Brandon Miller is a huge reason some pundits are high on the Charlotte Hornets' capability of turning things around someday. Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports even believes the franchise will be in good hands even if it decides that LaMelo Ball is not a part of its future because of Miller.
O'Connor is among those who have described the young swingman as an All-Star-caliber player, even asserting that he can reach All-NBA level eventually. He also went so far as to say that his bullishness about Charlotte's future is more due to Miller than Ball.
Folks who think the squad needs to build around the star point guard may disagree, but O'Connor asserted that while the Hornets are likely hoping that Ball can figure things out, all wouldn't be lost if he couldn't, as they then could use him as a trade piece and feature Miller as their centerpiece instead.
To be fair, the analyst brought up a sensible point. A player brimming with superstar potential and marketability has been hard to come by in Charlotte. On the other hand, Ball has not done enough to assure the organization and its fans that he can reach his ceiling in the near future.
Brandon Miller still has some ways to go before becoming a franchise savior
There's no doubt about the Miller's talent, both realized and untapped. He has already displayed elite outside marksmanship, although his midrange shooting is due for a resurgence. Perhaps the biggest knock on his game for now is his lack of tight ball-handling, an asset that could turn him into a legitimate three-level scorer.
In addition, Miller still has to refine his defense, as he has not yet fully maximized his length and athleticism on his path to becoming a reliable stopper. While there have been go-to guys in league history whose defense never caught up to their offensive prowess, the Hornets can benefit from having their No. 1 option be a multidimensional player. The good news is that Miller has been solid as a rebounder and a playmaker and projects to improve further in those areas.
The question now is whether he is capable of carrying a Ball-less franchise — if Charlotte does choose that route. For now, though, it does not need to do anything drastic, as the goal should be to determine whether the current core group, along with some future additions, can serve as the foundations of a contending team.
Besides, it's only logical for the Hornets to drive up Ball's value first before putting him on the market. As it stands now, they might get substantial offers for Miller if they make both him and the 2022 All-Star available in trade talks.