Brandon Miller had a front-row seat to the biggest Hornets move in years, and he knew something was coming before the news hit everyone else.
Speaking with Zach Lowe, Miller said he was with LaMelo Ball on the same day Charlotte dealt him to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Hornets president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson also reached out to Miller and Kon Knueppel before the trade became public, giving both young players a heads-up.
“It was no surprise to me,” Miller said. “But it was probably a surprise to you all.
We knew what was going on. [Ball] is gonna continue to perfect his craft in Minnesota.
As far as, is it a great fit for him? Is it a great move for us?
I guess we’ll see. But I know his talent, and what he brings every night, and I think he’ll do great in Minnesota.”
Charlotte sent Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota in exchange for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three future first-round pick swaps and three future second-round picks.
Ball’s run in Charlotte ended without a playoff appearance for the franchise during his time there. He played 303 games for the Hornets, averaged 20.8 points and 7.3 assists per game, made one All-Star team in 2022 and won the 2020-21 Rookie of the Year award.
With Ball gone, Miller and Knueppel are now the faces of the Hornets’ next chapter. Both still carry plenty of upside.
Miller is in his third NBA season and played 65 games for Charlotte last year. He averaged 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 43.5% from the field, 38.3% from 3-point range and 89.2% at the line.
Charlotte also locked Miller up with a five-year, $209 million extension. This season, he’s putting up 22.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, though the shooting numbers have dipped to 35.9% from the field, 26.7% from deep and 86.1% on free throws.
Knueppel’s season has been more stop-and-start. He didn’t win the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year award, but he still put together a special year, averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 47.5% overall, 42.5% from 3 and 86.3% from the foul line. He also led the NBA in 3-pointers.
Now, though, the second-year swingman is dealing with another setback. He missed the first eight games because of a leg injury and then got hurt again in his season debut on 11/4 against the Brooklyn Nets after only five minutes. It’s not yet known how long he’ll be sidelined.
In Other News...
Hornets Have A Finish Problem Fans Are Tired Of Watching
The Hornets latest stumble came in a 114-104 loss to the Nets, the kind of finish that has become all too familiar during a five-game skid. Charlotte had enough early momentum to carry a seven-point lead into halftime, and for a while it looked like the night might finally bend the other way before the game started slipping in the second half.
Instead, Brooklyn took control after the break and kept applying pressure when Charlotte needed a steady response. Naz Reids 28 points and nine rebounds gave the Hornets a strong individual line to build around, but Michael Porter Jr. answered with 26 points and 10 rebounds for Brooklyn, and the late-game gap only reinforced the frustration around Charlottes inability to close. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Early Slide Is Making The LaMelo Ball Decision Look Risky
Charlottes rough start has quickly turned a promising-looking season into a source of unease, with the Hornets sitting at 3-6 and stuck near the bottom of the league offensively. The numbers tell the story as much as the eye test does: fewer than 105 points per game, the NBAs worst offensive rating and the leagues lowest field goal percentage, all while the team has looked disjointed enough to raise questions about how much patience remains for a roster that was supposed to take a step forward.
Kevin OConnor flagged the Hornets poor shooting efficiency and bad body language as part of the bigger concern, and the issues have only been magnified by injuries to Kon Knueppel and Brandon Millers uneven play relative to his contract. For a team already trying to prove it can build around LaMelo Ball, the early slide makes every decision feel heavier, especially when the offense is this stagnant and the margin for error is already shrinking. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Linked Again To A Star Big Man They Once Passed On
Sacramentos willingness to listen on Domantas Sabonis has put a familiar name back into the rumor mill for Charlotte, which once had interest in the All-Star big man before talks went nowhere. The Hornets were among the teams circling Sabonis last season, but the deal never got close enough to finish, and now the broader market around him is shifting again as the Kings consider a rebuild.
For Charlotte, the appeal is obvious. The Hornets have been searching for more frontcourt stability, and Sabonis would instantly change the shape of their offense and rebounding profile. The question is whether the Hornets are ready to re-engage at a level that matches Sacramentos expectations, especially with both teams enduring uneven seasons that could push trade conversations back to the forefront. [Read more 🡒]