News Hornets Team Notes

[Charlotte Hornets]

Insider Says Hornets Got A ‘Steal’ In NBA Draft

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The Charlotte Hornets were one of the biggest winners of the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.

First, they got the best sharpshooter in this class by landing Duke star Kon Knueppel.

Then, they landed two first-round selections in a deal for big man Mark Williams.

They later used that pick on who plenty of people believe could end up being one of the steals of the night.

At least, that’s how CBS Sports’ analyst Matt Norlander feels, as he gushed about Liam McNeeley’s potential as the ultimate sleeper.

"He could grow into one of the 10 or 8 best players from this draft."@MattNorlander believes that the Hornets got a steal at the end of the first-round in Liam McNeely. pic.twitter.com/fUR57gFlft

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 26, 2025

The Connecticut product was teammates with fellow first-rounders Cooper Flagg, Derik Queen, and Asa Newell at Montverde Academy.

He’s coming off earning Big East Freshman of the Year honors at UConn, and he was a Jordan Brand Classic and McDonald’s All-American selection coming out of high school.

He can play at both forward spots, and most scouts had him going in the 20-pick range.

He boasts a high basketball IQ, and while he doesn’t boast elite athleticism and struggles to create separations at times, he’s a versatile scorer.

The Hornets could use as much help as they can get right now.

More importantly, they also need to stay healthy, as franchise cornerstones LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller missed most of last season with injuries.

History isn’t on this organization’s side, and they have a long history of botched draft picks.

But early on, it seems like they’ve done an outstanding job with the assets they had at their disposal.

The post Insider Says Hornets Got A ‘Steal’ In NBA Draft appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/insider-says-hornets-got-a-steal-in-nba-draft/

 

[Charlotte Hornets]

Hornets Make Major Contract Decision With Josh Okogie

(Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)

The Charlotte Hornets had a difficult decision to make with Josh Okogie, and they just made it.

According to Michael Scotto, the Hornets have now waived Okogie.

His $7.75 million salary was set to be guaranteed this week unless Charlotte dropped him from their very crowded roster.

Now, Okogie will try to find a new home in the NBA, and the Hornets will attempt to move on without him.

Just In: The Charlotte Hornets have waived Josh Okogie, league sources told @hoopshype. Okogie’s $7.75 million salary was set to guarantee today if he remained on the roster. Okogie averaged 8.9 points and 1.8 steals in 18.3 minutes per game in 15 games for Charlotte last season. https://t.co/xuWkCMCsVr

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 15, 2025

Okogie only played in 15 games with the Hornets last season, averaging 8.9 points and 1.8 steals during his 18.3 minutes on the court.

He was quietly doing some good work for Charlotte, but they simply did not have space for him in 2025-26.

Their roster was already too full, and they didn’t have options for Okogie.

There was some talk about them possibly trading him to another team, but they didn’t have any leverage because the rest of the league knew how crowded their lineup was.

No team was willing to make a trade with the Hornets, knowing that they were already over their limit with guaranteed roster spots.

This meant that Charlotte only had one move to make: waive Okogie or someone else.

In the end, they decided to part ways with Okogie.

Since coming into the league in 2018-19, Okogie has played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, and now the Hornets.

Where will he head next?

As for the Hornets, will they miss his defensive skills?

Charlotte is a young team that would benefit from more experience in the lineup.

Did they just say goodbye to one of their most helpful veterans, and will this end up biting them?

The post Hornets Make Major Contract Decision With Josh Okogie appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/hornets-make-major-contract-decision-with-josh-okogie/

 

[Charlotte Hornets]

Paul George Takes A Jab At Hornets

(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Things didn’t go well for the Charlotte Hornets last season.

In fact, things haven’t gone well for the team in a long time.

While speaking about the Hornets, NBA star Paul George had nothing complimentary to share.

“I’m not picking Charlotte just because there’s no winning culture there. My career is over with if I go there,” George said, via Legion Hoops.

Paul George on why he would never sign with Charlotte:

“I’m not picking Charlotte just because there’s no winning culture there. My career is over with if I go there.”

Wow.

(h/t @statline_) pic.twitter.com/L3dTYNTSDi

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 16, 2025

Luckily for George, it doesn’t sound like he will be joining Charlotte anytime soon, but there is always a chance that he has to make his way to the Hornets.

According to him, that would be a worst-case scenario.

Last season, the Hornets created a meager 19-63 record, ending as the 14th team in the Eastern Conference.

While there is hope that they will be better this year, there is also concern that they will again miss the playoffs.

Perhaps they need someone like George, a player with experience and the sort of expertise that can lead them.

They have young talent, but it hasn’t translated into much success.

If players like George do not want to play for Charlotte, the team may remain in a tough place for a very long time.

Fans have been waiting to see the Hornets get better, but they could be waiting a bit longer.

Or 2025-26 could be the season when the team’s young and promising talent is capitalized on, and they become one of the most exciting teams in the East.

George may be saying this now, but he could regret his words if the Hornets turn things around next year.

The post Paul George Takes A Jab At Hornets appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/paul-george-takes-a-jab-at-hornets/

 

[Charlotte Hornets]

Klay Thompson Sends Message To Hornets Rookie

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel has the chance to become one of the best young three-point shooters in the league.

In a few years, his work on the court could lead to comparisons to many great NBA icons, such as Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.

A new video shared online by r/CharlotteHornets on Reddit featured Thompson reaching out to Knueppel and wishing him well.

In the video message, he gave Knueppel words of support and thanked him for modeling his game after him.

“Just wanted to wish you well. Thanks for the words of trying to model your game after me. It makes me feel kind of old, but also very appreciative of great young athletes like yourself who are coming to take over the league and carry on the torch of what we started,” Thompson said to Knueppel.

Klay Thompson had a special message for Kon Knueppel:

"Thanks for the words of trying to model your game after me. It makes me feel kind of old, but also very appreciative of great young athletes like yourself who are coming to take over the league and carry on the torch…" pic.twitter.com/SgFw9KJ5f3

— r/CharlotteHornets on Reddit (@HornetsReddit) July 19, 2025

This must be quite an inspiring and motivational moment for Knueppel, who is surely experiencing a lot of them right now.

After picking him as the fourth overall choice in the recent draft, the Hornets are envisioning big things for Knueppel, and he is meeting his teammates, as well as the legends he will compete against.

He is just months away from entering the NBA, and the expectations about him are very high.

Analysts and fans point to his work in college and how he could instantly become a huge offensive threat for the Hornets.

He has modeled his skills after Thompson, and if he ends up playing like him, Charlotte will be very happy with their selection.

It’s not every day that a young player receives a video message from their basketball hero, and Knueppel is soaking it up and embracing his new life.

Right now, he is getting encouragement from Thompson, but in a few months, he will be competing against him.

The post Klay Thompson Sends Message To Hornets Rookie appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/klay-thompson-sends-message-to-hornets-rookie/