Why This Former Five-Star Recruit Would Be a Perfect Addition to the Hornets
The NBA Draft Lottery is approaching, and the Charlotte Hornets are one of three teams with a high chance of getting the number one pick. Hornets fans are waiting to see if the team will get the opportunity to select Cooper Flagg later this summer with the top selection. However, what happens if the Hornets do not get the number one pick? Who should they select instead? There are a lot of intriguing options to draft, but the player that they should be targeting is Baylor’s superstar freshman, V.J. Edgecombe.
Edgecombe is the most explosive player in this draft. He can create his shots and make plays for others. The former five-star recruit shot 34 percent from three last season for a Bears squad that made it to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. Edgecombe is also a defensive stalwart, which is what many scouts have said about his game. He is a pest on the defensive side of the floor and uses his six-foot-five frame to disrupt the rhythm of the opposing team's offense. The Hornets already have the playmakers on offense; now, they need a defender who can guard an opposing team's best player every night. One of the core points of the culture that Charles Lee is trying to build in Charlotte is a new defensive identity. Edgecombe could be the perfect candidate for this new defensive approach.
Of course, he will need time to develop as he is only 19 years old, but if his lone collegiate season was any sign, then he has the potential to excel at the next level. Charlotte needs a player like this to set the defensive tempo and be that on-ball and off-ball defender. Having a player who excels at generating turnovers and can score double-digits on the other side of the court would be a plus for this team. Charlotte is potentially moving on from their starting “two” guard from last year, so a spot could be open to Edgecombe. His presence alone would space out the court for LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. The Hornets have to consider adding a player with his skillset to the young core already established on the team.
