Considering the strong guard play of the Charlotte Hornets last season, which included LaMelo Ball and midseason trade acquisition Coby White, many expect the Hornets to target frontcourt help in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft.
However, draft expert Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report was not one of those people, as he projected that the Hornets select Alabama point guard Labaron Philon Jr. with their No. 14 overall pick in a recent mock draft. While Philon Jr. might not fit Charlotte’s biggest needs currently, there’s no denying that he’s one of the more intriguing prospects in the draft. In his sophomore season with Alabama, Philon Jr. averaged an impressive 22 points per game to go along with five assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 33 games. Philon Jr. also shot the ball well, converting on 39.9% of 3-point attempts and over 50% of field goals.
At 20 years old, Philon Jr. could be a late-lottery steal, with NBA comparisons including current New Orleans Pelicans point guard Dejounte Murray. Philon Jr.’s decision-making and passing skills have also been compared to those of former two-time NBA champion Rajon Rondo. Following the selection of Philon Jr., Wasserman has the Hornets addressing their frontcourt with the No. 18 overall selection, as he currently projects Charlotte to take center Hannes Steinbach (Washington).
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Recent NBA mock draft links Hornets to playmaking point guard