Who should the hornets take with the second pick?
The Hornets will most likely be taking Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller in the 2023 NBA Draft. (Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated)
The Charlotte Hornets almost were blessed with the first overall pick, but then NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum announced they would have the second overall pick. While the Hornets won’t be getting the highly-touted Victor Wembanyama, there are still two excellent prospects on the board: G-league Ignite guard Scoot Henderson and Alabama forward Brandon Miller, who would be going first and second in a lot of other drafts if it weren’t for the French prospect. Many think Miller will get selected with the number two pick because he fits better, while others believe Henderson is the better player. Let’s look at these two players before deciding what would work better for Charlotte.
Brandon Miller: 6’9” 200 pounds, forward.
Brandon Miller averaged 18.8 points per game at Alabama. (Photo Credit: RollTide.com)
Miller has strengths that fit what the Hornets need. During his freshman season, Miller hit 38 percent of his threes on a little over seven attempts per game. His abilities will allow for floor spacing that can open up lob threats for center Mark Williams and rim penetration opportunities for forwards Gordon Hayward and Miles Bridges. He also can self-create, something the Hornets missed a lot without Bridges last season. This upgrade in spacing and scoring will allow for less load on LaMelo Ball’s shoulders.
Along with the scoring, Miller has the defensive upside you want in a young wing. His long arms allow for big steal opportunities, which the Hornets finished top-ten in last year. His thin body could be an issue in the low post, but his switchability makes him an overall positive on that end.
An issue with Miller is his lack of separation on the offensive end. He isn’t the rare athlete that Henderson is. His burst is not quite there, which could lead to poor finishing or settling for tougher jumpers. Also, he wasn’t the strongest playmaker at Alabama. NBA spacing can solve both of these issues.
Scoot Henderson: 6’2” 195 pounds, guard
Scoot Henderson averaged 17.6 points per game for G-League Ignite. (Photo Credit: The Associated Press)
Henderson is the second-best player on many people’s boards. His positives lie in his freak athleticism and overall feel for the game. Henderson shot nearly 60 percent around the rim and 41 percent from 15-19 feet. The dialogue around his shooting can be seen as overblown. Henderson can get to his spots at will and also has the ability to find the open teammate.
Henderson could get more consistent on the defensive end. His athleticism can turn him into an amazing defender, but the only thing standing in the way is consistent effort. Henderson also needs to shoot the three-pointer more. He has a shooting form that you can work with, plus the spacing he will get in the NBA will allow for that opportunity.
Due to his ball-dominant style, this may cause issues if he were drafted by the Hornets. Ball has the same gameplay and Henderson would potentially have to play second fiddle in the offense. This would really test his off-ball ability.
Now, who do the hornets take?
The Hornets are a bad basketball team. When a team is that bad, fit should be the last thing on their minds, and getting better should be first priority. Henderson should be the selection for the Hornets. Yes, the ball dominance could take some getting used to, just like every tandem of this play style that’s ever existed. The Hornets will see the merit in staggering the minutes of Ball and Henderson so that one of them is always out there running the offense. As mentioned before, the poor shooting of Henderson is a bit overblown as he has found his rhythm from 15-19 feet, plus NBA spacing will allow him to find even more range.
