We’ve made it to draft week. The 2026 NBA Draft is just one day away, and the Charlotte Hornets will be major players with two picks in the top 18. We’ve got 10 mock drafts to see what the Internet’s draftniks think is going to happen on Tuesday night. Let’s dive into it.
ESPN
14. Karim Lopez, Forward, New Zealand Breakers
18. Cameron Carr, Guard, Baylor
We’re off to a good start. I’d really like this draft. Lopez is still a raw player, but he’s a bully and is a good enough rebounder and motor guy that you’d expect it to translate right away. He’s got some potential as a shooter and connector as well, which would make him a perfect glue guy at a forward spot. Cameron Carr is a pogo stick with an elite 3-point shot. His narrow frame might limit a little bit of the D in 3&D, but he should be a good enough shooter to make it work.
The Athletic
14. Hannes Steinbach, Big, Washington
18. Allen Graves, Forward, Santa Clara
Steinbach has a case as the best rebounder in this draft class, and that’s an attribute the Hornets value deeply. He’s also got great touch around the basket and a little bit of range out to the 3-point line. He has a chance to be a real nice stretch 4/5. Graves is an analytical monster with questions about the level of competition and his physicality. He’s an elite processor of the game that generates a bunch of steals and can function as a play maker from the four spot.
Yahoo Sports
14. Morez Johnson Jr, Forward, Michigan
18. Cameron Carr, Guard, Baylor
Another winner. Morez Johnson needs to prove that the recent signs of life in his 3-pointer can grow into a formidable threat, but his defensive versatility and overall injury are perfect fit to what the Hornets need to add. Like I said above, Carr would add another 3-point weapon and an athlete to come off the bench and keep up the onslaught the starters typically unleash. This would be an A+ draft.
Tankathon
14. Cameron Carr, Guard, Baylor
18. Hannes Steinbach, Big, Washington
This is the same kind of draft as the ESPN and Yahoo drafts but with a different approach. In this mock, the Hornets take Carr at 14 with the expectation that one of Johnson, Steinbach, and Lopez will fall to 18. Steinbach is the last man standing in this particular scenario.
USA Today
14. Morez Johnson Jr, Forward, Michigan
18. Christian Anderson, Guard, Texas Tech
I profiled Anderson the other day and mentioned that I think he’s been largely undervalued in mocks. He seems to have crept back into the conversation in the teens. He might not be the best on paper fit given the Hornets’ current depth of guards, but he might be the best shooter in the draft and is really only limited by his size as a prospect. He an Johnson would be an interesting yin and yang of selections to pair together.
SB Nation
14. Hannes Steinbach, Big, Washington
18. Dailyn Swain, Wing, Texas
More Steinbach, which makes sense given the pairing of his skill set and what the Hornets value. The new name here is Swain, who could be a really, really interesting add. I think he has the one of the clearest paths to potential stardom in this draft range given his elite ability to get downhill and finish at the basket. The problem is that the swing factor for that occurring is a jump shot that needs quite a bit of work. If it doesn’t come around, it’ll be hard for Swain to find a big role. He’s one of the bigger boom or bust prospects in that regard.
Hoops HQ
14. Yaxel Lendeborg, Forward, Michigan
18. Hannes Steinbach, Big, Washington
This is the first draft so far that significant positional overlap between the two picks. We know the Hornets aren’t above doing that–they drafted three guards/wings last draft. I see the vision in adding more depth there. But anyone who reads the comment section here knows I’m like all the way out on Lendeborg as a prospect for a myriad of reasons. I’d much rather see Charlotte land any of the other three players that fell between their two picks in this particular mock (Carr, Anderson, Johnson).
Bleacher Report
14. Yaxel Lendeborg, Forward, Michigan
18. Hannes Steinbach, Big, Washington
It’s exactly the same draft as Hoops HQ. I’ve gotten less enthusiastic as we’ve gone on through this exercise. Hopefully we bounce back for the last couple.
The Ringer
14. Jayden Quaintance, Big, Kentucky
18. Hannes Steinbach, Big, Washington
Nope. More Steinbach, which is fine. I don’t like the Quaintance pick. He’s huge and a defensive presence, but he’s been struggling to recover from a torn ACL suffered two seasons ago and has almost no offensive game outside of catches and finished. I just see Mitchell Robinson, which is a good player but maybe not the best target with Moussa Diabate already a long term piece and other players that both have more upside and are a better fit.
NBA Draft Net
14. Aday Mara, Big, Michigan
18. Isaiah Evans. Wing, Duke
A big curveball to leave you with. Mara seems likely to go before the Hornets are on the clock, but his sheer size, defensive presence, and passing ability would unlock a lot of things on this team. This seems mighty high for Evans, who hasn’t really been on our radar in the leadup to the draft. He does have appeal as a movement shooter, but there are probably going to be better options on the board.
Summary
In general, it seems like most expect the Hornets to use one pick on a big/forward and the other on a guard/wing. There are a lot of good options out there, and I think I’d be really excited about any of the first six on this list. In shot, get one of Johnson, Lopez, Steinbach, or Graves along with Carr or Swain, and we’re cooking.
