Kon Knueppel (hamstring) remains out Monday

Allen hasn’t started in place of Kon Knueppel (hamstring), but he has been able to fill the shooting void. That included a clutch four-point play in this game, which gave the Hornets a lead that they didn’t relinquish. Allen is rostered in just 33 percent of Yahoo! leagues, but with how many threes Charlotte shoots as a team, Allen should be rostered until Knueppel returns.

Despite Grayson Allen having a real good game on Wednesday, Sion James is still the starter for this game. Given that Sion did start 19 games last year, it seems like he will stay in the starting lineup until players return to help balance out the starters. Grayson Allen can still be rostered in some spots until players start getting back, but he’ll be a streamer in most cases.

With Kon Knueppel (hamstring) sidelined, the Hornets need Sion James and Allen to pick up the slack. James started, but scored just three points in 26 minutes. Meanwhile, Allen had 21 points and five three-pointers in 28 minutes off the bench. Allen is the preferred streaming option while Knueppel is sidelined.

The Hornets have Kon Knueppel and Coby White out, so Schroeder and now Sion James will get the start with Grayson Allen coming off the bench. Even in a start, Sion James is not a great per minute producer and will likely not impact many fantasy leagues even in a start.

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.

With Kon Knueppel (hamstring) ruled out for the entire preseason and likely unavailable at the start of the regular season, the Hornets have a hole in their starting lineup. Could McNeeley be in the conversation? After an underwhelming rookie season marked by an ankle injury and limited minutes, the former UConn wing has started both of Charlotte’s preseason games. McNeeley led the team with five assists and shot 3-of-8 from deep. He isn’t a must-draft player, but keep an eye on Charlotte’s rotation in their remaining preseason games.

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 three seasons in Phoenix, Allen is headed back to the Eastern Conference. While injuries limited him to 51 games, the veteran guard averaged a career-high 16.5 points, 3.8 assists and 3.1 three-pointers for the Suns last season. When available, Allen is one of the best three-point shooters in the league, and a solid defender as well. His addition gives the Hornets welcome perimeter depth, which is needed in the aftermath of LaMelo Ball being traded to the Timberwolves. However, availability concerns will affect where Allen is selected in most fantasy drafts.

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.