Cooper Flagg might not be the only former Duke Blue Devil selected in the first few picks of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Kon Knueppel, Flagg's teammate in Durham last season, has been rocketing up draft boards in recent weeks. ESPN's latest mock draft has the versatile Knueppel heading to the Charlotte Hornets with the fourth overall pick in a week's time.
No. 4 overall may well be Knueppel's ceiling; the eighth pick, held by the Brooklyn Nets, is considered the 6-foot-7 swingman's floor. Knueppel is considered a well-rounded threat, a "plug-and-play" option for teams in the lottery thanks to his smooth shooting and crafty playmaking at Duke.
Bill Simmons on Tuesday took the rare step of "advising" Knueppel that Charlotte would be the best destination for him to begin his career.
Knueppel appeared on "The Bill Simmons Podcast" this week to talk about the upcoming draft – a perfect opportunity for Simmons to explain why the Hornets are "kind of perfect" for a player with Knueppel's ability.
"Charlotte's kind of perfect with LaMelo (Ball), (Miles) Bridges and (Brandon) Miller," Simmons said. "They clearly need someone like you."
This is because Knueppel gained reverence at Duke for performing any role required. A former five-star recruit, Knueppel stepped up while Flagg was injured during the ACC Tournament in March and led the Blue Devils to a conference title – scoring 18 points and grabbing eight rebounds in the final game against Louisville.
Knueppel's strength, passing and teamwork complement a ball-dominant player like Ball. His efficient shooting would take the burden of Bridges and Miller to provide much of the Hornets' offensive threat. Only time will tell if Charlotte's front office sees Knueppel the way Simmons does.