Hornets just made their stance on Kon Knueppel crystal clear

The Charlotte Hornets' selection of Kon Knueppel in this year's draft has gotten plenty of praise, especially since they missed out on the bigger names. As early as now, it has become clear that the rookie is set to play a significant role for the franchise alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.

Charlotte's media day has finally arrived, and it has certainly been an interesting time for the team and its fans. But while most of the attention has focused on what different members of the organization have had to say, its under-the-radar decision to have Knueppel photographed with Ball and Miller is a huge revelation for its plans for the squad's future.

It's still unclear whether the Duke University product will be a starter off the bat or begin his professional career as a reserve. However, it's safe to conclude that he is viewed as one of the faces of the franchise moving forward.

Kon Knueppel as one-third of the Hornets' Big 3

Ball's future with the Hornets remains murky, as there have been a lot of calls from outside the club for the front office to trade him and usher in a new era with Miller as the foundational piece. Only time will tell what Jeff Peterson and company eventually do with the point guard, but as long as he is on the roster, he and Miller are the heads of the snake.

The good news is Knueppel seems to be a perfect fit next to those two. His steady personality and composure should make him the ideal complement to Ball's flamboyant, easygoing style and Miller's somewhat playful nature.

Of course, how they fit on the court is obviously also important. On offense, Knueppel's outside shooting ability can potentially help Ball showcase his court vision and give Miller more space to operate on the perimeter. In addition, his solid ball-handling skills should make him an effective secondary shot-creator in case the Hornets' offensive sets break down.

On the other end of the floor is where it might get problematic, as none of the three projects to be an elite on-ball defender. Charlotte's need for a point-of-attack defender has been well-documented, and playing those three together could present the team with a massive challenge in preventing opponents from running up the score.

The good news is that the 20-year-old swingman has displayed enough awareness and versatility to be a solid team defender. Meanwhile, Ball and Miller have the athleticism and lateral quickness to be better at hawking opponents into bad decisions. The Hornets will just need the pair to buy into their defensive philosophies.

With media day showing the importance Knueppel holds for Charlotte's plans, there should be plenty of excitement for the first-year pro and his supporters as the Hornets enter training camp and the rest of the 2025-26 season.