Jazz, Hornets Seek Duke Guard Kon Knueppel Top-5 NBA Draft Pick

As the 2025 NBA Draft approaches, the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets are both highly interested in Duke shooting guard Kon Knueppel, who has significantly improved his draft stock through an impressive freshman season. Knueppel, known for his sharpshooting ability and versatility, is projected to be picked around the 4th or 5th slot held by the Hornets and Jazz respectively, with both teams seeing him as a valuable complement to star players like Cooper Flagg and Lauri Markkanen. Despite some skepticism from fans about his athleticism, Knueppel's shooting accuracy, including a 55.6% three-point shooting in the NCAA tournament, makes him a strong candidate for an early pick. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs are considering Duke center Khaman Maluach, who played alongside Flagg, aiming to build a towering frontcourt with Victor Wembanyama. The Jazz have also been exploring other prospects like Ian Martinez, a local guard, through pre-draft workouts to bolster their roster. Overall, the Jazz appear focused on leveraging their top-5 draft position to add elite talent and continue their rebuilding process.