Why one NBA scout questions Charlotte Hornets’ first-round draft strategy
Fresh out of the war room following an evening loaded with activity, Jeff Peterson could breathe for a slight second to soak it all in.
“Very excited,” the Charlotte Hornets president of basketball operations said early Thursday morning. “Just really proud of our group — our scouting group, analytics, strategy, coaching department. Everyone played a huge role in our process.
“We got a couple of guys that we feel really, really good about moving forward with. So, exciting.”
In his second draft running the show, Peterson selected Duke’s Kon Knueppel with the fourth overall pick in the NBA Draft and then made a surprise move, acquiring another late first-rounder. After trading Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the draft’s penultimate pick along with a 2029 first-round pick, Peterson snagged Connecticut’s Liam McNeeley at No. 29.
Knueppel is considered to be the best pure shooter in this class and should provide the Hornets with another offensive threat. Adding the 6-foot-7 guard to their young core centered around star guard LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller was the safe bet once VJ Edgecombe came off board minutes before Charlotte’s turn on the clock.
During his lone season with the Blue Devils, Knueppel displayed a solid skill set that blossomed in the glaring spotlight associated with playing at Duke and alongside Cooper Flagg, his college roommate who went No. 1 overall just as people predicted months ago. Those not quite familiar with Knueppel got a taste of what he can be when he stepped up after Flagg’s ankle sprain in the ACC Tournament opener, exploding for 63 points in three games and earning the tournament MVP award.
That was among the top highlights in a season in which Knueppel became one of 15 freshmen in NCAA history with 550 points, 100 assists and 80 made 3-pointers.
Still, some question whether Knueppel’s ceiling is high enough to warrant the Hornets grabbing him ahead of Ace Bailey, widely considered the third-best prospect in this class behind Flagg and Dylan Harper.
But apparently, the Hornets believe Knueppel gives them what they need most and one scout didn’t disagree with that assessment.
“He’s a better player who’ll be a big floor spacer,” the scout told The Observer. “You better know where he is at all times. Can you imagine Melo driving to opposite skip (pass) to Kon in the corner or above the break?
“He’s elite at catch-and-shooting, doesn’t demand the ball and will play off teammates.”
Knueppel’s draft mate McNeeley was the leading scorer for the Huskies, posting 14.5 points, six rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in his only season. The Big East freshman of the year, third-team All-Big East and All-Freshman team recipient hovers at 6-7, 215 pounds, giving him size to be a wing.
At the NBA Draft Combine in May, he measured in with a standing reach of 8-3½ and a 6–8½ wingspan. Unlike Knueppel, though, the scout wasn’t too keen on the Hornets grabbing McNeeley when asked for his thoughts on Charlotte’s late first-rounder.
“Not good,” the scout said. “What’s his elite skill? Not a good vertical athlete, doesn’t finish well above the rim on closeouts, isn’t a secondary ballhandler. Kon shoots way better. Don’t get this pick.”
That’s not exactly the biggest ringing endorsement.
“I could be wrong,” the scout said.
Digging deeper, that’s when McNeeley’s shooting numbers were brought up along with another statistic on the other side of the ball.
“Averaged 31% on 3s,” the scout said, “less than a steal a game and played 32 minutes.”
McNeeley’s chance to prove the naysayers wrong will come soon enough, beginning with his first taste of summer league action in Las Vegas in two weeks. By then, the Hornets will have a better idea of what their roster looks like heading into the second season under Hornets coach Charles Lee.
But a big shakeup apparently isn’t in the works.
“I don’t think so as we stand here right now,” Peterson said. “But I’ve got to be strategic and look at everything. So if something comes my way, I’ve got to take a look at it. But right now, I think we are just focused on the second round.”
This story was originally published June 26, 2025 at 12:48 PM.
