Only time will tell how Kon Knueppel fares with the Charlotte Hornets. All signs are pointing toward the rookie becoming a key contributor for the team, as he has proven to be more than a one-dimensional player. Some people thought that coming into the draft, all he was good for was sniping from long distance. As it turned out, he has displayed some off-the-dribble scoring in his bag.
Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports heaped high praises upon the No. 4 pick, emphasizing how he has "dramatically worked on and improved his No. 1 weakness on offense," which he showcased in Summer League. According to O'Connor, Knueppel has been fluid handling the ball and was even able to unleash various moves and control the tempo, qualities that weren't evident before.
Most scouting reports about the Duke University product talked about how he could develop into an elite spot-up shooter and off-ball mover. One of the biggest concerns, though, was his shooting off the dribble, with O'Connor mentioning on his big board that Knueppel sank only 14.3 percent of his 3-point attempt off the dribble.
The Hornets may not need to worry about it, as Summer League proved that the Knueppel can get buckets in a variety of ways.
Kon Knueppel, a student of the game
Aside from the development of his scoring skills, the Wisconsin native has also shown progress in some key facets of his game that some observers might not have expected.
For one, his court vision has been more sublime than anticipated. His Summer League highlight reels featured connecting on thread-the-needle passes and finding passing angles that didn't seem to be there at first glance. Knueppel's knack for getting the ball to his teammates at the right spot should help the Hornets, whose big man woes have often been discussed this summer.
Furthermore, the 19-year-old's defense has seen a marked improvement in Las Vegas. He may not turn out to be an A-list defender, as his lack of length and athleticism hurts his chances. However, Kon's team defense in Las Vegas was on point, proving that he won't be as much of a liability on that end of the floor as those who don't think he is worthy of being the fourth overall pick believe he would be.
The jury's out on whether Knueppel is less of a talent than his other more hyped-up draft classmates. However, his determination to grow his game even more, along with his commitment to suit up in as many Summer League contests as possible when other top draft picks rested, will only serve as a boon for Charlotte.