2023 NBA Draft Lottery: Hornets Face Scoot Henderson vs. Brandon Miller question after landing No. 2 choice

Photo of author

By Webdesk



The 2023 NBA Draft order has been set and the San Antonio Spurs have won the lottery – literally and figuratively – by clinching the No. 1 pick and the right to select French phenom Victor Wembanyama. But with the Hornets landing at No. 2, it threw a wrinkle in the expected order for the top of the draft, which takes place at Barclays Center in New York on June 22.

G League Ignite point guard Scoot Henderson is ranked No. 2 in the 2023 CBS Sports NBA Draft Prospect Rankings, placed No. 2 overall in CBS Sports’ most recent mock drafts, and has long been considered the second best prospect in the class behind Wembanyama. However, the Hornets already have a star point guard in LaMelo Ball.

That puts the Charlotte Hornets in position to choose between Henderson, another prospect or a potential trade for a franchise eager to select Henderson at No. 2. It will be a crucial decision for an organization that last won a playoff series in 2002.

While trading to a team with a more specific need is always an option, accumulating high-end talent is Charlotte’s path back to relevance, and keeping the No. 2 pick is an obvious way to keep a player with add a high ceiling. If not for Henderson, the No. 3 player in the CBS Sports NBA Draft Prospect Rankings and the most obvious fit would be Alabama wing Brandon Miler.

The case for Scoot Henderson

Henderson averaged 16.5 points and 6.5 assists for G League Ignite in the 2022-23 season. He made just 27.5% of his 3-point attempts this season, but had no problem splitting up the opposing defense from the dribble and using his explosive athleticism to reach the rim.

He was ranked as the No. 13 overall prospect in the high school class of 2021 after being reclassified from the class of 2022 to spend two years in the G League’s development program for elite prospects before being eligible for the draft . The program served Henderson well as he matured on and off the field, cementing himself as a surefire top-five pick in the 2023 draft.

But playing him with Ball may not be practical for the Hornets. Henderson is only six feet tall and not reliable enough on either side of the floor to be considered “versatile” at this stage of his development. That would likely mean Ball spends more time on the wing, which would be an unnatural transition for a player whose best skills are passing and facilitation. It’s not an obvious or natural combination, which is why there’s a reason to use the second pick on Miller.

The case for Brandon Miller

Miller established himself as the top freshman in college basketball during the 2022–23 season as he earned All-American honors while leading Alabama to a No. 1 finish in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. At 6-8, Miller’s height and versatility on either side make him a clear NBA talent. In fact, it could easily be argued that he would have been the top overall pick in last year’s draft.

While his connection to an off-campus shooting clouded perceptions of his freshman season and raised questions about Miller off-floor, there’s no doubting the type of player he can be. Miller hit 38.4% of his 3-pointers on 7.5 attempts per game, showing skill in the midrange and tough defense. He also led the Crimson Tide in rebounding with 8.2 boards per game and free throw shooting at 85.9%.

Conveniently, the Hornets have an opening on the wing next season, with Kelly Oubre Jr. become an unrestricted free agent. Considering that Ball and fellow guard Terry Rozier will be in the herd for years to come, Miller is a more obvious fit than Henderson in Charlotte.

Can Scoot fall further?

The idea that Henderson might fall to No. 4 seemed unlikely to enter the lottery. But with Charlotte at No. 2 and Portland at No. 3, it’s a possibility. The Trail Blazers have undersized guards Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons on huge contracts for years to come. Is there room for another little guard in the mix a year after the franchise selected Shaedon Sharpe at No. 7 overall?

If the Trail Blazers also passed Henderson, he would fit more naturally with Houston at No. 4 than with Charlotte or Portland. While the Rockets have talented young guards such as Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green and TyTy Washington, Henderson’s advantage is such that if he is available at number 4, he would be an obvious choice for the Rockets.





Source link

Share via
Copy link