Not to sound harsh, but Josh Green may be the perfect example of why the Charlotte Hornets' [roster-building is sometimes flawed](https://swarmandsting.com/hornets-avoid-another-josh-green-mistake-next-season). The team must consider parting ways with him this summer to free up resources to bring in a player who can be a positive contributor to its aspirations. And with the Hornets dropping to the fourth spot in the 2025 draft, the need to let Green go has become clearer.
As many concur, the top prize of this year's draft is Cooper Flagg. The forward would have slotted perfectly alongside Miles Bridges and Mark Williams in the frontcourt, assuming the organization stayed true to its statement of assembling a roster around the two, plus LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.
Left with no choice but to bid its Flagg dreams goodbye, Charlotte has to focus its attention on other prospects. However, selecting any of the ideal choices for the Hornets that would probably still be available at No. 4 in the draft could mean fewer opportunities or playing time for Green.
Josh Green could soon lose his spot in the rotation
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VJ Edgecombe should be at the [top of the Hornets' list of preferences](https://swarmandsting.com/hornets-draft-target-clear-if-they-land-outside-top-2) because of the young swingman's crazy upside and proven defensive acumen. Bringing him in would bolster their perimeter defense, which Green was supposed to deliver but failed to do so.
Unfortunately for Charlotte, the Baylor University product's stock has continued to rise so much that the Philadelphia 76ers or whoever ends up securing the No. 3 pick if the Sixers opt to trade it in a win-now move could take him off the board early.
In that scenario, the possible alternatives for the Hornets would be Ace Bailey and Tre Johnson.
The team should be wary of Bailey. While he would arguably be a best-player-available draft candidate for Buzz City at No. 4, the fit looks askew, and some of his weaknesses appear to be red flags. However, if the organization opts to draft the 6-7 prospect and retain the current core, Green would definitely slide down in the depth chart.
Drafting Johnson would also likely make the Australian veteran expendable, especially since the University of Texas standout has a much higher ceiling on offense. His strongest suit is his 3-point shooting, although he has shown to be a promising three-level scorer. His defensive deficiencies may be an issue at first, but the Hornets have already had to deal with subpar defense whenever Green is on the court.
Other dark-horse candidates could emerge soon for Charlotte, especially after draft workouts are completed. Still, the best prospects that project to be taken around the No. 4 pick are guards or swingmen. So, the front office has to start exploring what value Green has in potential trades as soon as the offseason commences.