Despite their struggles, the Charlotte Hornets still have a bright future due to the high overall level of talent on their roster. LaMelo Ball is an All-Star and even All-NBA caliber point guard, Mark Williams is a physical anomaly on the interior as a rebounder and rim-runner, and Miles Bridges brings consistent production as a scorer and playmaker while being as durable as any player in the association.
The final member of the Hornets' "core four" players is of course Brandon Miller. The second year wing was having quite a solid sophomore year up until an unfortunte ligament injury in his right wrist forced him to get surgery in January. That injury will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the 2024-25 season, but he should be ready to pick up where he left off by this coming fall.
Before he even stepped foot on an NBA court for the first time, we knew what to expect from Miller's game. The fact that he has been an admirer of Paul George for years is well-documented, and we see it in how he plays. Brandon brings strong ball-handling and shot-making abilities along with an elite feel for the game to the court. The way he can spot up from anywhere on the floor and get to the rim at will is reminiscent of the nine-time All-Star.
The Hornets should want to run even more of the offense through Miller
So what is the key to him reaching another level? The answer could be to simply feature him even more heavily and run even more of the offense through him going forward. LaMelo Ball seems to be more than happy coexisting with Miller, and letting both of their individual talents shine in their own way as the top offensive options on this team.
Coming into the season, Miles Bridges shared a sentiment about how he wanted to take something of a back seat to Brandon and LaMelo, and let them "do most of the scoring." That was certainly materializing early in the year, as evidenced by games like the Nov. 21 win over the Detroit Pistons, where Miller and Ball combined for 73 points. It was the first time in Hornets franchise history that two teammates both scored 35+ in the same game.
Positionally, I believe the conversation is a bit overblown. Miller playing the two or the three does not make all that big a difference in the league today, given how similar the roles are. Let him keep taking the three-point shots Charles Lee wants to generate for him, but also let him maintain his roots and give him free rein in the offense to slash and get to the bucket for some of those trademark poster dunks. And where necessary, implement the in-between game as well, which he does so well.
This is what will allow Miller and Charlotte as a whole to be at their best. The title-winning teams in the NBA today are often marked by an elite wing player producing at a high level. If Brandon can keep progressing in this way, it will do a lot for the team's long-term vision.