Given the former Alabama Crimson Tide’s outstanding small forward’s deeply problematic background, should the Charlotte Hornets draft Brandon Miller with the second pick in the 2023 NBA Draft? One’s response largely depends on how he views the legal and character questions surrounding Miller. Without question, Brandon Miller is connected to the shooting death of Jamea Jonae Harris, a 23-year-old mother, on January 15, 2023.
While I have expressed public and private outrage about Brandon Miller’s involvement in this young mother’s death and Alabama head coach Nate Oats’, the University of Alabama’s and the University of Alabama’s athletic department’s handling of this crucial issue, if the Hornets’ leadership is willing to accept Miller’s past conduct and continued legal questions, then taking him with the second pick will add an exceptional basketball player to the team.
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Related: Should the Hornets tank for Victor Wembanyama?
Hornets Draft Brandon Miller?
Given that the San Antonio Spurs have already committed to selecting Victor Wembanyama with the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Wembanyama pairing with LaMelo Ball is no longer possible. We can now only imagine such a pairing with LaMelo Ball. Even though some wish for the Hornets to select Scoot Henderson over Brandon Miller, Miller is the second-best player in the 2023 NBA Draft. As an Arkansas Razorback fan situated in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), I have had an opportunity to watch most of Miller’s games. He will inevitably be a star in the NBA.
Although Wembanyama is rightfully receiving significant attention, Brandon Miller’s talent merits almost as much as Wembanyama’s. He’s that skilled of an athlete. Having someone like Miller who can play elite offense and defense can help take the Hornets to the next level. We’re all familiar with what happens to the Hornets when LaMelo Ball is out of the lineup battling injuries; the team suffers mightily without Ball. While I am not suggesting that the Hornets can be an effective team with Miller in the lineup without Ball, I assert that Miller dramatically increases their chances of winning games when Ball cannot play.
In his one season at Alabama, Sports Reference divulged that Brandon Miller, the 6’9, 200-pound small forward, averaged 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Miller shot 43% from the field, 38.4% behind the 3-point line, and 85.9% at the free-throw line. If Wembanyama were not in the 2023 NBA Draft, Miller’s talent would command sports media’s primary focus.
