Kneuppel, who suffered a hamstring strain before the preseason, is progressing toward making his 2026-27 debut. According to Lee, the second-year guard’s hamstring responded well after a recent G League practice. Next, Knueppel needs to acclimate to his teammates after the Hornets return from their road trip, which ends on Friday. Knueppel doesn’t have an exact return timeline, but managers stashing him in an IL spot should begin planning for that day.