2023 NBA Draft Roundtable: Scoot Henderson vs Brandon Miller

Our staff weighs in on the biggest debate for the Hornets ahead of Thursday night's draft.

We have finally made it to draft day! A debate that was sparked online the moment the Hornets ended up with the second overall selection in the NBA Draft has had a fair share of twists and turns throughout the last few weeks. Our staff here at All Hornets have shared their thoughts on where Charlotte should go with this decision.

Desmond Johnson:

When you're picking in the top three for the 2nd time in three years, you DON'T PICK FIT. You pick the best player. The Hornets are at a crossroads right now, they have to get this right. The right pick is Scoot Henderson. There is a reason why we're hearing chatter on teams trying to move up for Scoot. Have you heard of a team wanting to move up for Miller? 

It's not hard Hornets, a Scoot and Ball back court can be the next big NBA thing. Scoot is the clear pick at #2.

Ian Black:

Miller is intriguing, and it’s a feat in and of itself to have snuck his way into the conversation for a top-2 pick of this draft when that conversation originally seemed to have been over long ago. 

With that said, Scoot Henderson is where Charlotte should go. He’s a tone setter offensively with athleticism that won’t be denied. His shooting mechanics have smoothed over time, and he doesn’t need to be Steph Curry to make an impact next to LaMelo Ball. 

My biggest hang up is that he’s going to get punished defensively by the bigger players he comes up against. He’s an active off-ball defender, but with he and Ball sharing the court, Charlotte is going to have to put a lot of effort nightly into ensuring the back court holds up on defense.

Eric Barnes:

The Hornets should select Brandon Miller. Miller is a prototype wing and an elite shooter. He also brings fantastic play-making skills for a player of his size. At 6’9 with a 7 foot wingspan he also brings great defensive versatility. He should be able to play and guard the 2-4 spots in the NBA. It is easy to envision a player like Miller on a championship team whether that’s as the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd best player. 

As exciting as Scoot Henderson is, we have yet to see a player with his build be able to lead his team to the promised land. Russ, D Rose and John Wall were all exciting, but none ever won at a high level on a consistent basis. 

Although Brandon Miller isn’t as sexy of a pick as Scoot Henderson, he is the right pick if you’re looking to build a winner. The league is only going to get bigger.

Matt Alquiza:

The Hornets will select Scoot Henderson tonight. Shot creating and ball handling are two preeminent skills in the NBA in 2023 and pairing Scoot with LaMelo Ball will give Charlotte a talented and versatile back court that teams crave. 

Charlotte will still need help on the wings if they want to contend long-term, but the talent of Scoot Henderson is too tantalizing to pass up.

Jon Yeager:

Scoot Henderson should be the selection tonight. The leadership he will bring to this young team is just a cherry on top to the basketball skills he brings to the table. Henderson will allow the team to use LaMelo Ball's off-ball catch and shoot effectiveness to a much higher degree due to Scoot's own creation and play-making. He has indicated in interviews throughout the draft process that he would welcome playing with another star-level guard and feels he can be effective as an off-ball player as well. This was showcased throughout his time with the G League Ignite through timely cuts and dives to the rim.

His shot will need to get up closer to league average in order to unlock his full potential, but there is so much to love about him as a prospect that the Hornets shouldn't pass this up.

Austin Leake: 

Brandon Miller is a great player and has a good future, don’t get me wrong. However, Scoot should easily be the guy the Hornets select tonight. He is a generational talent and has a great motor. When I heard he measured 6’4 in shoes that was the last thing I needed to hear. It’s Scoot Time Buzz City!

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