By: Jacob Moss
The Charlotte Hornets find themselves in a very interesting position entering this Thursday’s NBA draft. The team holds the second overall pick, and with generational talent Victor Wembanyama a virtual lock to go number one to San Antonio that leaves GM Mike Kupchak with a pivotal choice to make at two. Who he chooses will have a massive impact on the Hornets’ outlook, and could very well be the most important selection he makes as the teams GM.
After Wembanyama the next two prospects in this year’s draft are widely considered to be Scoot Henderson of the G Leagues Ignite, and Brandon Miller of the University of Alabama. Both players have conducted multiple pre-draft workouts and interviews with the Hornets front office and barring some massive draft night shock, all signs point to one of Miller or Henderson having their named called as Charlotte’s selection at two. That being said, the decision will not be an easy one for Kupchak as both players bring different strengths to the table and will offer different dynamics paired with current Hornets star LaMelo Ball. Both players will be in Charlotte again on Monday for a final round of workouts, and this could very well be the deciding factor on who the Hornets take on Thursday in Brooklyn.
Scoot Henderson is who many experts believe is the second-best player overall in this class. He averaged 16.5 point and 6.5 assists in the G-League last season. While only listed at 6’2, Scoot possesses a 6’9 wingspan and freakish athleticism. He routinely used his devasting first step and speed to carve up opposing defenses, while routinely finishing at the rim on much larger defenders. He was also able to routinely draw multiple defenders, find open teammates and operate the Ignite offense as the primary ballhandler. One of the only knocks on Scoot is his three-point shooting, as he only 27.5% on three-point attempts.
It is very clear at this point in his development he’s much more comfortable in the mid-range and using his elite first step to blow past defenders and score at the rim, which has served him well thus far. However, he will have to improve as a three-point shooter to in order to flourish in the NBA against tougher competition and larger defenders. There are also questions surrounding Scoot’s fit with the Hornets as they already have an all-star point guard and facilitator in LaMelo ball. The undeniable talent is there but if you are drafting for fit, Henderson may not be the ideal choice.
Embed from Getty ImagesMiller on the other hand fills a lot of the holes the Hornets have and is arguably the much better pick from a fit perspective. The 6’9 forward made his presence known last year as a freshman at Alabama. He averaged 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists a game on the way to being named a consensus All-American, SEC player of the year, and leading the Crimson Tide to a number one seed in the NCAA tournament. Miller is a great mid-range, transition, and rebounding presence who also shoots incredibly well from three averaging 44% on seven attempts per game. A potential weakness is while he does possess good athleticism, it is far from elite. He can also struggle to find his own shot at times in half court and can get lost in space. He will never be your primary ballhandler, but he doesn’t have to be in Charlotte.
You obviously can’t discuss Brandon Miller without bringing up the off the court controversy he was embroiled in this year. While he was not formally charged in connection to a shooting that took the life of an innocent woman in Tuscaloosa last December, his connection is undeniable. While he may have been cleared of any legal wrongdoing, it is a clear red flag for teams. With that being said, if the Hornets have gotten this far with Miller it is safe to say they have no concerns about his character.
So, with time ticking down and a massive decision looming for the Hornets, several questions remain. Who should the Hornets take with the number two overall pick? Should it be the electric guard with unreal physical talents, or the all-around wing from Tuscaloosa? Should they draft for fit with Miller, or take Scoot and form an electric backcourt?
My opinion is that they should pick Brandon Miller. In my opinion what Miller brings to the table fills more holes and needs for the Hornets than Scoot, and makes more sense paired next to LaMelo. I do believe Scoot overall is the slightly better prospect, but it doesn’t make much sense to use this pick on a ball dominant guard who struggles from three and hasn’t been proven in off ball situations. Brandon Miller is a very good player with All-Star potential who fills holes that Charlotte has right now, and more importantly is a much better fit. If I’m making that decision with the number two pick, I am picking Miller.
