Another Year, Another Chance — Can the Hornets Finally Deliver?

With the 2025 NBA Draft just 43 days away, the Charlotte Hornets are evaluating prospects to make the most of their fourth overall pick. Landing in the lottery has become routine for the franchise, which has picked there in 19 of the last 20 seasons—yet rarely struck gold.

Only two homegrown All-Stars have emerged in that span: Kemba Walker and LaMelo Ball. Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—drafted by Charlotte and traded—has flourished into an MVP-caliber talent with the Oklahoma City Thunder. With so many missed chances and missteps, how will the Hornets approach this year’s draft?

To understand the road ahead, we first have to examine past pitfalls. Let’s dive into 20 years of draft-day decisions.

The Hornets’ Wrong Decisions

Over the years, the Hornets have taken swings at prospects who, at the time, seemed like can’t-miss talents but ultimately failed to deliver.

In the 2006 NBA Draft, Charlotte selected Adam Morrison with the third overall pick. Coming out of Gonzaga, Morrison averaged 19.7 points on efficient shooting splits (50/36/76) across three seasons, making comparisons to the era’s elite scorers. But his NBA career never took off. He lasted just a season and a half in Charlotte before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played a limited role and eventually won a title as a bench piece.

Fast-forward to 2021, when the Hornets used the 11th overall pick to draft UConn guard James Bouknight. This 6’5” athlete was praised for his scoring versatility and projected as a dynamic backcourt partner for Ball. However, Bouknight struggled to find consistency on the court and dealt with off-court issues that derailed his development. The Hornets waived him after he appeared in only 79 games over three seasons, missing another opportunity to improve.

Traded Potential

In the 2018 NBA Draft, the Hornets selected Shai Gilgeous-Alexander but quickly traded him to the Clippers for Miles Bridges. While Bridges has provided athletic highlights and solid production, he hasn’t reached the star level Charlotte hoped for. Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander has blossomed into a top-five player with the Thunder, earning three All-Star selections, two First-Team All-NBA honors, and emerging as the frontrunner for the 2025 MVP.

In the 2022 NBA Draft, the Hornets selected Jalen Duren with the 13th pick but immediately traded him to the Detroit Pistons in a multi-team deal. Instead, they used the 15th pick to draft Mark Williams. While Williams has shown flashes of rim protection and rebounding potential, injuries have slowed his development. Meanwhile, Duren has quickly become a cornerstone for the Detroit Pistons, starting from day one and flashing elite athleticism, passing touch, and double-double potential that Charlotte could now sorely use in its frontcourt.

In Conclusion

The Charlotte Hornets’ draft history is a cautionary tale filled with missed picks, rushed trades, and wasted potential. Kemba Walker and LaMelo Ball are rare bright spots in two disappointing decades of drafting. Too many decisions have held the franchise back instead of moving it forward. With the 2025 NBA Draft approaching, Charlotte stands at another critical crossroads. The Hornets own the fourth overall pick, and the margin for error is minimal. This draft can’t just add talent to change their direction—it must be the right talent.