Brandon Miller Draft Grade Roundup
CBS Sports A-
The Hornets brought back in Miller and Scoot Henderson this week, allowing their decision to come down to the final few days. They landed on Miller in a process that has been a bit confusing. It's a unique combination of size and shot-making. He has a great midrange game, too, even though we didn't see it at Alabama. What we haven't seen yet is his finishing at the rim, and the fact that he's so lean is a concern, along with the off-the-court issues that popped up at college.
Yahoo Sports A
Prior to the NCAA tournament, Miller shot over 40% from 3-point range on seven attempts per game. The Hornets were the second-worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA this past season (shooting 33%) and could use his size at 6-9 and consistent shooting on the perimeter alongside LaMelo Ball.
USA Today A-
The national freshman of the year brings length to Charlotte, and becomes another exciting young piece for the Hornets. Miller was a clear NBA talent in his lone season with the Crimson Tide, averaging 18.8 and 8.2 rebounds per game, while also showing some range from beyond the arc. Miller has the size to be disrupter on defense, but what’s going to be the key to his success is having a consistent shot. When Miller gets hot, it’s tough to stop, and he’ll complement LaMelo Bell well by playing on the wing.
Bleacher Report B+
In the first pivot point of this draft, the Hornets went the direction most expected. Scoot Henderson deserved strong consideration here and seemingly got it, but Brandon Miller always looked like the cleanest fit in Charlotte.When teams talk about what they want in a modern forward, they're talking about a player like Miller—or at least what he could become if he maxes out his development.Miller is a 6'8" shot-maker with three-point touch, functional handles and the vision and passing arm to feed open teammates. If he hits his ceiling, he'll be no worse than a top-two offensive option.
SB Nation B
We rated Scoot Henderson as the second best player in the draft. It’s easy to make the case that Brandon Miller is a better fit in Charlotte with LaMelo Ball entrenched at point guard, but the Hornets have the weakest overall talent base of any roster in the NBA, and should not be drafting for fit. Miller is a damn good prospect in his own right as a 6’9 shooter with impressive passing and ball handling ability, but his upside may be capped a bit by his lack of elite athleticism. As long as Miller can shoot around 40 percent from three, the Hornets won’t regret this pick. If his shot slips to around league-average efficiency, it’s fair to wonder if his game is well-rounded enough to be worth this pick.
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