The Charlotte Hornets Started Two Rookies Against the Memphis Grizzlies

In Charlotte's penultimate preseason game Wednesday — a dominant, 145-116 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Greensboro — Hornets coach Charles Lee started fourth overall selection Kon Knueppel and second-round pick Ryan Kalkbrenner.

Arguably the greatest question surrounding the Hornets' lineup is discovering who will be the third guard to join LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in the backcourt.

After Knueppel started the preseason opener at OKC, it was veterans Tre Mann and Collin Sexton who opened the next two games. However, Knueppel was back in the starting five against the Grizzlies.

Early on, Knueppel impacted the game with a couple assists to Miller and Miles Bridges. But then once Ball started to initiate the Charlotte offense, Knueppel found soft spots in the corners and started hitting outside shots. He finished with nine points — off three triples — and four assists.

Meanwhile, in the post, it's the second straight game that Kalkbrenner got the nod at center.

In his first start against Dallas, the 23-year-old, 7-footer out of Creighton was a perfect 7 for 7 shooting from the field and grabbed 10 rebounds. He came down to Earth in Greensboro with just seven points and seven boards.

Considering Mason Plumlee hasn't exceeded 11 minutes in the the three games he has appeared, it is shaping up to be a decision between Kalkbrenner and Moussa Diabate for Charlotte's starting center position.

Diabate, who had 18 points and 13 rebounds on Wedneasday, was one of the feel-good stories during last season. Meanwhile, Kalkbrenner has been arguably the best story during training camp.

As for Charlotte's other two rookies, first-round pick Liam McNeely had seven points while second rounder Sion James returned to action — after sitting out in Dallas — and produced eight points.

Wednesday's game was played inside Greensboro's First Horizon Coliseum, which is roughly an hour from Knueppel and James' college campus at Duke.

The Hornets will close the preseason at the New York Knicks on Friday night. The team's regular season opener is next Wednesday night against the Brooklyn Nets.