The Charlotte Hornets are projected to draft an NCAA Champion in the first round.
The Charlotte Hornets have a key offseason ahead after falling in the Play-In Tournament to the Orlando Magic.
The 2025-26 season was promising for the Hornets, as they finished with a 44-38 record behind the young core of LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller.
Ball had an impressive season, appearing in 72 games and averaging 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. The 24-year-old shot 40.7 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three.
Miller also had a great season in his third year in the league, averaging 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and a steal per game while shooting 43.5 percent from the floor and 38.3 percent from behind the arc.
However, the story of the season was rookie Kon Knueppel. Knueppel finished in second place for the Rookie of the Year award behind Cooper Flagg.
The 20-year-old averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from deep. He quickly emerged as a talented scorer and one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA.
Bob Donnan-Imagn ImagesThe Hornets will now look to build around this trio to make their first playoff appearance since the 2015-16 season.
Charlotte will have the opportunity to add more talent in the draft, as they hold the 14th and 18th overall picks in the first round. In CBS Sports' latest mock draft, they have the Hornets selecting Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. with the 14th overall pick.
Johnson Jr. was a key piece for the Wolverines en route to winning the NCAA Championship. In 40 games in the 2025-26 season, he averaged 13.1 points per game along with 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 blocks.
The 20-year-old shot 62.3 percent from the floor and 34.3 percent from downtown. His rebounding and two-way play would make him a great fit alongside Ball, Knueppel, and Miller.
While Charlotte has plenty of work to do to become a contender in the Eastern Conference, adding a player like Johnson Jr. would help them make a playoff push.
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