Scoot Henderson has spent the majority of this past season being viewed as a surefire second-overall draft pick, going directly behind Victor Wembenyama. However, on May 16, the Charlotte Hornets landed the second selection in the 2023 draft after moving up two spots in the lottery.
Now, Henderson’s chances of going second look far less clear-cut. It’s not that Henderson is a bad player or has underperformed during his year with the G-League ignite. Nor is it because his pre-draft interviews have failed to impress.
If we’re being honest, Henderson has done everything right up to this point. He’s played hard, improved, carried himself professionally, and made an impact whenever the lights were shining on him. Unfortunately, the NBA is all about situation and fit – and that’s where things start to get murky for Henderson when thinking about a potential pairing with the Hornets.
With that being said, here are three reasons why the Hornets should avoid adding Scoot Henderson with the second-overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft.
3 – Long-term fit next to LaMelo Ball
Throughout the ages, we’ve seen plenty of teams attempt to pair two ball-dominant guards together. While that strategy can be enough to get you into the post-season, the lack of cohesiveness that usually comes with two ball-dominant guards often projects as a tricky obstacle to overcome.
After all, LaMelo is developing into one of the best passers in the NBA and has a skillset designed for primetime, is it really worth rocking that boat to add another primary ball-handler to the equation? Especially when that decision could have a direct impact on the development of both LaMelo and Scoot Henderson.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported on May 18, LaMelo is likely to sign a contract extension with the Hornets this summer, which would further impact the long-term prospects of Henderson, should the Hornets acquire him on draft night.
"“I don’t believe there’s a clear-cut favorite after [Victor] Wembanyama,” Marks wrote. “There’s an argument that Charlotte should not go [Scoot] Henderson with LaMelo Ball on the roster and likely to sign an extension in the offseason.”"
Instead, the Hornets should focus their attention on drafting a player who provides upside at a position of need and whose skillset complements that of LaMelo, rather than overlaps it.
2 – The Hornets can acquire a backup guard via trade or free agency
This season, the Charlotte Hornets’ backup guard position was an area of weakness. Granted, Dennis Smith Jr. performed well in the role, but it was clear the team could use an upgrade or some added competition.
Rather than drafting Scoot Henderson to come off the bench next season, the Hornets could look to the trade or free agent market. After all, Charlotte currently has multiple other draft picks to work with, and those could be packaged together if the right deal came along. On the other hand, Mitch Kupchak will be armed with the Non-Taxpayer MLE and Bi-Annual exception – which means they could look to add a proven backup ball handler via free agency.
Perhaps one of Dennis Schroder, Patrick Beverley, or Gabe Vincent could be convinced to leave their current teams and sign with the Hornets. Or, perhaps a trade package centered around some of Charlotte’s later-round draft picks could land you a flyer. And, of course, there is the option of bringing Smith Jr. back if all else fails.
Whichever route the front office decides to take, it’s fairly obvious the Hornets will have opportunities to bolster their guard rotation outside of simply drafting Henderson.
1 – Brandon Miller fills a position of need
Brandon Miller is a versatile forward who can handle the rock, score across all three levels, and has all the physical tools to become an above-average wing defender. Given the presence of LaMelo Ball and the impressive rookie season of Mark Williams, adding a wing with genuine All-Star potential makes total sense for the Hornets’ roster.
Furthermore, it’s not as though Miller isn’t seen as a second-overall pick talent. In fact, in his latest mock draft, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer had Miller going second before the Hornets were confirmed to have the draft pick.
Adding Miller wouldn’t come without issues, though, as the incoming rookie would raise questions about Gordon Hayward’s position on the roster. Or, Miller’s arrival could spell the end of PJ Washington’s time in Charlotte, as he is a restricted free agent this summer.
However, if Kupchak wants to draft by positional fit and long-term upside, Miller checks every box – especially since the NBA is centered around versatile wings that are capable of impacting the game in a number of ways, and there are genuine questions around Scoot Henderson’s fit on the roster.