A Bugs’ Life: No way Hornets mess this draft up — right?

BAYLOR ATHLETICS

Former Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe has the physical tools to merit going to the Charlotte Hornets with the fourth pick in the June 25 NBA Draft.

The NBA Draft is just under a week away.

Hornets faithful are again anticipating what the Bugs will do with a lottery pick. Will this be the year the organization finds its next cornerstone, or will it be another case of Frank Kaminsky blues?

Assuming nothing absurd happens on draft night with trades, the Hornets will pick fourth and won’t get former Duke star Cooper Flagg. So, let’s look at a few possible players the Hornets could get at No. 4. 

V.J. Edgecombe, guard, Baylor: On the night of the draft lottery, when the Hornets received the fourth pick, most thought Edgecombe was the clear choice. The 6-5, 180-pounder has incredible upside, and that alone may be enough for the Bugs to pull the trigger on selecting the 19-year-old. 

Edgecombe gave his thoughts on playing for the Hornets during the NBA Draft Combine and what it would be like to play for a defensive-minded coach like Charles Lee.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to even be recognized by [the Hornets],” Edgecombe said. “Defense is the key thing about basketball. You have to play on both sides of the floor. It means a lot when everyone is bought in on defense. So, whatever happens [in the draft] I am truly grateful.”

Edgecombe’s biggest strength right now is arguably his physicality and frame. His body is NBA-ready, and it is something that coaches don’t have to coach. 

However, one of Edgecombe’s biggest weaknesses is his ability to consistently hit the three-point shot. He wasn’t a high-volume range shooter, shooting just over four three pointers a game, but was 34% overall. He would be considered a streaky shooter from distance and in a league where the three-point shot is critical, it’s something Edgecombe needs to gain consistency.

Overall fit/grade: B-plus

Kon Knueppel, guard/forward, Duke: Knueppel often took a backseat, or at least shotgun, to all but certain No. 1 pick Flagg at Duke. Some, however, argue Knueppel was the catalyst that helped get the Blue Devils to the Final Four. 

At 6-7, Knueppel has good length and a silky-smooth jumper that resulted in hitting at 40.6% from range in his lone season in Durham, Knueppel would likely become any team’s best shooter, unless of course he falls to Golden State. 

Knueppel’s biggest weakness is his overall athleticism. His standing vertical was a bit higher than some other top prospects at 31.5 inches; however his lane agility drill time was towards the bottom of the pack compared to other perimeter players. 

Overall fit/grade: A-minus

Tre Johnson, guard, Texas: Johnson is one of the more well-rounded players in the draft and will likely be an immediate impact for whichever team selects him. At 6-6, 190 pounds, Johnson has good length at shooting guard, but his defense could use improvement. In a one-on-one scenario, I am not confident in his ability to guard some of the league’s best guards. 

Out of the three prospects mentioned, he averaged the most points per game at 19.9 but doesn’t rebound as well or get as many assists per game. His shooting percentages are solid, shooting 42.7% from the floor and 39.7% from range. He has drawn comparisons to Wizards forward Khris Middleton for his ability to knock down shots and create his own. 

If the Hornets are ready to invest time in developing Johnson as a defender, he may be a great pick. Where he fits on the roster is a quandary. It is the age of positionless basketball, either Johnson or Brandon Miller would play small forward, but Miller was more confident at shooting guard last season prior to his injury. But Miller, who is 6-7, and Johnson can play both positions. 

Overall fit/grade: A-minus

Who would the columnist pick?

If the Hornets are going to invest the time in their top pick and be diligent in getting him ready for the league, I would take Edgecombe. I think that he has the most upside out of the three. Now, the second part is if the Hornets are looking for an immediate contributor, I would take Knueppel. I think he has the best “right now” potential given he has the best jump shot in the draft, has great leadership qualities and can play defense at a high level. I don’t want to say Knueppel has reached his peak already, but I see more growth potential from Edgecombe and possibly Johnson as well. 

So, if I were in Gabe Plotkin, Rick Schnall and Jeff Peterson’s position, with the fourth pick, I’d select Edgecombe. 

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