The Charlotte Hornets seemingly made the right pick during the 2025 NBA Draft when they selected Kon Knueppel, but there will be some other opportunities for them to improve via the draft over the next few years.
When examining what that might mean for the Hornets, Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report recently had them selecting Koa Peat, a power forward out of the University of Arizona. Peat is a freshman and still just 18 years old.
“Considered a polarizing pro prospect entering the season, Koa Peat may have instantly changed the conversation by dropping 30 points and five assists on Florida's veteran frontcourt…
“He could still divide scouts on his upside, with some likely to buy the tools and polish, while others may question the translatability of a 6'8" power forward with limited range and a reliance on hitting contested two-point jumpers. But assuming he continues to produce, his effectiveness and maturity at 18 years should win out,” he wrote.
It's still relatively early to talk a lot about mock drafts for the 2026 NBA Draft, but it's also important to remember that Charlotte and other teams around the NBA are already scouting some of the top players in this class.
Peat seems to be one of them, with Wasserman also believing that his professional comparison would be PJ Washington of the Dallas Mavericks.
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