Hornets’ draft dilemma: Best fit or best available?

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Scoot Henderson, a standout with the NBA G League Ignite, could be the second overall pick in next week's NBA draft by the Hornets.

The NBA draft is five days away, but the clock is already ticking for the Charlotte Hornets.

With the San Antonio Spurs primed to be the sure Victor in the Wembanyama sweepstakes, and the Denver Nuggets claiming their first Larry O’Brien trophy Monday night, all buzz is on Mitch Kupchak and the Hornets’ No. 2 pick.

Although Michael Jordan made notable headlines on Friday, finalizing the sale of his majority ownership to North Carolina natives J. Cole, Eric Church and a group of local investors, the question remains – should Charlotte draft Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller?

In most drafts, both Henderson and Miller would be shoo-ins for the first overall selection, but most drafts don’t feature a 7-foot-5 French phenom with an 8-foot wingspan and Kevin Durant’s skillset.

So, do the Hornets draft for the best fit alongside LaMelo Ball, the current face of the franchise for at least the 2023-24 season, or does Charlotte pick the best available player for the future?

Henderson, the 6-foot-2 combo guard from the NBA’s G-Leagues Ignite, is seen as the best player available with the most upside. In contrast, Miller, the 6-foot-9 forward from Alabama, has been labeled the best fit alongside Ball and last year’s first-round pick, center Mark Williams.
Here are cases for each individual, with the plan of breaking the NBA’s longest active playoff drought of seven years.

Scoot over, LaMelo

With two years of NBA G-League experience under his belt, Henderson has shown he can compete in one of the top leagues in the world at just 19 years old.

Henderson is known for his explosive first step, athleticism, and defensive prowess. With a 6-foot-9 wingspan and a 195-pound frame, Henderson has been compared to some of the most explosive players in the NBA today, including Ja Morant, Russell Westbrook, De’Aaron Fox and Donavon Mitchell.

17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game on 42.9 percent from the floor is nothing to scoff at, and it begs the question – with a ceiling as high as his NBA comparisons, how high is his floor?

The Hornets hosted Henderson for a pre-draft workout June 10, the first time Henderson and the Hornets’ brass connected on record. While the workout was private and Henderson was unavailable to the media, his G-League Ignite teammates held him in high regard following pre-draft workouts.

“He’s such a great human being off the court, he’s so humble. He’s down to earth, his family is great,” former Ignite teammate Mojave King said. “On the court, I think his game speaks for itself. He’s a tremendous athlete, a super competitor, and every time he’s on the floor, he wants to win.”

The competitive spirit is present, and the work ethic is a match, according to former teammate Sidy Cissoko.

“He’s got all the physical, God-given gifts, but he really maximizes it as well with the way he goes about his business,” Cissoko said. “He was definitely one of the first ones on the floor and one of the last ones to leave.”

The Hornets could use some continuity in the backcourt moving forward, and while a Henderson-Ball duo wouldn’t necessarily present a lethal two-man game, toggling the ball-handling responsibilities between the two guards for the foreseeable future wouldn’t be a bad option, and Ball has been excellent off the ball in spurts through his three-year tenure in Charlotte.

And if Ball, a restricted free agent following the 2023-24 season, were to sign elsewhere (if Charlotte didn’t match an offer sheet), Henderson would slide to point guard. The biggest knocks on Henderson are his height, 27.5% three-point percentage in the 2022-23 season, and his ability to share a backcourt with Ball.

Henderson addressed the ball-dominance debate following the draft lottery when the Hornets landed the second overall pick for the fourth time.

“I think I’d fit in with Melo and the way they play over there,” Henderson said. “I think I can play off the ball and, on the ball, and that’s what so special about my gift. I don’t have to have the ball in my hand to impact on the floor. I’m not crazy ball-dominant, like I’ll have the ball in my hand when it’s time.”

Think of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum trading off clutch shots during their time together in Portland. It didn’t result in an NBA title, but the Trail Blazers did make the playoffs in eight of their nine seasons together, reaching the semifinals twice and conference final once.

As far as height concerns go, there are plenty of successful 6-foot-2 guards in the league today, including Morant, Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Jalen Brunson, and Steph Curry, with the latter entering a “Strategic Alliance” with Henderson. Curry, a Charlotte native and the greatest shooter the NBA has ever seen, is mentoring Henderson and has been seen working out with him prior to the draft.

"I have been watching Scoot and his family for a while now, and I am beyond impressed with what he has accomplished thus far and excited to watch him take control of his future and grow,” Curry said in his company’s press release.

While the Hornets desperately need to add outside shooting, Henderson’s development from beyond the arc could be worth the wait.

Miller Time

Deemed the best wing prospect in the class and a knockdown shooter, Miller is considered Charlotte’s best fit with his ability to stretch the floor and find open teammates. With P.J. Washington’s performance a season ago and Miles Bridges’ likely return to the lineup, Charlotte could play an entire lineup of 6-foot-7 and up with the addition of Miller.

The Hornets hosted the 20-year-old prospect on Tuesday, according to sources, notching the second time Charlotte has seen Miller’s skillset up close, following his performance at the Draft Combine last month.

Miller’s lone collegiate season at Alabama provided excellent on-court performance, to the tune of 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game on 38.4% shooting beyond the arc. His tenure with the Crimson Tide also displayed questionable off-court decisions, as it was reported that Miller was involved in the shooting of 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris in February. Miller allegedly brought the gun used in the fatal shooting to former teammate Darius Miles, who then handed the gun to another individual who shot Harris. Miller has not been charged and has continued to address the allegations as a learning experience.

“It’s definitely a learning lesson,” Miller told NBA reporter Shams Charania. “You can clearly see that your career can change in a heartbeat. One thing I’ve learned is you always got to be aware of your surroundings and where you’re at, at all times.”

It has been reported that Miller’s agent, Wilmer Jackson, told ESPN reporter Jonathan Givony the Hornets plan to send their attorneys to Tuscaloosa to dive deeper into the allegations.

As far as the game of basketball goes, there’s no doubt that Miller’s shooting ability will translate to the next level. There is much to like watching his tape from all 37 games at Alabama, including his quick release, extended range, off-ball movement and three-level scoring.

Those skills garnered All-America honors as Miller took over the Southeastern Conference a season ago, adding SEC Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and the conference tournament’s Most Valuable Player awards to his collection.

Miller’s 6-foot-9 frame is complimented by a 6-foot-11 wingspan at 200 pounds. He’s nearly automatic with open looks and has shown flashes of shot-creation ability, which will be a crucial development point upon reaching the NBA. His NBA comparisons include Danny Granger, Rudy Gay and Paul George, and his ability to shoot over guards and use his crafty handles to get downhill make him a great candidate for any team in the top three.

Miller’s consistent improvement in his lone collegiate season gained both the respect of his teammates and competitors. Former Charlotte guard and current Maryland Terrapin Jahmir Young spoke about Miller’s game on the Highway 49 Podcast.

“A player who’s talented, athletic and can play any position on the court really. He really has no weaknesses. He plays at his own pace. For a young player to do that, it was eye-opening,” Young said of Miller following Maryland’s loss to Alabama in the NCAA tournament. “He really has no flaws in his game, and he continues to get better. I’m not surprised he’s a top-five pick.”

If Miller can put the off-court issues behind him and continue to fill out his frame, Charlotte could add a premier wing to its frontcourt and pair Ball with one of the best shooters in the class.

The pick is in

With today’s NBA featuring increased position-less basketball, it’s hard to argue that neither Henderson nor Miller would fit seamlessly in the Hornets’ rotation.

But with five picks in the draft, including two in the first round, the Hornets have plenty of ammunition to add talent to a roster that won just 27 games a season ago.

The second overall pick should be Henderson, and you can expect the Hornets to continue to field calls from around the league as trade packages develop.

Henderson’s ability to create, attack the rim and get to the free throw line make him the most complete player following Wembanyama. And, if Ball’s health woes continue into his fourth season, Charlotte has a plug-and-play point guard ready to lead the team.

Watching how Fox and Morant have led their respective teams to post-season success in recent years could be a mirror image of Henderson, who has the tools to help the Hornets win their first playoff series since before he was born.

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