3) Charlotte Hornets—V.J. Edgecombe
The Charlotte Hornets are in serious need of good news, with them failing to make the playoffs for the eighth straight season. Rumors of the Hornets considering trading LaMelo Ball suggest they aren't confident in their rebuild.
They do have a spotty draft record, including them selecting Tidjane Salaun ninth in last year's draft and seeing him struggle mightily this season. Nevertheless, they could make a relatively safe pick by selecting Baylor wing V.J. Edgecombe.
There would be some overlap with Edgecombe and Miles Bridge, with both being big and burly wings, and Edgecombe would likely play behind him initially. Even so, he could be a terrific fit in Charlotte long-term, given his athleticism and defensive impact as a ball hawk and solid shooting.
He has drawn comparisons to Andrew Wiggins, which may give Hornets fans pause, but at his peak, Wiggins was an all-star and key to a championship team. Edgecombe, being a two-way prospect that is only 19, would be a smart choice for Charlotte.
4) Washington Wizards--Ace Bailey
Even though they have the worst record in the NBA, the Washington Wizards end up with the fourth pick in this year's draft based on these projections. In that scenario, they should select forward Ace Bailey.
He was initially seen as a top three prospect in this year's draft but has seen his stock fall due to concerns about his shooting ability. While he has plenty of perimeter skill and shot-making chops for a 6'10 forward, his shot selection has resulted in some iffy percentages at the rim and from various parts of the floor.
A large part of his appeal is him being an oversized wing who can shoot from outside, but him struggling to do so in college makes it more theoretical at this point. Even so, he should still project to be a talented player in the NBA, but comparisons to the likes of Kevin Durant seem far-fetched. Instead, he appears much closer to Brandon Ingram, who was an All-Star.
Drafting an all-star caliber player fourth overall would be a win for the Wizards, who are starved for talent but have built a solid young core, including Jordan Poole, Bilal Coulibaly, and Alex Sarr. Bailey could slot in between Coulibaly and Sarr and give them a promising front court.
Each player will need time to grow into their own, but that would be for the best for the Wizards, considering they likely would be a bottom-feeding team next season as well, giving them a chance to add to their up-and-coming roster. In the meantime, they should pick Bailey and hope that he develops into an all-star caliber player.