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LaMelo Ball RESPONDS to Trade Rumors | Kon Knueppel’s STAR Turn Changes Everything



LaMelo Ball RESPONDS to Trade Rumors | Kon Knueppel’s STAR Turn Changes Everything

We unpack a whirlwind weekend of news starting with the conflicting reports surrounding LaMelo Ball. After a report surfaced claiming LaMelo was “increasingly frustrated” and open to a trade, the star point guard shut it down with a “clown” emoji and a direct denial to the media. We discuss the validity of the rumors, the team’s stance on listening to offers, and why we believe LaMelo wants to stay in Charlotte—for now.

Then, we shift focus to the cognitive dissonance of this season: the team is losing, but rookie Kon Knueppel is playing historic basketball. We look at his incredibly efficient shooting numbers, his versatility, and why his performance looks closer to a top-15 player in the East than a standard rookie. Is he already a cornerstone piece alongside Brandon Miller?

Finally, we examine the “crunch time issues” plaguing the Hornets, specifically looking at the recent loss to the Hawks. We discuss the struggles of Miles Bridges, whose finishing at the rim has plummeted to the 6th percentile among forwards. We explore why the “hero ball” approach isn’t working and how the lack of playmaking in late-game situations is costing the Hornets wins.

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32 Comments

  1. Doug is right. There's too much icing out Kon in the 3rd. There are multiple possessions in a row where he's just not even touching the ball. P.S. Tre Mann has easily been one of the worst players in the NBA this year

  2. I truly feel bad for you guys. Having to come on here and talk about this poverty franchise every day. This team has not been good in 20 years. No one in Charlotte even cares if they leave or not. How do you not build a winning team in 2 decades. It's comical. Half the players show up and collect their checks and take the L's and go live their life.

  3. Hornets are tanking now that they finally have something. They can't resign Kon, Kalkbrenner and plus resign Brandon Miller to a Max deal unless they know 100 percent they're a playoff team. So they'll tank for a Top 3 pick and get a PF on the low end.

  4. Simpson and Tre can't be on the floor together. Tre and Miles needs to be traded by the deadline. They do not make the smart play but instead try to be heroes. That isn't what they are there for.

  5. I think the biggest issue is how charlottes training staff manages injuries and not being played at the end of games for LaMelo. Any injury has a 2 week evaluation period for players. We have heard Miles talk about the staff wanting to hold him out for 2 weeks but coming back earlier. Have we actually had our "desired" beginning of season starting 5 available for the hornets the last 5 years for more than 3 games? Even in the Terry Rozier era we never" gambled" ( get it lol) with injuries.

  6. Im not trying to insinuate anything but Kon's stats are basically the same as LeBrons in his first 20 games….im just saying

  7. People in chat talking like he’s not injured and just not wants to play GTFO all of y’all I’m sure it’s frustrating as fuck for him playing a game then afterwards back to not feeling 100% healthy playing through an impingement would be absolute torture same prob goes for Brandon did you see how big his bandages was around his shoulder dude shouldn’t have been out on the court at all but showed up and played great now poor kalk has a ankle problem ❤

  8. At what point are coaches, executives whoever in the organization going to start holding people accountable. This team has been terrible for basically forever at some point you would think someone would have enough of the losing and start making some real changes. Lamelo is done they need to move on. Guy can’t stay on the court and even when he is on the court it’s just not adding up to enough wins. At some point he has to elevate the players around him and be the guy the Hornets need him to be or move on.

  9. That loss last night is the first one of the season I got upset over.I see NO foul on Collin, maybe we wouldn’t have won regardless though. Still they claw their way back in EVERY SINGLE GAME. I’m confident they will find ways to win half of these games as the season goes on.

  10. We come closer to beating a winning team without him and lose to bad teams with him. He and his “best friend “ Bridges take terrible shots…..

  11. Melo’s value is way down. Cut losses and move on. Hornets will not be a winning franchise with him. Time has already proven this. Same with Bridges trying to be a hero.

  12. Hornets fans don’t know what they’re talking about. Instead of pitting players against each other, they need to realize that you need to add on talent.

    Keep Kon, Melo, and Miller and mold your team into a similar one that mirrors the and Warriors teams.

  13. This was one of the best episodes yet. Real in depth analysis of the team. From management to players. Addressing political issues. Strategic seating in the league. The team is doing things right. We still need 1 game changing vet to get us to the next BIG step. GO HORNETS!

  14. Say what you want about bridges, he plays with passion and he doesn’t miss games. Those two alone make him top 3 players on this team. Just wish he’d realize he’s not that guy in the clutch

  15. Kons ceiling is still being klay Thompson to lamelo's curry like play. I hope lamelo can settle down more and learn that kind of poise from the rookie

  16. My non-Kon takeaways from the wknd is Drew Peterson WAO 3s & Miles Bridges clutchtime fading/off the dribble shots is a prime coughing baby vs coughing baby scenario

  17. Lol.Bye Melo. A REST NIGHT. THEN COACH LEE WITH DREW PETERSON NEED PJ HALL ASAP.ALSO COLIN'MILES AND KON WITH MOUSSA AND A SPLASH OF PLUMLEE AND TRE AND KJ BOTH ARE SUCKING. SEXTON AND DINWIDDIE WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT NOW..BUT TOOK THE HAWKS TO THE WIRE WITH MILES 'SEXY AND KON…PLAYED GR8 DIDNY CLOSE BC COACH BROUGHT MANN IN WHEN WE NEEDED SION.WE CAN TURN AND MAKE SURE NOT TO HAVE BRANON AND MELO 'REST' ON THE SAME NIGHT. LEE SUCKS , MELO MUST GO. SEXTON'S AVGS ARE WAY BETTER SHOOTING SPLITS AND PLAYS BETTER D AND 17 PT 6 AST IN 7 MIN LESS A GAME…

  18. you guys are full on idiots who either dont watch the game or watch games blindfolded. Its not about taking shots away from Kon. As if people are taking shots away from Tre Mann. No one is taking shots from anyone. No one is willing to make shots when the opposing defense gets tough. Not Kon, not anyone.

  19. I believe Melo is gone by deadline tbh and Miles (imo) has also had his time here. I'm willing to give Miller one more shot, if he can't stay healthy (consistently) then he also needs to go. 💯

  20. Look at Colin 'Miles and Kon together we played took Atlanta to Cruch time. ALSO' THE COACH SUCKS LAMELO NEEDS TO PASS QUIT SHOOTING 1 LEG 3S.

  21. Just a few weeks back he was playing some of his best games at all star level. All these mouth pieces saying trade just know people waste their time reading the garbage. I've seen his heart and it's the hornets logo pumping 100mph

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