Duke guard Kon Knueppel is one of the best shooters in this year’s draft class. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
It’s finally here.
All the statistics have been poured over and weeks — and in many cases months — of meticulously-crafted notes and analytics that talent evaluators used in their discussions are probably memorized by now.
The 2025 NBA Draft has arrived, beginning with Wednesday night’s first round. Once Duke product Cooper Flagg is taken off the board with the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks and shakes the hand of NBA commissioner Adam Silver at Barclays Center, questions about who will be around for the Charlotte Hornets to select at No. 4 should begin percolating.
Especially with the uncertainty surrounding Ace Bailey.
How things shake out with the Philadelphia 76ers (one spot ahead of the Hornets) will have huge ramifications on what Charlotte does, particularly if one of their preferred players in VJ Edgecombe is gone.
Besides the fourth selection, the Hornets also have picks Nos. 33 and 34 in the second round. Charlotte has never made the 33rd selection in the draft, so that will be a new one if it happens and Jeff Peterson, the president of basketball operations, elects to keep the pick.
So, let’s get to it. Here is the final version of our Hornets-themed mock draft:
Duke’s Kon Knueppel (7) celebrates with Cooper Flagg (2) after Flagg scored at the end of the first half of Duke’s game against Arizona in the Sweet 16 round of the 2025 Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Thursday, March 27, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
No. 4 overall
▪ Name: Kon Knueppel
▪ Position: PG/SG
▪ Team: Duke
When the draft order was revealed, showing the Hornets didn’t get the top overall pick yet again, disappointment quickly set in because there was no chance Flagg would land in Charlotte.
Another member of the 2024-25 Duke men’s basketball team could wind up being a consolation prize of sorts, though, especially if Edgecombe is no longer available.
Knueppel was a key part of the Blue Devils’ run to the Final Four, averaging 14.4 points, four rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, draining 47.9% of his attempts from the floor and 40.6% beyond the 3-point arc. Garnering all-ACC second-team honors and collecting the ACC Tournament Most Valuable Player award in Charlotte are also on his impressive resume.
The Wisconsin native is a really good shooter. It’s one of his top attributes.
“Best pure shooter (in this class) even though Koby Brea’s percentage is better,” one NBA scout told The Observer on Tuesday. “(A) floor stretcher (with) positional size, second-side playmaker who’s solid with pick-and-roll reads.”
Knueppel also has some weaknesses and areas of improvement needed to excel at the next level. While offense is his strong suit, he must get better on the other side of the ball before he can come close to being considered a two-way player.
“Biggest knock is defensively,” the scout said. “Needs to improve lateral movement. Guys with a quick first step will give him problems on an island.”
Penn State Nittany Lions forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser (14) looks to pass the ball as Maryland Terrapins forward Julian Reese (10) defends during the first half at Bryce Jordan Center. Matthew O'Haren USA TODAY NETWORK
No. 33
▪ Name: Yanic Konan Niederhauser
▪ Position: C
▪ Team: Penn State
Although he’s raw, he has the potential to be a solid player but must continue the trajectory he’s been on since arriving on this side of the pond. A native of Frashels, Switzerland, he posted a career-best 12.9 points per game, team-high 6.3 rebounds, shot 61.1% and led the Big Ten with 2.31 blocks per game in his lone season with the Nittany Lions.
In 29 starts, he recorded 19 double-digit scoring games and hit double figures in rebounds five times. He fared well at the NBA Draft Combine, too, checking in at 6-11 ¼ barefoot and measuring a 7-3 ¼ wingspan and a max vertical of 37 inches.
No. 34
Pick is traded
Reason: With talent that already needs to be developed in second-year players Tidjane Salaün and KJ Simpson, along with adding potentially two rookies from this year’s class, it could be best for the Hornets to use this selection to acquire another asset.
Unless they picked an international who would be a draft-and-stash while the player remained overseas, this individual would spend most of the season in the G League probably on a two-way deal. Utilizing that contract spot on someone else down the line, such as an undrafted free agent who shows out in summer league in July, may be the way to go for a team that can benefit from more quality depth.