Hornets Projected to Trade Up in Latest 2025 NBA Mock Draft

The Charlotte Hornets will be looking for every advantage in the 2025 NBA Draft. 

After finishing with the third-worst record in the league, they snagged the fourth-overall pick but are projected to move up into the top three. According to the latest mock draft from The Athletic's Sam Vecenie, the Hornets will trade No. 4 and No. 32 picks to Philadelphia 76ers for No. 3 and Andre Drummond. For context, here's his entire summary.

"No deal is close, and I’m sure the Sixers will continue to field offers until they get exactly what they want," Vecenie wrote. "But the most logical move is to trade down. At No. 3, the Sixers are atop a talent tier led by Edgecombe, Tre Johnson, Kon Knueppel and Ace Bailey. Some evaluators around the league would also throw Khaman Maluach and Jeremiah Fears into this group, and others would place prospects like Edgecombe and Bailey ahead and into their own mini-tier. For the Sixers, none of these prospects makes perfect sense.

"With a couple of early second-round picks and salary flexibility to help the Sixers, the Hornets have the assets to jump one spot. Edgecombe makes the most sense with Charlotte’s team built in between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in the backcourt. He’s tough and competitive, cares about winning and has been highly impressive in the pre-draft process. 

"The Hornets need a better defensive infrastructure surrounding their franchise centerpieces, and Edgecombe is a terrific defensive player with elite athleticism. He’d be a running mate in transition for Ball early in his career while taking on the toughest perimeter defensive assignments. He also has a lot of potential offensively because of his special athleticism, mixed with his ability to hit catch-and-shoot jumpers. But he needs to continue working on his ball skills, particularly with his left hand and the tightness of his handle. Still, he averaged 15 points, nearly six rebounds and three assists as a freshman and has a long track record of knocking down shots off the catch.

"If the Hornets think he’s the guy, paying one of your two second-round selections while taking on Drummond’s $5 million this year is worth trading up. The Sixers get financial flexibility by taking the Drummond deal off their books and would have an additional asset at the top of the second round. Maybe they could move into the latter portion of the first round? Sell it for future picks? They’d have options."

Vecenie believes the 76ers will take Rutgers' Ace Bailey, who is projected to the Hornets in several other mocks. Charlotte will keep the No. 34 overall pick and take Ben Saraf from Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany). The 6-foot-6, 200-pound guard with size and intelligence to be a high-level backup or rotation starter in the NBA.