The Charlotte Hornets aced the first round of the 2025 draft, bringing in Kon Knueppel with their fourth overall selection, which should mean that they are prepared to move forward with LaMelo Ball as their primary offensive creator.
The good thing about Knueppel is that he appears to be quite versatile on offense. His greatest trait so far is his shooting, as he has proven to be a lethal spot-up shooter, more so because of his shooting mechanics highlighted by his quick release.
Another of his strengths that should have the Hornets organization and its fans salivating at the idea of watching the 19-year-old sniper wear the purple and teal is his elite off-ball movement. He has been pretty savvy at finding open space, which should give Ball more freedom to initiate the offense and allow Brandon Miller to look for his spots.
LaMelo Ball's high-usage days should soon be over
Ball's future in Charlotte has yet to be secured, as that could depend on whether his health holds up this coming season. Still, if he manages to overcome his injury woes, he should be thrilled to have Knueppel on his side.
The 2024-25 campaign was a mess for the Hornets, as they had to navigate through various injuries and failed to add players who could be slotted into the lineup and contribute immediately. Consequently, Ball had to play hero ball on most nights, resulting in a high usage rate that caused some folks to liken him to a shot-chucking Kobe Bryant. There should be less of that problem with Knueppel and a healthy roster. Hopefully, the 2022 All-Star is prepared to be more of a facilitator than a shot-creator.
It's still unclear if Knueppel will be starting alongside Melo and Miller right off the bat. Such a combination could trigger a regression of the Hornets' defense unless the current core players find a way to make good use of their athleticism, which the former Duke University standout is in short supply of, to improve in guarding opposing perimeter players.
However, the offense should see some immediate improvement. Knueppel should also help with the shot-making, as he has also exhibited crafty footwork and impressive court vision in his brief time as a Blue Devil. Where he will surely provide some more offensive assistance is the pick-and-roll, which he has proven capable of running. The Hornets might have to find a rim-running partner for him and Ball, though, after finally trading Mark Williams.