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There is a world where the Charlotte Hornets pick Ace Bailey fourth overall. There's a world where they pick VJ Edgecombe. There's one where Kon Knueppel's name is called. There are even worlds for Khaman Maluach , Tre Johnson, and some other prospects. According to Bill Simmons, the one where Knueppel gets picked makes the most sense.
The NBA insider got the chance to talk with Knueppel a week before the draft, an event that will change the Duke player's life and tell him where he's going to spend the next few years chasing his NBA dream. Simmons thinks it ought to be Charlotte.
"Charlotte's kind of perfect with LaMelo [Ball], [Miles] Bridges, and [Brandon] Miller. They clearly need someone like you," he said. "I personally think you make a ton of sense for Charlotte... if they keep their nucleus together, I could just see you on that team."
Knueppel didn't comment specifically on the fit with Charlotte. It came as part of a broader conversation in which the two agreed that Knueppel's versatility would work in a lot of different situations.
Simmons noted that he could play the three or the two in some situations, and he could even spend some minutes as the one and facilitate the offense if needed. Knueppel agreed, and that versatility could be good for a team like Charlotte.
Simmons and his usual cohost, Ryen Rusillo, are often critical of the Hornets and of LaMelo Ball, as is the case with the larger NBA media, but here, he seems to believe that they have the makings of something good. All they need now, in the analyst's eyes, is someone like Knueppel to fill the gaps on offense.
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What is Payton Pritchard's Ceiling in 2026?
In the 2025 season, Payton Pritchard had a breakout season, posting career a career high in points at 14.3 while maintaining good efficiency, and it won him the 6th man of the year trophy. But could he take it a step further? The rumors surrounding Payton Pritchard's role in the 2026 season has posed an interesting question. Will he be better or worse in this role? If his career has indicated anything, it is that he gets better with more opportunity. In 2024, he saw a 9 minutes per game increase from the previous year, and he averaged 4 points more per game on very good efficiency. In 2025 it was the same story, and he became the best bench player in the NBA. If Pritchard was to be a starter, he would likely average roughly 32-24 minutes per game. Per StatMuse, Pritchard played 18 games over 30 minutes in 2025 and averaged 18.3 points while shooting 49/41 splits. A great sign for the Celtics. However, there are some drawbacks, one of them being that the spacing will be considerably worse without Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis for the defense to focus on. The other side of the ball brings it's own issues as well. Pritchard's size does not allow him to be a great defender, and a defensive liability on the court for 30 or more minutes per game could pose problems for the Celtics. The offense may suffer slightly efficiency wise, but the contributions will still be felt, but the defense may not be as solvable with so many key defenders leaving. Pritchard was always on the floor with at least 2-3 elite defenders at all times, and that will no longer be the case in 2026, and he will be much harder to hide as a target. It remains to be seen how the Celtics defensive scheme is adjusted in 2026 with a retooled roster, but zone defense may be the best option not just for the team, but Pritchard specifically. Pritchard can give great effort in man or 1-on-1 defense, but there is only so much he can do at his size. A zone defense would allow him and other defensively struggling players to simply guard an area and force bad shots or turnovers, rather than trying to defend in isolation. If Pritchard can be a neutral player on the defensive side of the ball, he could make some noise and get into the all star conversation, which would bode well for future contract negotiations. The 2026 season is a critical point in Pritchard's career, and if he performs well, it could shape the Celtics future.
Steelers have major injury concern leaving preseason
The No. 1 priority for NFL teams in the preseason is to get out of the games without major injury. The Pittsburgh Steelers may have failed with that one on Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers. Defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, the team's first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, had to be carted to the locker room with a knee injury while also looking visibly upset as he was taken back. The team announced almost immediately that he would be out for the remainder of the game with a knee injury. Head coach Mike Tomlin provided an update after the game: Defensive line was a top priority for the Steelers this offseason, especially after their playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens where they allowed nearly 300 rushing yards to end their season. Along with Harmon, they also selected Iowa's Yahya Black in this year's class to help try to beef up their line. Harmon is expected to play a major role in this year's defense and was already in a starting position. With star defensive lineman Cameron Heyward holding in as he tries to get a new contract from the team, that puts even more importance on Harmon's ability to make an impact. He has had a strong training camp, and after a quiet first preseason game, he really took a big leap forward in the team's second game, recording a sack against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Heyward returns, and if Harmon's injury is not serious, the Steelers would have the potential to have a really strong defensive line with those two joining rising star Keeanu Benton. Right now, though, those are a lot of "ifs," especially as it relates to the availability for Heyward and Harmon for the team's season opener.
Bill Belichick takes another shot at Patriots owner Robert Kraft
It is no secret that the relationship between Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft has been strained since Belichick left the New England Patriots. Belichick took an obvious shot at Kraft and the Patriots owner's son, Jonathan, who is the president of the team, during an interview with Ben Volin of the Boston Globe that was published on Thursday. Belichick is preparing for his first-ever season as a college coach with North Carolina. When asked what he has noticed that is different about coaching in college versus the NFL, Belichick insinuated he has enjoyed not having to answer to any members of the Kraft family while doing his job in Chapel Hill. "It’s a much more cohesive, and I’d say unified, view of what we’re trying to do and how we’re trying to do it," Belichick told Volin. "It’s a lot of football, and there’s not much in your way. "There’s no owner, there’s no owner’s son. There’s no cap, everything that goes with the marketing and everything else, which I’m all for that. But it’s way less of what it was at that level." Shots fired. There is no way to interpret that other than a criticism of Robert and Jonathan Kraft. Had Belichick left it at not having to answer to a team owner, you could make the case that he was speaking generally about the NFL. The fact that he added in "owner's son" makes it obvious he was referring to his old bosses, as both Robert and Jonathan are hands-on with the Patriots. Belichick is almost certainly bitter over the way his tenure in New England ended following the 2023 season. He coached the Patriots for 24 seasons and won six Super Bowls, so he likely felt he should have been given more time to turn things around in the post-Tom Brady era. The Kraft family preferred to move on after a 4-13 campaign. Though Belichick insists he is solely focused on the upcoming UNC season, this is not the first time in recent months that he has gone out of his way to throw a jab at Robert Kraft.
4 winners (and 3 losers) from chaotic Commanders training camp
The Washington Commanders had momentum firmly on their side entering this summer's training camp after a remarkable 2024 campaign. It was an intense few weeks for all involved, even if it became more chaotic than usual for reasons outside of Dan Quinn's control. There were a lot of distractions. Quinn navigated them successfully enough, but it's clear that the strain had taken a toll on the head coach. One big cloud hung over the franchise throughout, and some concerning injury issues meant significant adjustments were needed to keep things ticking over. Although that raised doubts, there were some enormous positives to take from camp. The rookie class looked good, and some newly acquired veterans also made their presence felt. Washington's spirit and camaraderie remain extremely strong, which should help them cope with some stern upcoming challenges with a bigger target on their back. Some difficult decisions are upcoming for Quinn and general manager Adam Peters. Trimming the roster to 53 players is always one of the toughest parts of the NFL calendar. But whoever goes through onto the Commanders' squad will deserve their place after laying the right foundations at camp. With this in mind, here are four winners and three losers from Washington's training camp in 2025. Winners and losers from chaotic Commanders 2025 training camp Winner No. 1 Jacory Croskey-Merritt - Commanders RB It became hard to ignore the momentum building around Jacory Croskey-Merritt very early in the offseason. The seventh-round running back came into the Washington Commanders with lofty ambitions and a huge chip on his shoulder. His transition was seamless, which led to a seismic shift from general manager Adam Peters. The Commanders are looking to trade Brian Robinson Jr. If they cannot find a willing suitor, last year's starting backfield option will be released. This was somewhat surprising, but it's a testament to how well Croskey-Merritt and others have performed. Croskey-Merritt's roster spot is secure. That represents a significant achievement when one considers how much football he's missed over the last year. Tempering expectations initially would be wise, but there is nothing to suggest he cannot become a feature on offense as the season progresses. The former Arizona and New Mexico standout emerged as one of camp's most heart-warming stories. And the best part? Croskey-Merritt isn't satisfied, which is the right attitude to have as he looks to become one of the draft's great steals. It's still early days, but the hype train has already left the station where Croskey-Merritt is concerned. Long may it continue. Loser No. 1 Jordan Magee - Commanders LB Jordan Magee's offseason has followed a similar pattern to his first with the Washington Commanders. The athletic linebacker built some significant momentum over early workouts, with defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. proclaiming his desire to get him more involved in the rotation. Unfortunately, this positivity was halted by injury once again. Magee missed a large portion of training camp due to an undisclosed issue. The Commanders were right to err on the side of caution with the player, but he's once again missed valuable reps both in practice and preseason games. Whether this alters the Commanders' strategy with Magee remains to be seen. Getting him back to 100 percent is the primary objective. After that, the coaching staff will probably bring him along gradually before his confidence increases. It's not ideal, but Magee needs to display the correct resolve. And when he gets the all clear to resume football activities, he's got to hit the ground running. Winner No. 2 Deebo Samuel Sr. - Commanders WR All eyes were on Deebo Samuel Sr. following his high-profile trade to the Commanders. Criticism was fierce and unfair around the wide receiver after the move became official, but the former second-round pick is well on his way to emphatically silencing doubters. Samuel showed up to camp in shape and fully focused. His speed and explosiveness were nothing short of outstanding. The wideout's chemistry with quarterback Jayden Daniels blossomed without Terry McLaurin. That's the biggest silver lining above all else regarding his holdout. After hearing all the hot takes and backlash, Samuel is letting his football do the talking. The South Carolina product is as advertised, and he'll be tasked with huge responsibilities from the moment he steps onto the field in a competitive setting. Judging by his camp showing, putting together a bounce-back campaign looks more than feasible. And if this scenario comes to fruition, sending a fifth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers for Samuel will be a masterstroke. Loser No. 2 Luke McCaffrey - Commanders WR Hopes were high heading into the summer that Luke McCaffrey could finally break out and firmly establish himself as an important part of Washington's passing attack. There have been a few flashes once again, but the consistency remains subpar. McCaffrey was always going to be a work in progress. He converted to the wide receiver spot from quarterback in college, but his athleticism was enough for the Commanders to use the No. 100 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft to secure his services. The Rice product got plenty of reps but very few targets last season. McCaffrey needs to show more in Year 2, and concerns are starting to emerge about whether he'll be on the fringes once again. Deebo Samuel Sr. and Jaylin Lane moved ahead of McCaffrey in the pecking order. The fact that he was a non-factor in Washington's first two preseason games only raises more doubts around his outlook. Winner No. 3 Jayden Daniels - Commanders QB Jayden Daniels didn't get much work during the preseason. Everyone knows what the dynamic quarterback can do, which he put on full display throughout another impressive training camp. The Washington Commanders will be relying heavily upon Daniels once again in 2025. He's the franchise player. He's the relaxed, cold-blooded killer on the field who everyone willingly follows into battle. More importantly, his extra knowledge of the schematic concepts and overall confidence were notable. Daniels just looks like a superstar. The No. 2 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft didn't have some of his top playmakers for most (or all) of camp, but it didn't matter. He was his typical clinical self, challenging his teammates to be better and getting a positive response. The Commanders will only go as far as Daniels takes them next season. Judging by the way he performed and conducted himself over camp, another huge campaign is in the offing for one of the game's elite talents. Loser No. 3 Terry McLaurin - Commanders WR Training camp came and went without Terry McLaurin on the practice field. His contract standoff with the Commanders shows no signs of concluding successfully. And the situation is becoming increasingly demoralizing for all involved. McLaurin skipped the first few days of camp before returning, albeit on the physically unable to perform list. He's ramping up his recovery from a supposed hamstring issue, but the wideout's reported contract demands remain a major stumbling block. Fans are tired of this ongoing saga that's been a dark cloud hanging over training camp. Dan Quinn's frustrations were obvious in front of the media this week. There's nothing he can do; it's just a case of letting the business side play out before hopefully getting McLaurin back into the fold. Just when that'll be is anyone's guess. Both sides are dug in, so the next step for McLaurin would be sacrificing game checks. That's not going to happen. Winner No. 4 Trey Amos - Commanders CB The Commanders thought they had something special in rookie cornerback Trey Amos from early on. Adam Peters couldn't believe his luck when he was there for the taking at No. 61 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. It's not hard to see why. Amos was projected as a first-round pick by most analysts, but a back issue during his pre-draft medical assessments saw the player's stock crash. The Commanders kept faith with the defensive back, and they must love what he's brought to the table so far. The former Ole Miss standout was exceptional in coverage throughout camp, immediately winning the starting boundary job opposite four-time Pro Bowl corner Marshon Lattimore. This is a lot to put on a rookie, but Amos looks more than ready for the moment. If the same trend continues into the regular season, Amos will quickly emerge as one of the draft's biggest steals. Something that will greatly benefit Washington's secondary along the way. More Commanders news and analysis
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