Don’t be surprised if … Kon Knueppel leads the league in 3s made, Jalen Johnson is a top-five fantasy option.

Every week in the NBA is its own story — full of surprises, both good and bad — and fantasy basketball managers must decide what to believe and what not to believe going forward. Maybe we can help. If any of these thoughts come true… don’t be surprised!

Don’t be surprised if … Charlotte Hornets SG Kon Knueppel leads the NBA in three-pointers

I think we all believed that Knueppel, Cooper Flagg’s Duke teammate who went three picks later in the draft, would be a dream come true. I doubt anyone believed he would this is compatible. Flagg and Knueppel each average 19.1 PPG, though they will soon get that number over 20.0 PPG. Flagg is the better option in my opinion, thanks to rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots, but Knueppel significantly surpasses him with his high volume of 3-pointers.

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Knueppel becomes the fastest NBA player to make 100 3-pointers

Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel sinks his 100th 3-pointer in just 29 games played.

Stephen Curry and the relatively unknown Donovan Mitchell entered Wednesday with 143 3 points, followed closely by Tyrese Maxey and then Knueppel. Only Knueppel, of that group, is shooting 42.5% from range. It’s in the top 20 percent, and Jamal Murray and AJ Green are the only other 100’s to improve in 3-point shooting. Murray is great, Green is nothing short of a dream manager. Knueppel, only 20 years old, is a top-50 fantasy option. He doesn’t shoot many free throws, but shooting 88.8% doesn’t hurt.

Unlike Flag’s Mavericks, the Hornets boast other scoring options in PG LaMelo Ball, SF/SG Brandon Miller and SF/PF Miles Bridges. The four teammates who averaged 19.0 PPG this season are very different. Rookie C Ryan Kalkbrenner, on the year, should average 12.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG and 2.5 BPG. Maybe the Hornets are still screwing this up, but how is this team not better, in the Eastern Conference in general? OK, security issues too. Football is like Trae Young in that way. Still, Knueppel might average 25.0 PPG a year, and might look a little like Cleveland’s Mitchell. Think about it, Hornets. The world of dreams is counting on you.

Some thoughts

• Full disclosure: Last week’s column went a long way on why I should worry about it Trae Young if the Hawks move him. Then the Washington trade happened, and we removed that part. I tried to sell Young in a long-term goalie league, before and after the actual trade, and I heard crickets. We all know what Young does — and what he can do (defense). He can average 25.0 PPG, 11.0 APG (and 4.5 turnovers) in his sleep. The Wizards got him for less, but they have a draft pick issue: if they win a lot in the next few months, they lose their first-round pick to the Knicks. The Wizards don’t want to win much. They don’t want to play Young too much. This is bad for legendaries. Young has played 10 games so far. With 44 games left for the Wizards, I doubt he will play 40 games yet.

• You don’t need me to tell you the rest of the Hawk star Jalen Johnson it’s amazing. Did you know he has a legitimate shot to lead the league in both assists and defensive rebounds? Interesting combination, isn’t it? And it’s something that hasn’t happened before (although Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook both came close). Domantas Sabonis is the only player (since 1967-68) to lead the league in defensive rebounds and accumulate at least 600 assists. Johnson is third behind the injured Jokic (knee) and Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham in assists. Jokic may or may not return soon. Cunningham has played in 65 games once in four seasons. Johnson, who has also played in 65 games once in four seasons, has a shot. I wouldn’t have guessed that he leads the league in defensive rebounds, but there he is. With Young in DC, Johnson is a … top-five fantasy option?

• With Young dumped by the Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies PG Yes Morant next to go somewhere. The Grizzlies just want to keep going, too. Like Cam Spencer an investor in several areas, I live for this! Spencer, in his second season out of UConn, averaged 9.1 APG in his starts, and there may be a slight end to his first chance, as Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe) and Ty Jerome (calf) are not items. Spencer is a volume 3-point shooter who hasn’t shot well lately, but he was good in December, averaging 15.9 PPG and 7.1 APG on 52.4% shooting from 3-pointers. He missed one free throw in December. If he’s out of your league, go get him, because the gun will fall again.

• More Grizzlies: I’m writing a second C list Zach Edey (ankle) in the royal league and, while I can’t wait to see the potential stats of this big, big guy, we may not see him again until the end of March — if we ever do. The Grizzlies are changing. I might trade Edey in that league for some quick help (tournament flags fly forever!), which I’ll surely regret in two years. Part of me also wonders, perhaps unfairly, if Edey, carrying more than 300 pounds on a 7-foot-3 frame, can last much longer.

• I know Chicago Bulls backup PG Trey Jones will go back to support when Josh Giddey (hamstring) returns to health, but as a Jones investor, take your time. Jones scored a dream 64 points on Tuesday! He shoots and passes very well, and is a solid broadcaster, even off the bench.

• This week’s Philadelphia 76ers thought: PG/SG Tyrese Maxey you still get the traditional 30 points per night even with a C Joel Embiid in the list. Embiid looks good, averaging 27.7 PPG over the past 30 days, but Maxey is at 30.0 PPG in that span, with 5.8 APG and 2.1 SPG. He’s also getting all the 3-point attempts he wants as he and Embiid thrive in the two-man game. No, Maxey hasn’t changed. However, those who call Maxey, Embiid and SF/PF Paul George the “Big Three” should take a closer look. Rookie SG VJ Edgecombe he is the number 3 boy, not George.