Hornets' Kon Knueppel likely to miss start of season with hamstring strain

This is a blow to a Charlotte team that needs to use training camp to reinvent its offense without LaMelo Ball, who was traded to Minnesota during the offseason .

Knueppel's teammate Grant Williams suffered a right hamstring injury and also will be out for the entire preseason, to be reevaluated the first week of the season.

Knueppel finished a close second in Rookie of the Year voting last season to his former college teammate Cooper Flagg . Knueppel, 21, averaged 18.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, shooting 42.5% from 3-point range, and was the first rookie in league history to lead the NBA in total 3-pointers made (273, an average of 3.4 per game). Knueppel showed last season he was more than just a shooter, he'll have more responsibilities in the Hornets' offense, but he won't get as many easy-look 3-pointers as he did last season without Ball's passing.