Hornets president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson is ‘very excited’ about the addition of Duke’s Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeeley but one scout was befuddled by Charlotte’s draft approach.

The Charlotte Hornets have selected Liam McNeeley with the No. 29 pick in the 2025 NBA draft. McNeeley racked up accolades in his one season at Connecticut, earning Big East Freshman of the Year, third-team All-Big East honors and a spot on the conference's All-Freshman Team.

Knueppel, a 6-foot-5 small forward known for his elite perimeter shooting and high basketball IQ. While some anticipated Charlotte might take a swing on the higher-upside Ace Bailey or consider trade-down options,