In 2026, the Charlotte Hornets could be staring down a franchise-defining choice with massive implications for Buzz City: whether to trade LaMelo Ball. If he is no longer in Charlotte, general manager Jeff Peterson will need to prioritize finding a high-level replacement at point guard.
Enter Mikel Brown Jr.
The Louisville University standout, who ranks fifth on FanSided’s NBA Draft Big Board, checks a lot of boxes and could be the perfect catalyst to accelerate the Hornets' rebuild.
Should the team indeed move on from its star guard, the search for a new face of the franchise would begin immediately. That mantle could fall to Kon Knueppel, who just dropped a season-high 33 points on Friday. Yet, it might also belong to one of the headline names, such as Brown Jr., in the much-hyped 2026 NBA Draft — a class already being touted as one of the strongest in recent memory.
Of course, landing a generational talent at the very top of the draft is a dream scenario, but given the Hornets' trajectory currently, the more realistic outcome is picking somewhere in the No. 5-8 range. Chances are, Brown Jr. will still be available at that point.
Jack of all trades offensively, master of shot-making
When Brown Jr. takes a shot, it’s a thing of beauty. He makes it look effortless, especially his three-point shot. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock breaks it down: "His shooting ability is undoubtedly his foundation. Brown’s mechanics are clean, his release consistent, and he has shown he can hit from deep both off the catch and off the dribble. Pair that with his ability to run an offense, create out of pick-and-rolls, and make sound reads, and it’s easy to see why scouts are intrigued."
Did I mention he has insane range? Stephen Curry's influence is evident, as he launches it from beyond the arc with confidence when he feels it. That type of player commands attention, as he can stretch a defense and create so much space.
The days are long past when point guards operated as "pass-first." Nowadays, combo guards are highly coveted. Brown Jr. has incredible shooting skills, but he’s also a great playmaker. While he could ease down on the turnovers, his handles are top-notch, he's got insane court vision, and he makes the right reads to create scoring opportunities.
Shot diet and efficiency woes
While everyone loves his shooting ability, shot selection will be a key development area in his game. Brown Jr. is shooting 38.1 percent from the field, along with 26.8 percent efficiency from three-point range in 10 games played with the Louisville Cardinals this season. His confidence is sky high, but that is also a detriment to his discipline. It is actually very similar to how Ball forces low-percentage one-legged threes on occasion.
You see a lot of contested pull-up jumpers from him, and if you're not at a Kevin Durant/DeMar DeRozan level of efficiency, you probably shouldn't rely on them so heavily. I would like to see Mikel play the floor general role more than the inefficient-volume-shooter role. Still, having that deep range forces defenses to play you beyond the arc, which is invaluable. I think he can find that sweet spot at some point.
It’s hard to imagine someone with his shot-making ability, deep range, and court vision not succeeding in the NBA. There are too many indicators pointing in the right direction, and if he's on the board when the Hornets are on the clock, it seems too good to pass up. Replacing Ball's talent wouldn't be easy, but when the opportunity arises to commit to a young 6-foot-5 point guard with elite tools, you take it and never look back.