Charlotte Hornets swingman Brandon Miller has been predicted to win a major NBA award next season.
Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller has been predicted to win the 2026-27 Most Improved Player of the Year award by NBA analyst Dan Favale of Bleacher Report.
The Hornets traded LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges this offseason, so Miller's offensive usage rate will be high next season.
"On the bright side, it paves the way for the Brandon Miller agenda. His on-ball usage is about to explode this side of the LaMelo Ball trade. Miller has already hit the 20-point benchmark twice in his career. But if he improves his rim pressure and/or foul rate, he's the type of player who could turn in a 28-point, five-assist season on enviable efficiency," Favale wrote.
"The half-court passing and physicality will be swing factors. Ditto for Charlotte's inclination to feature him over Kon Knueppel, Coby White, Christian Anderson and Naz Reid. Choosing him isn't just a vote of confidence; it's a bet on him establishing himself as best-player-on-a-contender material—much like Tyrese Maxey did in 2024."
Miller appeared in 65 games for the Hornets last season. 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. Hornets president of basketball operations and general manager Jeff Peterson told Marc J. Spears of Andscape that he was comfortable trading Ball because of Miller and Kon Knueppel.
Miller and Knueppel are now the faces of Charlotte's franchise after the Hornets sent Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
"I’m very comfortable," Peterson said. "[Hornets head coach] Charles [Lee] and I had a conversation with both of them knowing that these trades can be challenging. Sometimes I do think we forget that we’re human beings dealing with this stuff — lives and its emotions. Those guys are friends and they are in the locker room every day. At the same time, Charles and I kind of explained, We believe in you guys, too. You guys are here. We want to continue to see you guys grow. This is going to challenge you guys. You guys got to continue to get better.' We wouldn’t have made that trade if we didn’t feel comfortable with what they can continue to be developing into."
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.
