Liam McNeeley‘s preseason stats for the Hornets may not jump off the page, but he’s earned a fan in head coach Charles Lee, according to The Charlotte Observer’s Roderick Boone, who suggests the No. 29 overall pick has a chance to be the steal of the 2025 draft.
McNeeley averaged just 6.4 points and 2.4 rebounds per game while hitting 14.3% of his threes in five preseason appearances after excelling in his rookie season Summer League. He finished the preseason on something of a high note, scoring in double digits during his lone start on Friday.
Lee was impressed with McNeeley’s approach throughout training camp and the preseason.
“Offensively, he’s really got the total package to him,” Lee said. “I’ve been able to watch him catch-and-shoot, I’ve been able to see him drive the ball and facilitate to guys. He offensive rebounds, and so he’s just another one of our core young guys that I think has this mindset of I just want to impact winning at all costs.”
Having said that, the rookie wing is far from a finished product, and Lee has clear ideas about where he needs to improve.
“The goal for him is just to continue to build consistent habits,” Lee said. “He’s still got to learn to finish things defensively and how to bring an edge and a physicality on that side of the court.”
We have more news from around the Southeast Division:
- Wizards second-year guard Bub Carrington was a full participant in Sunday’s practice after knee soreness limited him to just four minutes in Washington’s preseason game against the Pistons on Thursday, reports Josh Robbins of The Athletic (via Twitter). Carrington faces one of the more important seasons among Washington’s players, given the offseason additions of veteran CJ McCollum and top-10 draft pick Tre Johnson, both of whom project to command significant minutes throughout the season.
- Hawks‘ first-round pick Asa Newell picked up a rare start on Monday’s preseason game against the Heat, with Atlanta resting its top rotation players. It was an opportunity Newell capitalized on, writes Lauren Williams for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In just over 36 minutes, he scored 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and had two steals and blocks apiece. His energy and nose for the ball impressed head coach Quin Snyder. “I love the fact that he’s quickly kind of reading and taking a shot when he’s open,” Snyder said. “I think he’ll even begin to understand kind of more situational basketball, when he’s open and (whether) he can make one more.”
- Jahmir Young made it through the Heat‘s set of roster decisions on Saturday and came out of it with his Exhibit 10 deal converted into a two-way contract. It’s an opportunity he isn’t taking for granted, writes Anthony Chiang for the Miami Herald. “It’s harder to stay than to be here,” Young said. “So for me, just every day, just being my best self, being 100 percent and helping the team. “Just being in an organization that works on player development, really works on guys. It’s amazing. It just gives me life. Just shows that I have to keep working.” Head coach Erik Spoelstra spoke highly of Young after Sunday’s practice: “That speed and quickness with the ball, his ability to get in the paint, ability to knock down threes is unique. He had a really good year last year. And then in practice, when we had him in that third unit, drilling against him and kind of letting him do his thing, he was a tough guy to corral.”
- Spoelstra also addressed the Heat’s decision to waive Precious Achiuwa. “It is tough, especially because we spent time with him four years ago, it felt like we wanted to keep that going,” Spoelstra said, per Chiang. “But that’s just where we are right now with the roster. We’ll have to see what happens in the future.” Achiuwa averaged 4.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game across four preseason outings. Hanging onto him would have pushed Miami’s team salary over the luxury tax line.
I’m not a fan of Liam McNeely. I didn’t think it was worth mentioning anything in the past about him being a disappointment because he was a late first round pick so not much was expected.
It’s gonna be slow going for him because I don’t think he shoots it well enough to be able to play a lot at his size.
I haven’t seen him in the preseason, but I watched him a lot in college and in person.
He’s just another dude, and in my mind won’t be someone who is special. Few guys drafted at the end of the first round or even second round make it anyway.
I see him as Luke Jackson 2.0
So you see him suffering multiple debilitating injuries?
He is young but he didn’t shoot well in college either. The Hornets coach propping him up probably won’t help much.
I swear y’all just be saying stuff just to say stuff
It’s a slow day today. I have a little extra time on my hands lol
Really says something when you call a 19 yr old a disappointment lol. UCONN best player
McNeeley at 6’7” has good size as a wing. The kid plays both ways and has toughness. I don’t expect any basketball player to peak till after 25 yrs old. I watched him more than 5-6 games. And read all the scouting reports. Every time I saw him play. He was closing out games. His shot is still coming around. He has an all around game. 14.5 pts, 6 reb, 2.4 ast he was UConn leading scorer. Even though his shooting was low. Thats is a statement in itself. Kid is kind of raw by NBA standards. But as his coach says. Plenty of potential there. I tought he would go higher than he did.
Carrington had an unremarkable rookie season, and looked the least promising among 6 guys drafted in the first round (him, Riley, Bilal, Sarr, Kyshawn, Tre) in various events that happened in the off-season (Summer League, Americup, EuroBasket, preseason).
The guy needs to start showing something, or else that Avdija trade with Portland will be looking worse by the day.
Yet another in a long line of terrible takes on this site. I swear this is the anti-hoops site
Have you been impressed with what you’ve seen from him his rookie year and over the last months?
I know and respect your knowledge of youth/college/international basketball, and those things have to count when evaluating a young player. That’s the reason why I always believed in Deni, because I saw what he did as a teenager in Maccabi, and his play in a disfunctioning Wizards team lead by Beal didn’t change my opinion of him.
What did you think of Carrington before he got into the league?
But he is an NBA player now, and what he does in a Wiz jersey has to matter.
Achiuwa will get picked up. He can give you good mins. Needs to work on his shot. Just hit the open looks. Just do it.