The Charlotte Hornets have exercised their 2027-28 rookie-scale team options on Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeeley, the team announced Sunday, November 1. Knueppel’s option is worth $11.02 million, while McNeeley’s is valued at $3.04 million.
Both players are in the second year of their four-year rookie contracts. The decisions keep each under team control for the third season of his deal, with Charlotte also holding an option for the fourth year.
Knueppel, 21, made an immediate impact in his rookie season, appearing in 81 games and starting 80 in 2025-26. He averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 31.5 minutes per game, shooting 47.5% from the field and 42.5% from three-point range.
His 3.4 made three-pointers per game came on 7.9 attempts, while his 86.3% free-throw shooting helped produce a 60.1% effective field-goal percentage. Knueppel finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.
McNeeley, also 21, has had a smaller role in Charlotte. He appeared in 31 games as a rookie in 2025-26, averaging 4.3 points and 2.4 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per game while shooting 40% from the field and beyond the arc.
He has played three games in 2026-27, averaging 1.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 6.3 minutes. McNeeley has yet to make a field goal in those appearances, going 0-for-5 overall and 0-for-3 from three-point range, but has made all four of his free throws.
The Hornets are 3-4 through seven games this season. Brandon Miller leads the team with 24.4 points per game, while Naz Reid is averaging 15.9 points and 8.6 rebounds.
