Hornets Finally Upgrade Kon Knueppel to Questionable After Brutal Start

The Charlotte Hornets might finally get to unwrap their delayed offseason package. Kon Knueppel has been upgraded to questionable for Wednesday's road game against the Brooklyn Nets after missing the first eight games of the season with a left hamstring injury.

Getting the young forward back would be a massive relief for a Charlotte squad that just got completely dismantled. The Hornets are coming off a brutal 124-91 home loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.

"Marc Stein reported the upgrade, noting Knueppel's potential return aligns with Coby White's recent integration into the lineup."

That blowout was supposed to be a positive milestone, marking the season debut of Coby White after his own stint on the injury report. Instead, the offense looked stuck in mud, proving this roster desperately needs the shooting gravity Knueppel provides.

A 33-point loss to the Pistons is the kind of box score that makes you want to simulate to the end of the season. If you are holding a ticket on the Hornets to cover any spread right now, you are basically funding the sportsbooks' holiday parties.

Knueppel has been sidelined since suffering the hamstring injury during offseason on-court activities. The medical staff has been overly cautious, which is the only logical move when dealing with soft-tissue problems on a young franchise building block.

You do not rush a guy back just to chase a random November win, but his return changes the geometry of the floor for everyone else. Bettors will want to watch the shootaround reports closely, as his availability shifts the entire offensive projection for Charlotte.

If Knueppel gets the green light in Brooklyn, expect him to be on a strict minutes restriction. But even a limited run gives Charlotte a desperately needed spark and gives fans a reason to actually keep the game on after halftime.