Kon Knueppel Opens Up About Charlotte Hornets Trading LaMelo Ball

The Charlotte Hornets made a blockbuster trade this offseason, sending LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

Charlotte traded Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three future first-round pick swaps and three future second-round picks.

Hornets forward Kon Knueppel, who was close with Ball, told the Milwaukee Uncut podcast that he was shocked to see Ball get traded. 

"Yeah, definitely a shock," Knueppel said. "Melo’s a great dude. He was great to be around every day. So that's already missed, you know, just the joy and energy that he brought to the locker room."

The Hornets never made the playoffs in the Ball era. Ball played in 303 games with Charlotte. He averaged 20.8 points and 7.3 assists per game and made one All-Star team (2022). 

Ball, 24, also won the 2020-21 Rookie of the Year Award. 

Hornets president of basketball operations and general manager Jeff Peterson told Marc J. Spears of Andscape he was comfortable trading Ball because of Brandon Miller and Knueppel.  

Miller and Knueppel are now the faces of Charlotte's franchise after the Hornets sent Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

"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."

Even though Knueppel didn't win the 2025-26 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.

The Hornets are expected to start Coby White, Miller, Knueppel, Reid and Moussa Diabaté next season. That's a strong starting five on paper. 

Charlotte hasn't made the playoffs since 2016. It will be fascinating to see if the team makes the playoffs next season in Year 1 of the post-Ball era.