Not much has gone right for the Hornets this season, but Brandon Miller is looking like a solid choice with the No. 2 pick in last year’s draft, writes Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer. The 21-year-old forward out of Alabama may not be part of the Rookie of the Year discussion, but he quickly won a starting job and is averaging 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists through 29 games.
“It doesn’t even feel like he’s a rookie,” teammate Miles Bridges said. “He knows the insides and outs of the game. He plays with amazing pace, which is not something that a rookie plays with. So he’s been very good with us and he’s going to be great within the next few years and I’m just excited to see how he grows.”
Along with making the adjustment to the NBA, Miller has been forced to take on different roles as the Hornets deal with a constant string of injuries. The team didn’t expect him to be a featured part of its offense so soon, but the absences of LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward and others have made it necessary.
“With all the injuries he’s become more of a primary scorer,” coach Steve Clifford said. “He gets more play calls and also the other part of it now is with these other guys being out, he’s getting more primary defenders guarding him.”
There’s more from Charlotte:
- The Hornets’ injury list got larger when P.J. Washington left Friday’s game at Chicago at the end of the first quarter, Boone notes in a separate story for the Observer. Washington landed on Nathan Mensah’s foot and had trouble putting weight on his right leg.
- Cody Martin made his second consecutive start Friday night, Boone adds. Martin’s role has been expanding since he returned to the lineup two weeks ago after a nearly year-long absence due to arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. “He’s made a big difference for our team,” Clifford said. “Our defense has gotten a lot better and he’s a professional player. So, I think it’s going to take him a little time to get back to what he’ll do. But he’s worked so hard. He’s done everything he can do since he’s been out.”
- The Hornets have been stuck in 13th place for much of the season, but they haven’t given up on the possibility of reaching the play-in tournament, Boone states in another piece. Charlotte is six games behind 10th-place Chicago, and the players believe they can make a move once the roster is closer to full strength. “It’s the beginning of January,” Bridges said. “We have a big month here, build off that in February and we could be in play-in talk. So we just want to continue to get better.”
“the absence of Gordon Heyward”… The most accurate Gordon Heyward statement.
Wonder if Charlotte will do anything at all to build around LaMelo and Miller?
Hornets haven’t been involved in a major trade (excluding small salary dumps and stupid second round pick swapping) since the Gordon Hayward dump back in November 2020 which was just 2 weeks after they drafted in LaMelo.
So it’s fair to say they’ve done literally nothing so far in terms of actually identifying the right players and trying for them to build a roster around their franchise piece.
I’d like to see them get Santi Aldama, he’s stuck behind JJJ in Memphis, but I really like his game. 7 foot PF, can shoot the 3, rebounds well, passes really well and doesn’t give the ball over very much.
Jalen Suggs is another guy I think could be a good trade target. 6’5 can play PG or SG, on ball or off ball. Improving as a shooter but a feisty defender that’s always competing. That would pair well with LaMelo who’s also got that combo guard size but is sometimes lacking on defence.
I know I might get roasted for this but James Wiseman. Think he’s still got a lot in the tank and just needs the right team and right opportunity to prove himself. 6’11 with a good shooting touch just needs to stay healthy and contribute a little more on defence.
Looking ahead to the draft there’s not a bunch of great obvious takent this year. Not to say there’s not good players but I think it’s definitely more of a draft and develop kinda year. There’s a lot of wings this year aswell, if I’m the hornets I wouldn’t be against giving away this years first if something good was proposed, and if you do plan on keeping it, I like the look of Nikola Topic
With how he’s playing, Jalen Suggs might honestly be untouchable at this point.
Untouchable might be abit to far but I definitely see where your coming from
Hornets in the lottery again …..
Hornets need to tank this season and draft a star level prospect…
They need someone to elevate this team above what it’s current core can do… They don’t have the assets for a trade…
Actually I don’t think the Hornets need too much, I think they are heading in the right direction. Sometimes you just get hit with injuries. It would be best for the future if they miss the play in and get a lottery pick next year. Trade Hayward, he’s always hurt you need availability first and foremost. A lottery pick big paired with Miller and LaMelo would immediately pay off in my opinion. So I wouldn’t worry too much about this season for the rebuild.