The Charlotte Hornets can't trade Kon Knueppel.
Kon Knueppel is the only untouchable Charlotte Hornets player in trade talks, according to Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report.
Bailey didn't include Brandon Miller, who is eligible for a rookie-scale extension this summer.
"Miller is another player who's sort of on the line between the second and third categories above," Bailey wrote. "And given where the Charlotte Hornets are on their organizational timeline, that likely means he isn't going anywhere.
"But even if the Hornets weren't inclined to include Miller in deals, they have more than enough trade ammo to improve their team (though they can certainly justify staying patient). Beyond their own first-round picks, those far-flung firsts from Minnesota and Phoenix have potential that any team in the league would like to get its organizational mitts on."
Even though Knueppel didn't win the 2026 Rookie of the Year award, he still had a special season for the Hornets. The swingman averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game and shot 47.5% from the field, 42.5% from 3 and 86.3% from the free-throw line. He led the NBA in 3s.
Knueppel claimed the first four Rookie of the Month awards this season, becoming the first Hornet ever to win the award four times.
Here is what else the rookie accomplished last season, via the Hornets:
- At age 20, became the only player in NBA history age 22 or younger to record 250 3PM in a season against New York (March 26).
- Passed Michael Jordan for the NBA rookie record for most games with 20+ points on 65% true shooting (27) against Miami (March 6) in his then-rookie-leading 14th 25-point game.
- Set an NBA rookie record for 3-pointers made in a season (207) with a career-high-tying and franchise-rookie-record-tying 8 3PM at Indiana (Feb. 26); Knueppel tied his own franchise rookie record.
- Set a new NBA record for most games with 5+ 3PM by a rookie with 14 at Atlanta (Feb. 7).
- Broke the rookie record for most games with 20+ points on 50/40/90 shooting splits (12) against Golden State (Dec. 31), previously set by Stephen Curry.
- Knueppel is one of three rookies in NBA history (min. 25 games played) to average 15 points and 5 rebounds per game and shoot 40% from 3-point range; the other two are Larry Bird and Paul Pierce.
Hornets president of basketball operations and general manager Jeff Peterson told Marc J. Spears of Andscape he was comfortable trading LaMelo Ball because of Miller and Knueppel.
It sounds like the Hornets don't plan to trade Miller after sending Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns.
"I’m very comfortable," Peterson said. "[Hornets head coach] Charles [Lee] and I had a conversation with both of them knowing that these trades can be challenging. Sometimes I do think we forget that we’re human beings dealing with this stuff — lives and its emotions. Those guys are friends and they are in the locker room every day. At the same time, Charles and I kind of explained, We believe in you guys, too. You guys are here. We want to continue to see you guys grow. This is going to challenge you guys. You guys got to continue to get better.' We wouldn’t have made that trade if we didn’t feel comfortable with what they can continue to be developing into."
