The Charlotte Hornets have a crucial decision to make in the 2025 NBA Draft: Should they select promising guard Ace Bailey to form a dynamic young duo with Brandon Miller, or would it be better to go with another piece to balance out the roster?
ESPN projects Bailey as a top 5 pick in the upcoming draft, which puts him in the orbit of the Hornets, who will make their first selection at the number four spot. It remains to be seen if they will select the former Rutgers standout.
What Ace Bailey Brings To The Table
Bailey seems like a tempting option. But before everyone gets too excited about his potential, let’s analyze whether his game would be a good fit alongside Charlotte’s star Miller and what risks he might pose to the franchise’s future.
Ace Bailey handles and first step highlights
Excited to see him with NBA spacing pic.twitter.com/0oCm7Z1Ohb
— Brett Browns burner (@HinkieBrown) May 16, 2025
Pros
Brandon Miller (6’7″) has already proven in his first two NBA seasons that he can be a versatile scorer with a solid three-point shot and the ability to create his own game. For his part, Ace Bailey (6’10”) comes into the draft as one of the most talented prospects with a diverse offensive arsenal: mid and long-range shooting, the ability to attack the rim, and a privileged physique.
Together, they could form one of the NBA’s tallest and most difficult to defend pairings. Their combination of size, quickness and scoring ability would make them a problem for opposing defenses, especially in transition and in open floor schemes.
In addition, Bailey has good rebounding instincts (7.2 rebounds per game last season at Rutgers), something that would help the Hornets, who have struggled in that area.
Cons
Of course, not everything is rosy about the future of this potential duo. Both Miller and Bailey have the wingspan and agility to be versatile defenders, something valuable in the modern NBA. However, Bailey has yet to improve his defensive consistency, while Miller is also not an elite stopper.
If Charlotte decides to go with this duo, they will need to surround them with solid defenders (a la Cody Martin or a rim-protecting center) to compensate for their limitations.
Add to that that neither Miller nor Bailey is a pure creator, so the team would continue to rely on LaMelo Ball (and his injury history) for playmaking.
Additionally, Charlotte has pressing needs at other positions: a backup point guard (or future replacement if LaMelo continues to be injured) and a defensive center. If they select Bailey, they could be passing on options like Jeremiah Fears (point guard) or Collin Murray-Boyles (power forward).
Therefore, selecting Ace Bailey would be a high upside gamble, with the hope that he and Miller will become a dominant duo in the coming years. If the Hornets believe in Bailey as a future star, they could justify the pick. But if they prioritize immediate fit, they might lean toward a point guard or interior player who better complements Miller.
KEEP READING: 2025 NBA Draft Watch: 5 College Basketball Stars Who Could Go Undrafted, Including PJ Haggerty
One thing is for sure: Whoever is selected, Charlotte cannot afford to make a mistake in the draft. The future of the franchise could hinge on this decision.
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