Two spots in the Hornets‘ starting lineup are uncertain as the regular season approaches, and coach Charles Lee indicated they could be flexible for a while, writes Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer. Moussa Diabate was the starting center for Sunday’s preseason opener against Oklahoma City, while rookie Kon Knueppel got the nod at small forward.
“I spoke with Tre (Mann) and Kon and Collin (Sexton), and I said, ‘I think you guys need to be prepared to start a lot of different ways and we’ll see how the season goes,’” Lee said. “I think that each one of them has had really high moments or really good bright spots and have shown that they learned to be out there and have a significant role. And all three I think will have a significant role. And every night it might look a little bit different and they need to be open minded to it. And so (Sunday), trying to just get some data on what lineups I think work well defensively, what lineups work well offensively and we’ll keep kind of carving out what we think makes the most sense for our team on a night-to-night basis.”
Knueppel, the fourth pick in this year’s draft, led Charlotte in scoring with 18 points, shooting 6-of-13 from the field and 4-of-10 beyond the arc. He’s eager to launch his NBA career and isn’t concerned about whether he’s used as a starter or a reserve.
“I think it doesn’t really matter,” Knueppel said. “I think we’re all going to contribute a bunch or all three of us will. So, just depending on the matchups each night, we want to start out on their guard heavy. Maybe he goes to one of those guys just depending on the matchup. But I think we’ll all get similar playing time every game.”
There’s more from Charlotte, all from Boone:
- Sunday night marked Brandon Miller‘s return to the court for the first time since he tore a ligament in his right wrist in January. Boone notes that Miller didn’t show any lingering effects from the injury, throwing down a pair of dunks with his right hand and driving into the lane with no fear of contact. “Just getting that feel back,” Miller said. “I haven’t played basketball with my guys in a long time, so I would say just getting the feel back and building that confidence and bond that we have with our teammates, just being that stronger every day.”
- Rookies Liam McNeeley and Ryan Kalkbrenner also saw significant minutes in their debuts Sunday night. They both displayed a mix of inexperience and positive plays, and Lee was encouraged by what he saw. “I think everyone got to see what these kids are about,” he said. “Our young rookies, they’re fearless, they don’t back down. Their competitive spirit, their winning spirit, they’re coming up with offensive rebounds, they’re diving on the floor for loose balls. There’s a physicality, there’s a togetherness.”
- Mason Plumlee joined the team on Sunday after missing nearly a week with an excused absence. He participated in warmups but didn’t play as Lee gave the minutes at center to Diabaté and Kalkbrenner.
Trade Sexton, Bridges, Grant Williams and Josh Green for Tobias Harris and CJ McCollum with picks. You figure it out
Win win win
Start Diabate
Why would they do that arm chair GM? Pray tell
First you trade Miles Bridges and the dark cloud away. That’s a positive right there. Sexton is nice but isn’t quite a veteran and doesn’t fit the timeline of this team. Grant Williams is okay and Green isn’t that good.
You receive back two actual veterans on one year expiring contracts. I’d rather have 6’9 Tobias instead of 6’7 Bridges at PF. Plus you get some picks. Miles back in Michigan
Sexton has played 7 seasons so is clearly a vet and is in his full prime at age 27 in January. Getting him was smart, trading him wouldn’t be.
Green fits the timeline, 33 yo Harris absolutely DOESN’T.
Your trade scenarios are consistently absurd, I guess that’s something…
You need veterans on a team. You don’t need all young guys. 7 years doesn’t mean you are a veteran. The Hornets have Kon and Saloun to maybe take over those spots. You get away from Green and Williams contracts, Green is trash.
No you are absurd always writing whatever when you don’t understand basketball. You are a new fan. Who is more importa, Miller, Ball, Kon or Sexton? McCollum can teach more than Sexton can. You think Sexton will be here next year?
Thank you come again
I was at that game. I know it’s preseason, but it’s generous calling that game Hornets vs OKC. It’s more like Hornets vs OKC’s C team. The best players on the court for OKC were Isaiah Joe, Andrew Wiggins, maybe Topic or the big Williams. Even with that, they won by 30 or so points and it looked like an actual team vs a bunch of random guys playing together.
The positives I’d say though are that Kon looked good out there and easily could’ve had more points and Brandon Miller showed flashes he could be the guy they build around.
Preseason. Okc more experience and have played together more. What did you expect?
I guess you didn’t actually read what I wrote, but on one side you had all the top guys on the Hornets roster and on the other you had the bottom half of the OKC roster, including a bunch of guys who won’t even make the roster, and the difference in play was clear. And I know it’s preseason I’m talking about it like how when you watch summer league you can tell players that clearly have something vs future G leaguers.
Joe was cold, with 2-7 and missing all his threes. Williams and JWill showed they’d start for most teams in the league, and Dieng had 17 pts on 50% shooting overall and from three in a game high by ten 33 mins.
The Hornets have a long road ahead.
I like the Hornets with Ball Knueppel and Miller, Bridges is alright ay PF but a little to ball dominate and the off the court stuff is crap. But most importantly they need a starting calibre centre. Diabate is alright but he’s also very young, still learning the game is seems, and undersized.
Kalkbrenner I do like but again young and not ready as a starter. Don’t understand why they have up Williams and Richards so cheaply.
Could honestly see them going in all on Sabonis when the Kings eventually decide it’s time to rebuild. He’s not great defensively but atleast offers size and rebounding. Give up Bridges, Green and whatever else to make the deals (most likely a couple of firsts), that would be a step in the right direction but not a perfect trade