Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller is predicted to take a "huge leap next season."
NBA analyst Mo Dakhil of Bleacher Report believes Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller will take a "huge leap next season."
Charlotte traded LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges this offseason, so Miller's usage rate will be high next season.
"A great candidate for a leap is fourth-year forward Brandon Miller," Dakhil wrote. "The former No. 2 pick has quietly put together three strong seasons despite playing only 27 games in his second season. For Miller's career, he's averaged 19 points while shooting 37.3 percent from three. He's coming off a career-high 38.3 percent from three on 8.2 attempts. He was a member of the three-headed monster with LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel that made the Hornets the surprise story of the season.
"This season, Miller will have more opportunities to show off his playmaking skills. He will play without Ball and Miles Bridges after already having a high usage rate of 27.2 percent. Expect the ball to be in Miller's hands more, and he can show another facet of his game that has not been shown too often."
Miller had surgery in May to address left shoulder instability. The Alabama product has been working hard this offseason in his rehab and is feeling better day by day.
Miller spoke about his health during an interview with Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer.
“It was good, it was a short surgery — I don’t remember much,” Miller said. “It goes a long way. I think with this process you always want your body 100%. When you go through a season not feeling 100% sometimes you’ve got to have a mindset getting through knick-knack injuries or whatever you want to call it. It’s just having a mindset.
“It’s going good, going good. I’m getting stronger. That’s all I can ask for. The stronger I get, the more mobile I am with the shoulder and that is the most important thing.”
Miller hasn't been cleared for basketball activities and it's unknown when that will happen.
Hornets training camp tips off this month.
"I don't know right now," Miller said. "I’m always eager, man,” Miller said. “I’m eager even when I’m not hurt. Just being out there is always a blessing whether I’m hurt or rehabbing or if I’m not hurt. One thing about me is availability. That’s all I can ask, is just availability. You want a full team available. You never know what can happen. Players can get in foul trouble, whatever the case may be. It’s kind of on us as players to be available whenever your number is called.”
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.
If the Hornets don't sign Miller to a rookie-scale extension, the small forward becomes a restricted free agent next summer.
The Hornets open the 2026-27 season on the road against the Brooklyn Nets. The home opener is against the Atlanta Hawks.
