Hornets Are FINALLY Getting Serious After Drafting Kon Knueppel?

Hornets Are FINALLY Getting Serious After Drafting Kon Knueppel?

the Hornets had an interesting draft too they take Canipple with the fourth pick liam McNeely out of Yukon Falls all the way to number 29 they got that pick from the Phoenix Suns in a deal involving Mark Williams so they send Mark Williams to Phoenix they get the 29th pick they get two shooters one of them was an elite shooter in college basketball and Coniple at Duke last year one of them was supposed to be an elite shooter and Leah McNeely at number 29 but what do you think about what they add to kind of this Hornet situation Vinnie because they haven’t been very good like they just haven’t guys haven’t been healthy so what’s the direction here for the Hornets you think well I’m going to say I’m fascinated but when I look at their roster I don’t see a winner there right i don’t see as many losers i like Brandon Miller like I think he to me before the injuries I felt like he was better than advertised he was rising he was quicker he adjusted especially defensively being able to guard multiple positions and being able to find a shot like I liked where he was going then like you said K just injuries happen those things happen but I’m not sure how far you can go as far as LaMelo Ball being like the catalyst for every you trade him or try to trade him I would would I yeah I would you wouldn’t i would I would go cool but like what are you getting for LaMelo though that’s the that’s you know like is it is like the return for LaMelo so low that you’re just getting anything they’re worth it you know what I mean like is that the situation for Trey in Atlanta for LaMelo like like all these guards that you could say well maybe they should maybe they shouldn’t trade him I just like don’t like every team has guards like like Washington drafts Trey Johnson tonight like are they going to be a team that’s getting a guard anymore like the Kings still need a guard but there’s not a lot of teams that are like they definitely need a point guard yeah I mean it’s that’s the weird thing the spot that we’re at is like you said Trey Young is I’m not as down on Trey Young as I would be on a LaMelo ball just because I have not seen you influence winning on any level i saw I saw Trey Young in that 2021 playoff run influence winning drive winning i haven’t seen it since but I’ve seen it in that spot and the point guard spot is so filled at this point is as deep as it’s ever been from a talent standpoint that you have to be really desperate if you need one you have to be really like empty like does Indiana go and fill that spot not for the price no no no not not with like does that start like some level of domino effect and then something opens up for Charlotte if Charlotte is smart enough to realize are we going anywhere yeah i I I think with this Canipple pick you get a little bit more serious even though I still don’t think you’re as serious because I don’t think too many people take the Charlotte Hornets as a serious um franchise as a serious franchise but I think this Canipple pick is a pick in which you want to go the right direction because Old Charlotte I think takes an ace Bailey right i think you take an Ace Bailey and you just swing for the fences and you might make it you might miss but I think this Canipple pick was a safe pick it was a safer pick than we’ve seen in past few years by Charlotte so I think it was a more serious type of pick in my book more intentional with this pick cuz it’s safe you It’s a safe bet if I would have bet my money on all of these guys in the first round to be successful NBA players Conan would probably be top three that I actually put my money up and say “You know what i think this guy will be a really good NBA guy so I think it was just a safe pick i mean because like he’s not just a shooter like we talked about on the live show you know he can run pick and roll he can score at the rim plays hard on defense i think Ken Nipple is gonna be a good player too and so for Charlotte new front office led by Jeff Peterson new head coach Charles Lee it feels like the Hornets are becoming a more serious team so I like their draft

The Charlotte Hornets made a surprising — and maybe mature — move on draft night by taking Kon Knueppel at No. 4 and trading into the first round for Liam McNeeley at No. 29. Is this a sign the Hornets are finally building with intention?

Kevin O’Connor, Vincent Goodwill, and King McClure break down what Charlotte’s draft means for LaMelo Ball’s future, if the franchise is becoming more serious under its new leadership, and why Knueppel may be one of the safest bets in this year’s class.

🐝 Are the Hornets finally heading in the right direction?
📉 Should they trade LaMelo Ball while they can?
🏀 Is Knueppel one of the safest picks in the 2025 draft?

Let us know in the comments — and don’t forget to like & subscribe for more draft breakdowns!

0:00 – Hornets draft Kon Knueppel at No. 4, trade for Liam McNeeley
1:10 – Should the Hornets consider trading LaMelo Ball?
2:00 – Is Knueppel a safe, serious pick for Charlotte?
3:10 – Why this draft feels different for the Hornets

🔗2025 NBA Draft:

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