In the summer of 2023, the Charlotte Hornets were among those who vied for the No. 1 overall pick. They had the fourth-best odds of winning the draft lottery, better known as the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes.
As it turned out, the Hornets weren't fortunate enough to get the prize. As a consolation, they grabbed the next best thing, jumping past the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons to land the second pick. They had no choice but to watch the San Antonio Spurs celebrate Wembanyama's impending arrival and spend the following weeks determining which of the other prospects deserved their selection.
Fortunately, Charlotte made the right decision to bring in Brandon Miller. After watching the young swingman finish third behind Wemby and Chet Holmgren in the Rookie of the Year race, it has witnessed Miller develop into a potent offensive weapon and emerge as one of the league's top threats from behind the arc.
The Brandon Miller vs. Scoot Henderson debate didn't deserve our time
For a time, though, picking between Miller and Scoot Henderson, who eventually went to the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 3, appeared to be a tough decision for the Hornets.
Miller was one of the NCAA's top freshmen in the 2022-23 season, although his stock dipped because of an off-court issue and a disastrous stint in the NCAA tournament. On the other hand, Henderson, who skipped college and suited up for the NBA G League Ignite instead, stood out in his one-year tenure with the developmental team. He even went toe-to-toe versus Wembanyama in an exhibition game between his squad and the Frenchman's then-team, Metropolitans 92 of the LNB Pro A.
Despite the point guard's brimming potential, he didn't look like a good fit with the Hornets, especially since the franchise was building around LaMelo Ball. Many fans knew that drafting Henderson would be a mistake — and they were right.
It isn't even about fit, as the Georgia native could have probably thrived as a reserve for Charlotte. However, that would certainly not be the case with how much of a disaster he has been for Portland.
Following a rookie campaign that didn't see him crack at least the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, his numbers have either dipped or stagnated. From averaging 14.0 points and 5.4 assists per game, Henderson has recorded 10.9 points and 5.0 assists per contest this year while still shooting less than 40 percent from the field.
The Blazers have even refused to put him in the starting lineup in all but three of his 31 appearances so far. Intriguingly, their coaching staff has opted to run with a starting backcourt of combo guards Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe instead of riding it out with Henderson.
Perhaps he needs more time or a different environment to realize his potential. Whatever the case, Miller has unequivocally proven to be the better player. Fortunately for Hornets fans, they don't have to regret missing out on both Wembanyama and Miller.