All 2026 Draft Pick Scenarios For Hornets (and Suns) Picks in NBA Play-In

The Hornets obviously want to win and make the playoffs, but missing out and getting another lottery pick to add to this talented young core would not be the worst outcome in the world. It would be a nice silver lining.

If the Hornets and Warriors win, the Hornets will own the 14th (lottery, so it may change) pick and the 17th pick. If the Hornets and Suns win, the Hornets would get picks 16 and 17/18, depending on a coin flip tiebreaker.

If the Hornets lose and the Suns win, the Hornets would get the 14th and 17th/18th picks. If the Hornets and Suns lose, they end up with picks 13 and 17/18. Unfortunately, there appears to be no scenario with two lottery picks.

Whatever the combination, the Hornets appear poised to end up with two picks between 13 and 18. The lottery could change things, but the odds are incredibly small. Per the X user above who shared the outcomes, the odds are high that the 14th pick remains the 14th pick.

There's also a 0.01% chance that everything that needs to happen for Charlotte to jump into the top four, a la Dallas Mavericks in 2025, happens. It's highly unlikely, and the lottery has never been anything but brutally unkind to the Hornets anyway.

With those two picks, the Hornets are a prime trade-up candidate. The roster, for once, does not have ample holes, so two mid-round draft picks aren't going to be as helpful unless they're developmental, but it's probably a good idea to add talent that can contribute to a winning team right now.

They could easily package the two picks and move up into the top 10 and pick a much better prospect. Regardless, the combination of the two picks is extremely valuable and sets the Hornets up extremely well for the future.