With LaMelo Ball’s future in question, a new star is emerging as a potential new face of franchise for the Charlotte Hornets.

Hornets' rookie Kon Knueppel’s breakout is forcing the Charlotte to rethink their future as his role grows beyond a complementary piece.

With the loss, Cleveland is now 0-5 when Mitchell plays and scores 21 points or fewer. They’re 8-1 when he puts up 35 or more. The Cavs can’t afford for Mitchell to play this poorly, even when they’re going against a bad and injured Charlotte team.

Rookie Kon Knueppel scored 29 points, Brandon Miller added 25 and the Charlotte Hornets shut out Cleveland in overtime on their way to a rare road win, 119-111 over the Cavaliers.

LaMelo Ball’s name surfaces in trade buzz with Kings, Timberwolves, and Pelicans as Hornets struggle through a slow start.

Cleveland lost to the Charlotte Hornets, 119-111, in overtime on Sunday afternoon at Rocket Arena. “It’s upsetting,” said star guard Donovan Mitchell. “It’s stuff that we can control. I’m not going to use the word concern.”

Despite another injury scare — as in seeing Brandon Miller head to the locker room early in Sunday’s second half — the Hornets not only beat one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference in a gutsy 119-111 overtime victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, they wound up retaining the services of Miller instead of losing him to injury.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/hornets/onsi as How Charlotte Hornets can get involved in hypothetical Anthony Davis mega trade. In 2012, the Charlotte Hornets were absolutely robbed of a chance to draft Anthony Davis. Now, all these years later, he's still a superstar, and he's potentially available in a trade.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., December 12, 2025 – Hornets Sports & Entertainment (HSE) and Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) today announced a multi-year strategic partnership that designates Honeywell as the Official Building Automation Partner for the Charlotte Hornets.

Although they've struggled to rack up wins amid injuries, the Charlotte Hornets have enjoyed early success from their most recent rookie class.