Fresh off a historic shooting season, the Rookie of the Year runner-up identifies elite prospects and a dominant seven-footer who could transform the Charlotte Hornets into a perennial playoff force.
Kon Knueppel, Sion James, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Liam McNeeley wound up being a promising 2026 class for the Charlotte Hornets.
Knueppel finished second in the NBA Rookie of the Year vote. His former Duke teammate, Cooper Flagg, won the award after a stellar season with the Dallas Mavericks.
Knueppel led the NBA in three-point shots made in the league, and appears to be someone the Hornets can build around for the future.
Charlotte made the Play-In Tournament this spring, and should contend for a playoff spot next season if the team continues to develop. The Hornets have an opportunity to add some key players in the 2026 NBA Draft, as they hold the No. 14 and No. 18 pick.
"I like Mara from Michigan a lot, like you just, I just saw his measurements come in the other day, seven-three barefoot, with a seven-foot wingspan, like it's a big, big, yeah, I think you know, I like watching him play, I liked his teammate Lendeborg, who was an older guy from Michigan.
He was, he was really a good player, so like that was one of the teams I watched a lot. Michigan...I like some Cam Boozer. We won't get him, because, well, I don't know if we'd have to give up a whole lot to move up, but I like, I like his game."
Knueppel said he played some AAU basketball with Allen. He hopes whoever the Hornets take will be "studs" for the Hornets.
Mara appears to be the most likely of the bunch for the Hornets to pick with the No. 14 pick. He averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists on the Wolverines last season.
The Hornets need a big man on the roster, and Mara would be a perfect young option. With Charlotte adding talented players in last year's draft, the team could fill out their roster of the future by hitting on its first-round picks this year.