NBA Rumors: Mavs’ big swing, Hornets locked in at No. 2, Russell talking too much

NBA rumors: Hornets likely prefer Brandon Miller over Scoot Henderson

The NBA Draft starts with the Charlotte Hornets in the No. 2 slot. It is a foregone conclusion that Victor Wembanyama will go first overall to the Spurs, but there has been serious debate over who the Hornets should select afterward: Brandon Miller or Scoot Henderson.

For now, Miller appears to be gaining steam. At 6-foot-9, Miller was the most productive freshman in college basketball for the best regular season team in college basketball. His blend of size, shooting, and playmaking presents a relatively high floor. Meanwhile, the Hornets could view the positional overlap between Henderson, a ball-dominant point guard, and LaMelo Ball as a serious deterrent.

According to Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, members of the Charlotte front office believe Miller “can be a star.” Scouts at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago last week expressed the opinion that people made up their minds about Scoot Henderson too early following his dominant showing against Victor Wembanyama and Metropolitans 92 in October. Henderson dealt with an injury and shot below 30 percent from deep with the G-League Ignite last season.

Miller is the cleaner fit for Charlotte, giving them positional versatility and reliable shooting while still offering upside as a creator in the halfcourt. Miller made some tremendous passing reads at Alabama and he became more comfortable attacking the middle of the defense as the season progressed. If he can become more efficient at the rim, there aren’t many holes to poke in his game.

For more information on the 2023 NBA Draft class, read our latest Big Board and Mock Draft.