With the Hornets landing the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the focus shifts to finding LaMelo Ball’s ideal backcourt partner. The decision? Tre Johnson’s polished scoring or V.J. Edgecombe’s elite defense. Here’s a breakdown of who fits best in Charlotte.
Tre Johnson Vs. V.J. Edgecombe: Who is A Better Fit Alongside LaMelo Ball On The Charlotte Hornets
With the Charlotte Hornets dropping to the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft following the Draft Lottery, which saw the Dallas Mavericks shockingly pick up the first overall pick, the Hornets have a difficult decision ahead of them.
According to one Analyst, despite dropping down to the fourth overall pick, the 2025 NBA Draft will be the perfect time for Charlotte to find the next long-term backcourt piece to pair alongside Lamelo Ball. The choice will be between two players.
The Hornets dropped to #4 in the draft.
This might be the perfect spot to find a long-term backcourt piece next to LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.
Two names buzzing on Hornets Twitter: Tre Johnson and V.J. Edgecombe.
Let’s evaluate.
T.J. vs V.J.
A THREAD: 🧵 pic.twitter.com/pNz1gr9WVD
— Carson Cash (@akaCK_) May 13, 2025
Whose Name Will Be Called First On Draft Night?
Going into the 2025 NBA Draft, Baylor’s Edgecome is currently the highest-ranked shooting guard in the 2025 class, according to CBS rankings. Edgecome is a highly athletic guard option, and his explosive leaps mean he has the potential to be one of the best shot blockers in the NBA.
However, Outside of his physical talents, the Baylor shooting guard leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to shooting. In his freshman season, he had a 34.0% 3-point success rate and averaged over 15 points per game.
In comparison, Johnson has been a scoring machine for Texas over the last year. The Guard averaged 18.3 points per game compared to Edgecome’s 15 last season, while also having a significantly higher 3-point success rate, with a 38% success rate.
“If you want a Guard who can score at all three levels, space the floor, create their own shot late in the clock, operate off-ball or secondary actions, punish switches, and hit tough shots, provide more spacing for this Hornets’ roster… Then, Tre Johnson is the better pick.” I explained to Charlotte Hornets fans and analyst Carson Cash.
He’s a more refined offensive player, a more consistent shooter, and better suited for the kind of spacing, movement, and off-ball action NBA teams often want from the 2-spot.”
Charlotte Hornets Fan And Analyst ‘Leaning’ Towards VJ Edgecome Ahead Of The 2025 NBA Draft.
While Cash had multiple positive things to say about Johnson ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, especially his scoring threat, the Hornets fan ultimately wrote that he was leaning toward Edgecome, citing his ‘defensive traits’ as the main reasoning.
“Defend point-of-attack, generate turnovers, guard multiple positions, and lighten the defensive load off LaMelo Ball & Brandon Miller.”
KEEP READING: Baylor Guard VJ Edgecombe Draws Jrue Holiday Comparison Ahead of 2025 NBA Draft
“Push in transition, and grow into a two-way player over time… if you want. Then, V.J. Edgecombe is the better pick,” wrote the Charlotte Hornets analyst, breaking down the comparisons between the two players.
“V.J. Edgecombe feels like the smoother fit in Charlotte if both prospects hit. From everything we’ve seen, he matches the “Hornets DNA” that got Tidjane Salaün drafted last year. I believe he’ll be the pick.”
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