Liam McNeeley starts again, hits three triples

Kneuppel, who suffered a hamstring strain before the preseason, is progressing toward making his 2026-27 debut. According to Lee, the second-year guard’s hamstring responded well after a recent G League practice. Next, Knueppel needs to acclimate to his teammates after the Hornets return from their road trip, which ends on Friday. Knueppel doesn’t have an exact return timeline, but managers stashing him in an IL spot should begin planning for that day.

Knueppel hasn’t made his 2026-27 debut due to a hamstring strain, but his assignment to Charlotte’s G League affiliate is encouraging. Knueppel could be nearing a return, and fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his status moving forward.

As of October 20, Knueppel, who had missed the entire preseason with a hamstring strain, had resumed on-court work. However, he still has not reached the point where he can play in games. While Sion James has started Charlotte’s first three games, Grayson Allen is the better option for fantasy managers looking for a streamer.

Knueppel missed the preseason and will remain out for the season opener, though he has progressed to individual on-court work. Knueppel may return soon, but until then, Charlotte will turn to Grayson Allen and Sion James to fill the void, with Allen being the better streaming option for fantasy managers.

The Hornets have been without Kon Knueppel all preseason as he recovers from a hamstring injury, and he’s unlikely to be ready for the October 21 season opener. While Liam McNeeley (seven points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal and one three-pointer vs. Boston) was the replacement in the first three exhibitions, O’Neale did the honors on Wednesday. The veteran wing is most valuable to managers needing three-pointers and steals, and he provided the former in Beantown. O’Neale’s negative was his team-high five turnovers. Charlotte visits Memphis in its preseason finale on Friday; that game should answer who is best positioned to start for Knueppel when the regular season begins.

Given how well Knueppel played as a rookie and the Hornets’ decision to move on from LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, Friday’s news gives his 2026-27 season a brutal start. At a minimum, the runner-up for Rookie of the Year will be sidelined for four weeks, and that’s just for him to be re-evaluated. According to the Hornets, Knueppel suffered the left hamstring injury during an offseason on-court activity. His absence boosts the early-season values of Brandon Miller and Coby White while also making Grayson Allen a more viable late-round option in drafts.

After shooting 2-of-10 from inside the arc on Thursday, McNeeley was 2-of-3 on Saturday in a quieter offensive performance. He still shot the ball relatively well, but the second-year wing recorded six turnovers against the Pelicans. That said, summer league is a place where players like McNeeley can be more aggressive offensively, and mistakes will come with that. He’s looked good overall, an encouraging sight after McNeeley didn’t play much as a rookie.

McNeeley was a star in his two summer league performances last year, but he didn’t contribute much during his rookie season. However, he showcased that same shooting touch that he had in Las Vegas last summer once again. He was just 2-of-10 inside the three-point line, which is concerning, but his strength is his deep-range shot. If he’s going to crack the Hornets’ rotation this year, it’s going to be because of his shot.

While the report says the Hornets have not signaled they’re looking to move on from Ball, that has not kept some teams from taking the initiative to see if they can get something done. According to both Charania and NBA insider Marc Stein, Minnesota and Toronto are the teams in question. Having struggled with injuries in recent years, Ball appeared in 72 games last season and was one of the reasons why the Hornets landed in the Play-In tournament. He averaged 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 3.8 three-pointers per game, shooting 40.7 percent from the field and 89.9 percent from the foul line. If Ball is moved, it would be a clear sign that Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel are the Hornets’ cornerstones.

Flagg, Knueppel, and Edgecombe all received 100 first-place votes, with Harper’s 93 votes not far behind. Cedric Coward’s 29 first-place votes were the least of the first-teamers. Meanwhile, Derik Queen, Maxime Raynaud, Jeremiah Fears, Ace Bailey, and Colin Murray-Boyles were named to the All-Rookie Second team.