NBA Draft: There’s only one direction the Hornets should go with No. 2 pick
Almost every conversation about it starts off the same, leading to an identical conclusion.
By the time the lengthy diatribe is over and the pros and counterpoints are laid out, there are three words that roll off the tongue with nary a sigh, a phrase that may be heard frequently during the coming days after the conclusion of Thursday night’s NBA Draft.
“You’ve convinced me.”
See, ever since the ping-pong balls were pulled out of the hopper in a guarded Chicago ballroom last month, awarding the second overall pick to the Charlotte Hornets, the attention has focused squarely on two individuals: Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller.
Henderson and Miller are the unquestioned early leaders in the proverbial clubhouse, hanging out by the door until one is virtually tapped on the shoulder by the Hornets, described as the next best thing to don the purple and teal. There hasn’t been a whole lot of separation between the two during the process, and the Hornets wanted to get a good look at both of them more than once, which is why Henderson and Miller were summoned to Charlotte again on Monday for another workout in front of Michael Jordan days after he agreed to sell a majority stake in the team.
If it’s really that close between the duo, unlike what some like my colleague Scott Fowler may believe, to me there’s only direction the Hornets should go when the clock inside the Barclays Center hits zeros and it’s their turn: draft Henderson.
With Victor Wembanyama’s destination sewed up and the French phenom headed for San Antonio, Henderson’s landing path is generating the most interest leading into draft night. He’s been on a two-year journey with the G League Ignite and was considered by many to be the second-best player in the draft behind Wembanyama until Miller’s hard charge thanks to a strong freshman season at the University of Alabama.
Rumblings regarding other team’s interest in Henderson should only strengthen the argument for the Hornets to pick Henderson. The buzz centering around the native of Marietta, Ga., has to be good for any team’s bottom line, and a large swath of Charlotte fans deeply desire to have Henderson teamed alongside LaMelo Ball.
There’s been plenty of discussion about fit and which player can make more of a seamless transition into complimenting the Hornets’ All-Star point guard, leading to Miller becoming the favorite in the minds of some because he’s more of a shot-maker. But the Hornets have other things to consider as they decipher what to do.
While selecting Henderson would likely necessitate moving Terry Rozier during the offseason, Miller’s presence would spawn even more roster shuffling. What happens with Gordon Hayward, who will be in the final year of his contract and is owed $31.5 million? And how does Miles Bridges fit into the picture? How about Bryce McGowens? What happens with Cody Martin?
Right about now is when those three words enter the chat.
“You’ve convinced me.”
So, the Hornets should just take Henderson. If things don’t work out and for some reason he’s not compatible enough with Ball, a trade in a year or two could alleviate that problem while also assisting in reconfiguring the roster around whomever they keep.
This story was originally published June 21, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
