The Chicago Bulls decided on a clear change of identity this season. They went from an iso-heavy, half-court offense centered around DeMar DeRozan to an up-tempo, run-and-gun scheme more fitting for guards Josh Giddey and Coby White. Grabbing Duke's Kon Knueppel would be a natural next step in that evolution.
Knueppel is an accurate three-point shooter off the catch, whether on spot-up opportunities or coming around screens. Given that the Bulls attempted and made the third-most threes in the NBA in 2024-25, adding a sniper like Knueppel to space the floor even further makes some sense.
But there's so much more to the Wisconsinite's game that gets overlooked, and it's those attributes that make him an even more enticing fit for Chicago Head Coach Billy Donovan.
Kon Knueppel's understated (and underrated) skill set
Knueppel outplayed expectations as soon as he arrived on campus in Durham. He was the Robin to Cooper Flagg's Batman, and when Flagg missed the ACC Conference Tournament, Knueppel became Duke's No. 1 offensive option. Across those three games, the 19-year-old averaged 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.7 steals. He got to the free-throw line eight times per game and shot 91.7 percent.
Those numbers are more indicative of Knueppel's full arsenal.
He has a strong mid-range game, soft touch on floaters, and, despite his lack of high-level footspeed, his 6-foot-7, 220-pound frame allows him to get to the rim and finish through contact. He's a legitimate three-level scorer. But two things truly set Knueppel apart: playmaking and feel.
Knueppel shows a natural proclivity in the pick-and-roll, even if he's not an advanced facilitator yet. Where his passing shines is when the defense shifts, and his feel kicks in. He simply always seems to make the correct decision.
If defenders are too close when he curls off a screen, Knueppel attacks the basket. If help comes, he makes the right pass, whether it's a lob to a big or a spray out to an open shooter. If he gets a sliver of the right daylight, he lets fly with a quick release.
He'll struggle on defense at the NBA level to a certain extent. But he's smart, strong and has quick hands. He should be functional within a solid defensive scheme.
Knueppel's combination of size, spot-up shooting, three-level scoring, playmaking and feel is rare. J. Kyle Mann of The Ringer might have the best NBA player comp for Knueppel in Gordon Hayward. At his peak with the Utah Jazz, Hayward was a versatile scorer and facilitator who could carry an offense. Knueppel can do the same, but also found a role next to Flagg and behemoth center Khaman Maluach with the Blue Devils.
He would find a way to fit in next to Giddey, White and Matas Buzelis, making Chicago's offense even more electric and efficient. If Knueppel takes a Buzelis-type slide on draft night, the Bulls would be lucky to stumble into a future starter with All-Star potential.