THE CHARLOTTE Hornets produced one of their most exciting intakes in team history at the 2025 NBA Draft in Chicago, adding some quality talent and addressing key needs on their roster with selections that should help them contend in the coming years.

The Hornets came into the draft with the fourth overall selection as their first pick, and opted to go for team fit rather than best available player, in a move that could be defining in where they go from here. After struggling to find success over recent campaigns with stars plagued with injuries, they could be set for a postseason return after making some eye-catching selections.

If the Hornets can get a full season out of the likes of Lamelo Ball and Brandon Miller as well as getting some development from their new recruits, the future could suddenly be extremely bright in Charlotte.

Charlotte Hornets

Drafted Players

Kon Knueppel (pick four), Liam McNeeley (pick 29), Sion James (pick 33), Ryan Kalkbrenner (pick 34)

The Hornets have been unable to capitalise on their draft picks in the past, but 2025 seems like their most promising acquisition of players to date, and they may now have their roster for the next decade after addressing some key needs.

With the fourth overall pick, the Hornets could have grabbed the best available player in Ace Bailey, but opted for roster fit and added Duke Blue Devils wing Knueppel instead. The sharpshooter is the perfect addition alongside Ball and Miller, and is the complimentary piece Charlotte needed.

Knueppel is the best shooter in the draft class, and does not need much of the ball to make an impact, which makes him the perfect fit alongside his high-usage teammates. If he can make his mark as an off-ball perimeter threat, he will get plenty of good looks when the defence collapses in on Ball and Miller in offensive sets.

The Hornets’ next selection was another wing in McNeeley at pick 29, rounding out their acquisitions in the first round. Like Knueppel, the 19-year-old can catch fire from behind the arc, and will also benefit from the spacing generated by his teammates. By adding these two players, Charlotte has seriously improved its spacing.

In the second round, the Hornets had two picks early on, picking up Knueppel’s teammate and Blue Devils super senior James with pick 33. He is an impressive defender, boasting impressive speed and a stocky build that allows him to stay in front of his opponent, while he has also improved his three-point shooting in recent seasons, making him a valuable asset for the Hornets.

With their fourth and final selection of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets looked to add to their frontcourt by picking up Ryan Kalkbrenner with the next pick at 34. After dealing Mark Williams to the Suns, the Hornets were left with a void at the center position, so Kalkbrenner’s addition makes sense. One of the best defenders in the draft class, he can anchor the team on that end of the floor.

The Hornets have done an excellent job at setting themselves up for the future with their four picks at the 2025 NBA Draft, addressing key areas on their roster and continuing to build a complimentary list to contend in the coming years.