Hornets Acquire Liam McNeeley in Draft-Night Trade

Liam McNeeley, a 6-foot-7 forward from UConn, was selected 29th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns and subsequently traded to the Charlotte Hornets in a deal involving Mark Williams. McNeeley averaged 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists as a freshman and was named Big East Freshman of the Year after setting a UConn rookie scoring record with 38 points in a game. He is renowned for his elite shooting mechanics and movement shooting, attributes the Hornets need after ranking among the league’s worst shooting teams last season. Despite playing through a high ankle sprain and carrying a heavy creation role in college, experts believe his off-ball shooting and passing will complement Charlotte’s playmakers LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. McNeeley is expected to compete for significant minutes off the bench, with his development as a floor spacer seen as crucial to his early NBA impact. The trade underscores Charlotte's strategy to address offensive weaknesses and build around a young core.