It’s official; the Charlotte Hornets will be selecting with the second-overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft after starting the night with a 14% chance of acquiring the number one selection. As always, being so high in the lottery will give Charlotte the opportunity to add a talent that has genuine upside and a potential All-Star future, should they develop him right.
Given that Victor Wembanyama will undoubtedly be the number-one selection, the Hornets will likely be acquiring Brandon Miller to bolster their frontcourt – as Kevin O’Conner predicts in his latest draft big board for The Ringer. Miller is a one-and-done prospect who has exploded up the draft board throughout the season, courtesy of some stellar performances for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
In 37 collegiate games this season, Miller is averaging 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting the rock at a 43% clip from the field and 38.4% clip from the perimeter – also hitting 85.9% of his free-throw attempts.
Why the Hornets will change course
Miller, 20, has the potential to develop into a legitimate two-way wing, capable of being a playmaker, three-level scorer, and lockdown wing defender if he maximizes his potential. However, when selecting a prospect so high in the lottery, you have to ensure there is enough playing time to aid their development.
Fortunately, Miller is capable of playing three positions on the floor: shooting guard, small forward, and power forward. It’s that type of versatility that will give Steve Clifford an opportunity to be fluid with his lineups and ensure Miller gets all the opportunity he requires to develop into a genuine running mate for LaMelo Ball.
With an underperforming roster, an injury-prone star wing, and developing talent at the center and shooting guard positions, the Hornets are in a desirable starting position for a rebuilding project that will feature LaMelo at its core.
So, with Miller’s potential addition in mind, here are three ways that the Hornets’ second-overall draft selection will alter their off-season plans.
3. Charlotte flips their other draft picks in a trade
Now that the dust has settled on the draft lottery, we know that the Charlotte Hornets boast the following picks: 2nd, 27th (via Denver), 34th, and 39th (via Utah). Four draft selections may be deemed too many by the front office, and rightfully so. After all, you already have some young talent that needs developing on the roster: think James Bouknight, Mark Williams, and Kai Jones.
As such, it would make sense for the Hornets to see what the trade market looks like for a package involving any and all picks that don’t reside in the top two. With the new CBA set to take effect this summer, there will likely be multiple teams that are looking to reshape their current rosters and acquire cost-controlled talent for the coming years.
It’s also true, that when looking at Charlotte’s current roster, a ‘young veteran’ could be exactly what the team needs to add some upside and immediate impact into their rotation. Hopefully, there will be some teams that have given up on developing a recently acquired prospect and are willing to hit the reset button by swapping them for draft picks: similar to what the Golden State Warriors did when they moved on from James Wiseman at the February 9 trade deadline (only they did it to bolster their rotation with proven talent, not draft assets.)
2. The Hornets set their sights on high upside trade targets
In recent weeks, the Charlotte Hornets have been floated in rumors regarding both Deandre Ayton and Jonathan Kuminga, with the notion being that the front office are looking to equip their roster with young, high-upside talent.
Now that the Hornets have their place among the top-two in the draft lottery confirmed, it would make perfect sense if Kupchak began searching for additional young talent that’s available via trade. With LaMelo and (potentially) Miller on their roster, a player like Ayton or Kuminga would give the roster a dynamic two-way skillset, while allowing the team to grow and develop in the coming seasons.
Currently, the Hornets are armed with multiple draft picks and some talent that has value around the NBA – such as Terry Rozier. With a player of Miller’s potential set to walk through the doors at the Spectrum Center, re-aligning the roster to fit his and LaMelo’s timeline is a move worth making.
After all, Charlotte has floundered in NBA purgatory for long enough, and now, they have a genuine shot at building a young roster that can develop into a genuine threat in a few years time.
1. The Hornets move on from Gordon Hayward
Gordon Hayward has struggled with injury throughout his tenure with the Charlotte Hornets, missing a minimum of 30 games per season over his first three years with the team. Assuming that the Hornets do draft Brandon Miller, it would make sense for Mitch Kupchak to explore avenues to potentially move on from Hayward.
The primary reason for this would be that both Miller and Hayward have a similar skillset, and while it’s clear the former All-Star’s game is more refined, the incoming rookie would benefit from absorbing Hayward’s minutes on the floor.
Of course, finding a team to take over the final year of Hayward’s contract – which is set to be in the region of $31.5 million – won’t be an easy task. However, a franchise that is entering a rebuild, or one that has cap space, would both be logical trade partners. The downside to moving on from a veteran like Hayward, is that Charlotte would likely have to part ways with some future draft assets or a couple of player prospects to entice a team to eat such a hefty cap hit.
Nevertheless, if the Hornets believe they have a potential All-Star wing in Miller, we can expect them to create a path to legitimate playing time for him in the 2023-24 season, regardless of who he usurps in the rotation.