What the Experts Are Saying About the Hornets' Draft Class
The Charlotte Hornets selected Brandon Miller, Nick Smith Jr., James Nnaji, and Amari Bailey in the 2023 NBA Draft. Most folks around the league believe it's an impressive haul for the Hornets, especially landing the former top recruit, Nick Smith Jr., late in the first round.
Here's what a handful of people think about the Hornets' draft class:
"Brandon Miller over Scoot Henderson at pick No. 2 is not what I would have done -- it feels like the Hornets drafted for fit as opposed to drafting the best player, which would have been Scoot Henderson -- but that's really the only qualm I have with Charlotte's draft. Nick Smith Jr. at 27 is great value for a former No. 1 recruit who fell because of a down year, and Amari Bailey at 41 is 20 spots lower than where I had him ranked. Also, a huge fan of the James Nnaji pick at 31 given his length and measurables."
Zach Buckley, Bleacher Report: B+ on Brandon Miller
"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. He doesn't have a dizzying array of dribble moves or the fastest first step, so his ability to separate from NBA defenders will be something to monitor. He also needs to get stronger to maximize his defensive versatility. He'll have trouble maintaining leverage against players his size and bigger until he does. Slotting alongside a dynamic playmaker like LaMelo Ball will lessen the creation duties on Miller, though, and should allow a more gradual ascension into the spotlight. I'm not convinced Miller is a better prospect than Henderson, but the gap between them is negligible."
Brandon Miller: 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."
Nick Smith Jr.: B+
"Smith is a shifty guard who slipped a little bit due to his inconsistent season at Arkansas. He'll need a little time to adjust and develop his game at the next level, but during the pre-draft process he showed an improved outside jumper and a much better motor. If he starts hitting the floater in the lane like he showed glimpses of at Arkansas, Smith could end up being a cross between Immanuel Quickley and Tyrese Maxey."
"The Hornets getting Smith with the 27th pick was one of my favorite selections. In October, Smith was in the top five of the preseason mock draft by ESPN's Jonathan Givony. As underwhelming as Smith's season at Arkansas was, that seems like an overcorrection. Charlotte was also appropriately aggressive in moving up to draft Nnaji after he fell to the second round.
"Ultimately, our opinions of Charlotte's draft will rest on the decision to take Miller over Scoot Henderson at No. 2. I'm good with considering Miller the better prospect independent of fit with LaMelo Ball, which shouldn't be the primary consideration so early in the draft."
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