Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor and No Ceilings’ Corey Tulaba discuss if Charlotte Hornets rookie standout could be the best rookie from this stellar NBA class. Check out the full conversation on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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Video Transcript
Still number one.
Things get interesting at number two.
San Antonio Spurs, I said at the time I would have traded down, not taken Dylan Harper.
I would have targeted Kon Knipple.
I think today they would take Kon Knipple over Dylan Harper.
So we’re taking Kon Knipple- I love it with the second pick for the San Antonio Spurs.
I think if they could redo it, they would.
That is not to say Dylan Harper wouldn’t have been better long-term.
There’s a chance of that.
Sure.
Dylan Harper is a great downhill attacker, active defender.
We’ve seen how he can look on nights where his shot is falling.
Mm-hmm.
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But it’s not always.
If the Spurs, a team that does have some iffy shooters, had Kon Knipple, who’s made 40% of his threes on eight attempts per game, one of the best shooting seasons we’ve ever seen- from a young player, from anybody ever.
Yeah.
If Kon Knipple was added to this team, with his shooting only- it would be additive.
Yeah.
Not to mention his pick and roll creation ability, his ability in two-man actions and dribble hand-offs, and the fact that he can play on ball and off ball, and make good decisions as a passer- Strong and finish at the rim.
He’s strong.
He would fit in defensively with that team as well.
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Yeah.
I, I, I think the Spurs would be more so the favorites over the Thunder simply if they had Kon Knipple, who has been one of the 40 or 45 best players in the NBA this year as a rookie.
He’s been one of the best play- h- 50 best players in the league.
So I’d say Knipple over Dylan Harper today.
Would you agree with that though, Corey?
I had Kon at number two.
Okay.
I- So we’re on the same page still and I’ve flirted with Kon even, like, for a second I was like, “Could Kon be the best player in this draft- He- when we look back?”
Th- that’s a legitimate question.
Is there a chance of that because his shooting ability is that special and because he’s shown what he can do on ball?
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Do you think there is an actual real chance of that?
I do.
Really?
I do think that.
I, I- You’d go that far?
I think if you were like, you are our Luka-Harden heliocentric guy, like, his peak, like, I don’t know, could he be a 27, 28, 8 and 8 guy?
Could he?
He could, I think.
I mean, you know, like- you know, he’s shorter than Luka, right?
But- Mm-hmm he, he’s so comfortable with the ball in his hands, he’s so smart.
And, like, he’s gonna get better.
So, like, what does better look like when you’re already a 50, 40, 90 guy?
You know?
Like- I know.
You know?
Like, he’s gonna- His He’s going to, whatever- It’s interesting team he’s on, you’re gonna have an elite offense, a, a chance at having an elite offense.
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So, just the play-making feel, the vision, the comfortability, the, And the fact that he has held up defensively, you know?
It’s this, “Oh, he’s slow-footed, and this.”
It’s like, no, he’s just smart.
He, and he moves well, and he’s strong.
And he just knows when to contest.
Like, he’s a two-way guy.
I think there’s a chance