The Charlotte Hornets selected Brandon Miller with the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NBA draft on Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Miller, a 20-year-old winger from Alabama, was selected over 19-year-old guard Scott Henderson.
- The Hornets were torn apart last week between Henderson and Miller, with Henderson gaining momentum at number two before the draft, league sources said. the athlete. But after discussing Henderson and Miller, Charlotte eventually goes with Miller.
- The Portland Trail Blazers selected Scott Henderson at third. Tottenham earlier selected French figure Victor Wimbanyama with the number 1 pick.
the athleteInstant Analysis:
Scouting report on Miller
Miller was one of the best players in college basketball this past season. He averaged 19 points and nine rebounds and was more dominant in SEC play. During conference play, he averaged 20 points while shooting 49 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3. Miller offered everything teams look for in great creators. He’s an impressively sized shooter, hitting a career high 3 on more than seven attempts per game. He can handle the ball from the ball screens, take out mismatches, attack the basket, and finish off the rim. Defensively, he’s a interchangeable player who doesn’t make much of an impact on this end, but he’s tough and won’t be hunted. In high school, Miller was also seen as a mid-range maestro with the ability to get up and drop shots in the middle of the field. Throughout the league, Miller is seen as a potential long-term offensive option on a good NBA team. – Everything
Scouting report for Henderson
Henderson is an explosive playmaker who will be a tough problem for defenses to solve from the first day he hits the NBA because of how perfect he is at ball screen moves. He can drag and hit buoys, he can reach the edge and finish with a power or touch, he can play slow or fast, and he can make high level passing reads. Furthermore, he will force action in transition and lead easy points this way, plus he is the guy from day one that sets the tone as the better dog because of his competitiveness and drive. – Everything
background story
The Hornets have had both Miller and Henderson in training and brought them back this week. General Manager Mitch Kupchak noted in his press conference Wednesday that he didn’t make a huge amount of money having Miller and Henderson in their second-round hits, but that ownership did get a chance to get a better feel for both players.
He answered a question about fitness versus talent at Wednesday’s press conference.
“Several years ago, (fitness) wasn’t a factor at all,” said Kupchak. “You’d always take the best player. I would say that’s the case today, although we’re close to a point in time that we’d consider appropriate. But we’re not that team that’s been in the playoffs for three or four years and you’re looking to keep a roster and look for fitness when We are not in that place now. So it will remain our decision to mean that we will look for the player who is going to have the best career overall.”
He also said, “We try to get the player that we feel as soon as you get the ball in hand, you get the best player.”
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(Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty)