The Hornets’ latest injury update only sharpened a problem that’s been hanging over Charlotte for weeks.
On Sunday, the team announced that Kon Knueppel and Dennis Schröder will both miss more time with hamstring injuries. Knueppel will be reevaluated in four weeks, while Schröder is set to be reevaluated in two weeks. Brandon Miller is also out for Monday’s game against Cleveland after suffering a groin injury Friday against Boston.
That kind of shuffle is part of life in the NBA, but Charlotte is getting hit harder than most. The issue isn’t just who’s missing. It’s that the Hornets don’t have enough proven pieces on hand to absorb the damage when the injuries pile up.
The timing couldn’t be worse for an offense that was already sputtering. Friday’s 119-80 loss to Boston showed exactly where things stand right now.
Charlotte managed only 80 points, with Naz Reid leading the way with 14. Jayson Tatum powered the Celtics with 34.
Knueppel’s absence stings because Charlotte badly needs help on the perimeter. He was supposed to give the Hornets another boost from outside, but his return against Brooklyn lasted only until the hamstring flared up again.
Schröder’s setback leaves another hole in the backcourt. Coby White is back, but Charlotte still loses a veteran ball-handler who can steady the offense and take some pressure off everyone else.
Miller being sidelined only adds to the problem. He’s another scorer the Hornets can count on to produce at a high level, and now that option is off the table too.
Even if the injured players return soon, Charlotte’s larger problem doesn’t disappear. A team trying to stay competitive in the Eastern Conference has to survive stretches like this, and right now the Hornets don’t have enough quality depth to do it. Players such as Naz Reid, Grayson Allen and Ryan Kalkbrenner can contribute, but asking them to cover for multiple missing key players is too much.
There’s also the bigger picture of a young roster still taking shape. Building around that core makes sense, but it also makes depth even more important.
For now, there’s no easy answer on the current roster. Charlotte started 3-1 and had reason to believe it could build on last year’s progress, but six straight losses have changed the mood fast.
The Hornets need Miller, Knueppel and Schröder back. They also need more reliable depth so one injury wave doesn’t send the whole season sliding in the same direction again.
In Other News...
Naz Reid Is Giving The Hornets Exactly What They Need
Naz Reid has settled into a much better rhythm for Charlotte since being benched by head coach Charles Lee, and the timing has mattered. Over his last six games, he has averaged 17.6 points while giving the Hornets a steadier scoring presence, something the team has needed with Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel still sidelined. His recent 25-point effort in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers was another sign that he is becoming more comfortable carrying a bigger load.
Charles Lee also had reason to be encouraged by the way Reid impacted both ends of the floor in that victory, especially with Charlotte trying to piece together offense without several key pieces. The Hornets are leaning on him as a primary option for now, and the question is whether this stretch is simply a hot run or the beginning of a more permanent role in the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Suddenly Need These 3 Players To Keep The Season Afloat
Kon Knueppels latest setback leaves Charlotte trying to piece together its wing rotation again, and the timing could hardly be worse. The rookie had only just worked his way back after missing the first eight games, then lasted just six minutes against Brooklyn before the left hamstring strain forced him back out of the lineup.
With Knueppel out, the Hornets will have to lean harder on Grayson Allen, Sion James and Coby White to absorb the minutes and keep the offense moving. It puts more pressure on that group to stabilize a season that has already been tested by injuries, and it leaves Charlotte waiting to see how long it can hold things together without another key piece on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Just Got The Brandon Miller News They Needed
The Hornets have been trying to steady themselves after a rough start, and the win over Cleveland offered a little lift as they moved to 4-7. More importantly for Charlotte, the early outlook on Brandon Miller appears far less worrisome than it could have been. Miller had been sidelined, but the team is now seeing signs of progress, which matters for a group still looking to find its footing in the opening stretch of the season.
Charles Lees update gives the Hornets a reason to breathe a little easier, especially with the schedule already asking plenty of a short-handed roster. The bigger concern remains Kon Knueppel, whose injury still points to a potentially longer wait, but Millers situation at least suggests Charlotte may not be bracing for a drawn-out absence from one of its key young pieces. [Read more 🡒]