The Charlotte Hornets have probably started scouting prospects for the 2025 NBA Draft since they are likely to land one of the highest odds for the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery. Talking about the draft seems premature, but the chances of the Hornets making it to the playoffs and thereby conveying their lottery-protected first-rounder to the San Antonio Spurs look close to zero.
The silver lining is that bringing in a rookie with star (or even superstar) potential to complement their core nucleus of LaMelo Ball, Mark Williams, and Brandon Miller could eventually transform Buzz City into one of the Eastern Conference's top contenders.
Many fans are hoping to see Cooper Flagg stay in the state and suit up for Charlotte. To be fair, the Duke University standout seems like he will fit right in with the rest of the Hornets' foundational pieces.
Dylan Harper also deserves consideration, and LeBron James likely agrees
Of course, the Hornets have to explore other options because they aren't even assured of landing the first overall pick. And even if they do win the lottery, zeroing in on Flagg might be a mistake, especially when Dylan Harper is looming on the horizon.
The combo guard has been as good as advertised, and even Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is a fan of the youngster. He described him as a "special kid, special talent."
The fact that Harper is a second-generation hoopster might also be a reason James believes in his superstar potential. The Rutgers University star is the son of Ron Harper, who is most known for being the backcourt partner of former Hornets majority owner Michael Jordan during the Chicago Bulls' second three-peat.
Naturally, Charlotte has other reasons to scout Dylan Harper than James' ringing endorsement and his connection to Jordan.
The 18-year-old has turned a lot of heads for his three-level scoring potential. And aside from his knack for getting buckets, he has also shown polished ball-handling and playmaking skills. Ball could use such a player as a backcourt partner since Miller appears more suited as an off-ball threat at this point.
Defensively, Dylan Harper is far from elite in covering opponents. However, the fact that he cares about doing well on defense should bode well for his NBA future, especially since he already has the size, length, and athleticism to be a solid defender at his position.
Some might believe that drafting Dylan Harper could signal the end of Ball's tenure in Charlotte. That's not necessarily true because their high basketball IQ can help them coexist. The organization would probably only go that route if it believes the 2022 All-Star's injury issues would be a long-term concern.