season for the Scarlet Knights. The offensive skills from a player his size have been impressive, and Bailey’s versatility makes him a good fit for Charlotte.
Bailey could provide another scoring option in addition to LaMelo Ball, while complementing Brandon Miller’s skill set down low. He projects to land at No. 2 or No. 3, so if it isn’t Flagg, there’s a good shot that Georgia’s recent Gatorade player of the year ends up in purple and teal.
Dylan Harper
The son of 15-time NBA veteran Ron Harper is another highly-regarded NBA Draft prospect.
Dylan Harper’s nearly 20 points, four assists and five rebounds per game led the way at Rutgers. The 6-foot-6 guard set the school’s freshman scoring record with 564 points during his lone season at his home state’s flagship university.
Harper — whose father won five NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers — has tremendous upside. He’s got a 6-foot-10 wingspan to go along with his height, giving him the ability to defend various positions on the floor.
A former MVP of the prestigious John Wall holiday invitational in Raleigh during high school, Harper is another versatile standout who could mesh well with the Hornets’ young talent.
VJ Edgecombe
The former Baylor standout is another intriguing option for Charlotte.
VJ Edgecombe is an elite defender who put up 15 points per game last season. A 6-foot-5 guard, Edgecombe also has plenty of potential on offense, while he averaged more than two steals and roughly a block per game on defense.
Edgecombe’s off-ball presence would be beneficial for the Hornets, who had three players — Ball (25.2 points per game), Miller (21 ppg) and Miles Bridges (20.3 ppg) — average more than 20 points per game this season.
Derik Queen
This year’s March Madness darling continues rising in mock drafts.
Derik Queen, whose NCAA Tournament buzzer beater lifted Maryland to the Sweet 16, is a 6-foot-10 big man who could complement Mark Williams in the frontcourt. While Queen may not come off the board as early as the Hornets will likely be selecting, he handles the ball well and would benefit from playing alongside an elite point guard in Ball.
The former Montverde Academy star is a strong rebounder as well, averaging nine rebounds to go with his 16.5 points per game during his lone college season. While not the best defender down low, his offensive skills for a player his size could fit well with Charlotte’s current starters.
Kon Knueppel
Flagg’s college teammate entered his name in the NBA Draft, and Kon Knueppel is also expected to come off the board early.
The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 14.4 points per game and made more than 40% of shots from 3-point range this season at Duke, which dropped a Final Four contest in the final seconds.
The potential addition of Knueppel, who was named ACC Tournament MVP in Charlotte following Flagg’s injury, would open up even more lanes on offense for the Hornets’ existing core.
This story was originally published April 23, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
