Do you agree with this take?
Brandon Miller is predicted to be the Charlotte Hornets' best player three years from now by NBA analyst Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report.
Hughes picked Miller over Kon Knueppel.
"The Charlotte Hornets only have two realistic candidates, but Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller both have so much promise that this is the toughest toss-up we've encountered so far," Hughes wrote. "Knueppel is coming off the best shooting season we've ever seen from a rookie and is three years younger than Miller. What's more, the plus-2.8 Box Plus/Minus Knueppel produced last year as a rookie (while averaging 18.5 points on a 63.3 true shooting percentage) was significantly better than anything Miller managed in any of his first three seasons.
"It's still tough to downplay Miller's upside as a potential two-way superstar wing. He has the rangy frame, high-wire athleticism and self-sufficient scoring craft teams covet, along with the physical profile of a three-level scorer who, with some development, might be able to guard the opponent's top wing threat. Knueppel's floor is exceptionally high, but it's hard to argue he has a ceiling like Miller's. We're going with the riskier option and choosing Miller. The takeaway here should be that Charlotte has two great cracks at a cornerstone."
Miller appeared in 65 games for the Hornets last season, his third year in the NBA. He averaged 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 43.5% from the field, 38.3% from beyond the arc and 89.2% from the free-throw line.
The Hornets can sign Miller to a rookie-scale extension this summer. If an extension doesn't happen, Miller will become a restricted free agent next summer.
Miller has career averages of 19.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. He was the second overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. The Hornets traded LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges this offseason, so Miller's offensive usage rate will be high next season.
Charlotte hasn't made the playoffs since 2016. It will be fascinating to see if the team makes the playoffs next season in Year 1 of the post-Ball era.
It will only happen if Miller plays like an All-Star.
