Brandon Miller time for Hornets with second pick of draft

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Brandon Miller is headed to Charlotte after the Hornets drafted him second overall in Thursday's NBA draft.

Paul George is Brandon Miller’s “GOAT,” not LeBron James or Michael Jordan.

But that didn’t disparage the latter – and soon-to-be minority owner – from selecting Miller, a sharpshooter from Alabama, with the second overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Miller took college basketball by storm a season ago, becoming the first player to win SEC Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Tournament MVP in the same season. Now he will don purple and teal alongside the face of the franchise LaMelo Ball and 2022 first-round pick Mark Williams.

Miller, a Tennessee native, was the only pick in the top five to play at the collegiate level, where he started 37 games and averaged 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game at Alabama.

His draft dreams came true, even if Jordan isn’t his favorite.

“It was definitely a great feeling. I feel like Mike and LaMelo made me feel like I was at home, so it just kind of played a part of just getting drafted to there,” Miller said. “I found out literally when they were calling my name. I was still on the phone. I think my reaction was just a lot of excitement, smiles, hugs and handshakes. I knew my mom was going to cry. She was going to shed a tear, but there’s nothing wrong with crying. I think it happens to the best. I think it’s just us living slow and taking a moment while we can.”

The feeling from the Charlotte faithful was a little different.

Boos erupted throughout the Spectrum Center for the Hornets’ draft party when the selection was made, and a clear pro-Scoot Henderson crowd was disappointed. Even Hugo the Hornet dropped his head. And for a franchise that picked Malik Monk over Donovan Mitchell, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist over Bradley Beal, and Frank Kaminsky over Devin Booker, among other flubs, it makes sense why the fan base is skeptical. The Portland Trail Blazers selected Henderson with the No. 3 overall pick, as expected.

General manager Mitch Kupchak wasn’t aware of the displeasure of the crowd. He was, however, sure of Miller’s selection, and the Hornets’ front office and scouts were all in agreement.

“At the end, there was 100% consensus. Brandon was the favorite all along,” Kupchak said following the pick. “It wasn’t the easiest of decisions, and a lot of spirited discussions in the last three or four days, which I welcome. They’re both excellent players, and they will probably both go on to have long careers. But we feel (Miller) will have the best NBA career as a Hornet.”

The Hornets were pursued by “five or six teams” for the second pick, according to Kupchak. Charlotte never truly considered moving the pick and remained keen on Miller, despite off-the-court concerns.

“We’re comfortable with Brandon on and off the court,” Kupchak said. “With every pick, especially with a pick this high and this valuable, we do a lot of background work. In fact, Buzz (Peterson, Charlotte’s assistant general manager) and I went to Alabama for two days about two weeks ago. Without naming a full list of people, obviously, you can visit with the coach and the people at the university to make sure you get a good feel.”

It was reported that Miller was involved in the shooting of 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris in February, although he has not been charged. He has addressed the situation publicly on multiple occasions, stating that it was a learning experience.

For the second time in as many months, Charlotte welcomed a star from the University of Alabama as Miller joins Carolina Panthers No. 1 pick Bryce Young. But what does that mean for a Hornets team that won just 22 games last season?

Miller Time. What now?

What sets Miller apart from the rest of the class is his ability to stretch the floor. He shot 38.4% from beyond the arc in his lone season in Tuscaloosa, with 10 of his 37 games at a 50% clip or better.

He provides instant offense in a make-or-miss league that’s dominated by three-point shooting, and Charlotte made just 10.7 threes per game in 2022-23, ranking 26th out of 30 teams.

He fills a clear need, and as far as Miller is concerned, that’s at small forward.

“Definitely at 3. You have LaMelo Ball’s playmaking. I think him being a playmaker and me being a shotmaker, I think that kind of fits well,” Miller said about his fit. “Not just that, but how we take pride on the defensive side, we can really lock in and get the stops we need to win ball games.”

How head coach Steve Clifford utilizes Miller in the starting five is a point of interest. If Charlotte’s roster stays as-is, the Hornets could start an entire lineup of 6-foot-7 or taller, with a first five of Ball, Gordon Hayward, Miller, P.J. Washington and Williams. Plus, the potential addition of Miles Bridges, pending the Hornets’ decision on his future.
Miller has a 6-foot-11 wingspan and 200-pound frame, which bodes well for the defensive side of the ball. Miller can guard positions 1 through 4, as well as undersized centers. How he develops on defense will be key to coach Steve Clifford’s late-game lineups and the Hornets’ overall success.

“I know there’s going to be a lot of learning in that first practice,” Miller said. “I think getting stronger is probably the biggest thing with me. Just getting stronger and getting better every day.”

With George being his favorite NBA player, one could imagine Miller is working on his handle, mid-range and isolation game. He’s shown flashes of enough wiggle to create his own shot in college, and the pace and space that the Hornets play with makes an ideal fit.

How will it pan out? Of the last 10 No. 2 overall picks, there’s only one true superstar, and that’s Ja Morant. And even he’s had his off-the-court issues.

One thing is for sure – the Hornets are a better team than they were last season. And if Ball can remain healthy, they have a chance to break the NBA’s longest playoff drought – seven years.

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