They’ll miss out on generational prospect Victor Wembanyama, but the Hornets still had a great night on Tuesday at the draft lottery, moving up from No. 4 in the pre-lottery standings to nab the No. 2 overall pick.
Given that Wembanyama is a lock to be drafted first overall, Charlotte can prepare for draft knowing that every other player in this year’s class will be available after San Antonio makes its selection. There shouldn’t be any surprises for the Hornets, so assuming they keep their pick, it’s simply a matter of deciding which non-Wembanyama prospect they like the best.
That list figures to start with two players: G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson and Alabama wing Brandon Miller.
When the 2022/23 season began, Henderson was widely considered a close runner-up to Wembanyama among this year’s top prospects — the two players were in a tier of their own, with Henderson viewed as a prospect who would be a worthy No. 1 overall pick in most years. He’s an explosive guard with excellent court vision who can be a primary play-maker on offense and shows plenty of promise as a backcourt defender.
However, Henderson had an up-and-down season with the Ignite, struggling with his shot in 19 regular season G League games — he made just 42.9% of his attempts from the field, including 27.5% of his three-pointers. Throw in the fact that the Hornets’ incumbent franchise player – LaMelo Ball – is a lead guard and you could make the case that Henderson might not be the best match for Charlotte.
If they’re not sold on Henderson, the Hornets’ top choice may be Miller, whose stock rose substantially over the course of the NCAA season. When Jonathan Givony of ESPN published a mock draft last October, Miller was the No. 19 pick, but the 6’9″ forward had a huge year for the Crimson Tide, averaging 18.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG, and 2.1 APG while making 38.4% of his 7.5 three-point attempts per game.
In Givony’s most recent mock draft, he has Miller going to the Hornets at No. 2, writing that the 20-year-old’s ability to shoot, facilitate, and defend multiple positions makes him the “archetypal player every NBA team is currently searching for.”
While Miller is probably the better positional fit for Charlotte, his long-term ceiling may fall short of Henderson’s, and any franchise that drafts him will want to learn all it can about his character off the court. Miller was involved in a troubling story in Tuscaloosa over the winter, having brought former Alabama teammate Darius Miles the gun that was used in the killing of Jamea Jonae Harris.
Miller, who insisted that he didn’t know the gun was in the car, wasn’t charged with a crime and was described as a cooperative witness in the case. So while NBA executives will have plenty of questions for the Alabama wing about the incident, there has been a sense that it won’t hurt his draft stock.
“I don’t believe there will be any impact unless he lies in his interviews,” one executive recently told David Aldridge of The Athletic. “Integrity is more relevant than criminal friends; one we can fix, the other, we can’t.”
After Henderson and Miller, the consensus among draft experts is that there’s drop-off before the next tier of prospects, but the Hornets will certainly do their homework on a group that includes Overtime Elite twins Amen Thompson and Ausar Thompson, Villanova wing Cam Whitmore, Houston forward Jarace Walker, and Arkansas guard Anthony Black, among others.
Trading the pick is also an option for the Hornets, but Charlotte isn’t believed to leaning toward an aggressive win-now approach this offseason in the same way that the two teams drafting behind them (Portland at No. 3 and Houston at No. 4) are. I can imagine scenarios in which the Hornets trade down from No. 2 to No. 3, but it’s hard to envision them moving out of the top three entirely.
We want to know what you think. If we assume the Hornets keep their pick at No. 2 and Wembanyama is off the board, which player should they draft? Do you think there’s a different between the player they should draft and the one they will select? Would you seriously consider anyone besides Henderson and Miller? Should Charlotte seriously consider trading the pick?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to weigh in!
Go for the talent…
The Hornets aren’t in a place to be picky…
LaMelo is too often injured to be counted on as a main star… Might have to be a 6th man like Brogdon to remain healthy…
LaMelo is an All-NBA level talent..those guys never come off the bench.
He’s not All NBA yet… And if he can’t stay on the court he never will be…
His only All star selection was as an injury replacement so has never ranked in the top 26 in the league…
That’s not All NBA level…
Thats Dlo level…
Which is 6th man level with a lot of noisy hype…
they could actually trade up a few spots and get future players that could help since they have so many holes.
Trading up a few spots from #2 seems like a tall order. Might have better luck trading down.
That is what I meant trade down a few spots. They need to rebuild a few spots in the lineup and have money to spend on a free agent.
I’m just messing with you. I understood. Sadly, I have very little confidence in this organizations’ ability to draft at #2 or #12. At least at #2, they should conceivably hit on talent. Trading down puts too much of the process in the hands of those who put this organization in this position to begin with.
There’s also the chance they could even screw up the top pick if they had it.
They need to trade the pick
I would trade the pick to someone who falls in love with Henderson or Miller
Trade it first. This draft class is way hyped. The market is willing to do crazy things right now m. Dump some bad contracts and go get some proven veteran talent and real stars. Drafting has way more busts then booms.
Drafting has way more bust than booms because a lot of front offices suck. The good ones have no problem hitting more often than they miss, even with luck factoring in.
Trade the pick to whoever wants Scoot the most. Orlando has 2 lottery picks and needs guard help
Miller is the pick. Hornets have too many PGs. Bridges can be traded. Why would you want him back >>>>> to Blazers.
Hayward is 33 and should be traded too.
Miller can start from day one. Probably be ROY. Blazers would shut down the city and throw a party. And Dame would pay for it. If Hornets take Scoot …..
Never draft based on positional need, you should know that as a Knicks fan.
The Hornets don’t have a star to build around…
They are better off taking the best player available until they do have a star to build around…
Scooty McShooty
Might call OKC since they have so many firsts in their stockpile and don’t need them all.
You could get their 12 this year and 2-3 firsts next year as well. (LAC, Houston (top 4 protected), Utah (top 11 protected) and their own). LAC could end up being good since their stars are mostly injured anyways.
That’d be 3-4 firsts to move down 10 spots. I think okc would take Miller between the 2.
Blazers should trade 3 and salary for this level of young players
Trae Young
Jaylen Brown
Fox
Mitchell
Lavine
Sabonis
Jalen Brown would be a good player for Blazers. Just can’t see Celtics trading him.
They wouldn’t. Burning up Tatum’s prime years is not in the plan.
Lavine is the only one of that group that they’d have a chance of acquiring. The Kings aren’t moving any of the staples and Mitchell/Brown aren’t going anywhere. Trading for Young is insanity unless they have a plan to move Lillard. And Young isn’t someone I’m moving a Miller or Henderson for. Young has shown me he can’t win a championship.
Draft the best prospect as they see it. But if it’s close, Miller should get the nod. In no event should CHA trade this pick (except in a swap for #1 or #3).
CHA’s choice could effect whether POR looks to trade #3. I’m not sure they’re really up to trading it in any event, but I do think it’s more likely they will trade it if CHA takes Miller.
Drafting for position is what PHX did when those chose Ayton over Doncic.
Charlotte should copy the Spurs, and Thunder examples, and draft the best player available.
Which is likely Scoot Henderson.
I don’t think Brandon Miller has a higher upside than Scoot in the NBA, and since Bridges is back Miller would be redundant, where Scoot is likely getting atleast 30 games of solid minutes when Ball is injured significantly.
I can see a case for Miller if Gordon is dealt, but as of now Scoot fits, and is the richest talent
Lotta overthinking in here
Just take the best player, not every moment has to be a grand 2k moment
You build a house with bricks and this is a brick, worry about the paint later
The Hornets do not have any reason to be going for fit or fear treading on any of their incumbent players by going for the best players available…
The Hornets best players can’t stay healthy…
Let’s not forget Charlotte also (#2) has the
#27 pick, #34 pick, #39 pick, #41 pick
They can make a trade for more experience. And keep that 2nd pick. They also have good young talent. They don’t even play.
Bouknight, Jones, Thor, Maledon, Williams, and Bridges they can match offer and trade him. The choice has to be Miller. Then they can trade Gordon and Bridges. It’s set up right for them.
The best and the most controversial thing would be to trade ball for sharp and 3rd. Balls health will always be a problem, it is genetical. Trading him you getting away from trap of having to pay him max. That way you get both Henderson and miller.
Blazers aren’t trading Sharpe and the 3rd overall pick for an injury prone Ball.
Blazers probably deal #3 for a star to pair with Lillard.
Or maybe they do right by Lillard and trade him to a contender.
Grizzlies make sense. Shift Bane to sf and have a back court of Morant and Lillard.
Sacramento also makes sense. Have a back court of Fox and Lillard shift Huerter to sf.
Both Grizzlies and Sacrmento have picks and young players to deal from.
Yeah I agree with Foxtrot…
The Blazers would have to be day 5 into a 6 day bender to take that proposal seriously…
Although I do agree that the Hornets should trade Ball for all they can get for him… Now just might not be the best time whilst he’s injured… Let him show the NBA what he can do again then trade him…
Hornets should just keep it simple and draft Scoot.
Cleveland proves you can have two ball dominant guards in the same backcourt and make it work. Ball’s also a better passer than either Spida or Garland, I’m sure he and Scoot can co-exist.
Like everyone else has said, pick the best talent. Scooter is the pick. If anything, I’d move Ball and his knack for injury and clean up on some draft picks and players. Toronto for example could be an interesting destination where you could get a mix of players and picks.
The opposite approach. I like that too.
Hornets may want to trade ball to jazz or scoot.
Dump a bad contract like Gordon. He said he wants to go back to utah. Jazz get a pg in ball or scoot. Hornets get gay in return.
Also do a double dump and send rozier to jazz with 2 2nds. For Clarkson and Jones or Simone.
Ainge drafted rozier in Boston.
Hornets get massive cap space! Free agency here we come. Proven talent much better the speculative.
Not so sure jazz would do both but still worth moving Gordon at 32mm nasty contract….
Pure philosophy but let jazz draft and develop players. Rarely works!
Miller is a great player potentially for the Hornets at number two. with having lamelo ball it doesn’t seem that logical to draft another point guard unless you plan to put lamelo at the two and let’s scoot be the point or vice versa move lamelo to the two which you won’t be happy about. or they can go with a player that some people think is the better fit for the Lawrence in Brandon Miller cuz he feels a position of need and he’s not that far of a drop off if a drop off at all from school Henderson if it’s a tie between two players or very close between two players I would go with the one that would fill the need more than just taking Henderson.
Looking for insights and discussion:
Imo hornets roster is a mess. Team has issues developing so the draft is tough for them and most teams.
Trade the pick.
Use the pick to clear up bad contracts.
Free agency has proven talent versus hyped talent they need patience, and work etc
Hayward is a very bad contract.
Rozier should be moved according to hornet fans. Rozier hasn’t been playing and living up to his contract and it’s longer.
These two have connections to the utah jazz and Ainge.
Send them back over. With pick 2 plus 2 seconds
Jazz send over Clarkson gay and a third player say Jones or Simone.
Hornets has e massive cap space to chase super stars and key role players that are PROVEN
Jazz may not want rozier but maybe they do.
If not then jazz keep Clarkson and no two seconds.
Imo scoot can learn from rozier but if rozier inured then let scoot learn faster. Jazz can also trade rozier later if he is not a good fit. Attach two second as jazz don’t like seconds but it’s useful in this context. Also jazz may want to use them for their two way players.
Hayward said he want to comeback to utah.
His contact is 32mm or just under m.
Hardly plays but his numbers are not good for a contract of that nature.
Use the pick to move bad contract or contracts.
Use free agency to get brown, naz, reeves, Joel, too many to list.
No doubt the two teams can settle values with excessive picks and cap space.
Does this sound reasonable to jazz fans?
Does hornets fans like having massive cap space to find talent and build around ball?
Hornets fans prefer to keep scoot and trade ball to jazz?
Rumors say jazz looking for a pg. jazz like trades and made moves to do deals.
Does this deal work?
Maybe jordan and Ainge settle the deal with a bet on the golf course? That would be funny lol
The extensions and new CBA has basically free agency null and void aside from the Hardens, Draymonds and Dillon Brooks of the world…
Trading is going to get crazy as teams look to stay under certain cap thresholds…
The problem for the Hornets is they have nothing to build around…
Trade #2 for Steph Curry
You draft Scoot. Trade Rozier and Hayward to the Suns for Paul and Ayton (waive Paul). Resign Washington, Bridges and Oubre. There’s your offseason;
Henderson/Smith
Ball/Oubre
Bridges/Martin
Washington/Richards
Ayton/Williams
First 3 things make sense…
Suns would need compensation if they even wanted Rozier…
Washington and Oubre sure…
Bridges… The team needs to build a culture… With his violence well documented his presence on any team would leave a disjointed culture between those that want to give him a 2nd chance and those that have no time for violence against women…
Let’s not forget they also have the 27th pick. They could package both first round picks together and Trade to the Cavs for Mitchell. They could offer both picks to the Spurs for the number 1 pick. There are so many options. Another one I like is Trade the 2nd only and Rozier to The Cavs for Mitchell.