Zach Lowe named Brandon Miller among the extension negotiations he is watching. Miller became eligible July 1 and is due $15,104,626 next season.
Zach Lowe named Charlotte Hornets wing Brandon Miller among the extension negotiations he is watching this summer during a recent episode of his podcast.
"I think Brandon Miller will be an interesting negotiation because when healthy, he has the kind of rising track record and positional flexibility that you would typically go in and be like, 'Franz Wagner got the max. I'll get the max, too,'" Lowe said.
Miller could sign a rookie extension starting July 1, with the window closing before the Hornets' 2026-27 season in October. If no deal is reached, he's a restricted free agent in summer 2027, with Charlotte holding matching rights and a qualifying offer around $21.2 million.
Speaking Saturday, Hornets president of basketball operations and general manager Jeff Peterson confirmed the two sides have been in contact, per Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer.
"I've had conversations with Brandon and his representation," Peterson said. "They know that we want Brandon here for a very, very long time. I won't get into particulars. Bottom line is we want Brandon Miller here for a very long time."
Later in the same segment, Lowe turned to Miller's availability.
"The Hornets are run pretty well and understand the leverage they'll have in restricted free agency, but Brandon Miller's last 30-40 games... not a coincidence that the Hornets' surge really started when he became healthy, available, and productive consistently," Lowe said. "He was not far from being THAT player we only saw for 30 or 40 games, so take it with whatever grain of salt you want... he was not far from, 'Should he be in the All-NBA Third Team just fringe conversation at least?' So he's on my list."
Charlotte opened last season 4-14 through late November. Between January and February, the Hornets won nine in a row, the longest winning streak of the franchise's current incarnation. An April 3 win over Indiana clinched Charlotte's first winning season since 2021-22, and a play-in berth followed on April 10. The Hornets finished 44-38 and ninth in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte beat Miami 127-126 in overtime in the 9-10 game at Spectrum Center, then lost 121-90 at Orlando in the 8-9 game.
Miller appeared in 65 games and averaged 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.0 steal in 30.3 minutes. He shot 43.5% from the field, 38.3% from 3, and 89.2% from the free-throw line. The 3-point mark was a career high.
A wrist injury ended his second season after 27 games. Five quarters into his third season, Miller left with a left shoulder subluxation and missed nearly a month. In May, the Hornets said he had surgery for left shoulder instability, leading to a second offseason of rehab.
Orlando picked Wagner eighth in the 2021 draft. He agreed to a five-year, $224 million rookie max extension in July 2024, potentially reaching $269 million with All-NBA honors. Before signing, he averaged 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists.
Charlotte reshaped the roster around Miller this offseason. The Hornets traded LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three future first-round pick swaps, and three future second-round picks. Miles Bridges went to Phoenix for Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale. Coby White re-signed, and Dorian Finney-Smith arrived from Houston. Hornets coach Charles Lee is expected to start White, Miller, Kon Knueppel, Reid, and Moussa Diabaté.
Miller was the second overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Alabama and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting. Through 166 career games, he has averaged 19.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.
Miller is due $15,104,626 in the final season of his rookie contract.
