NBA Season 2026-27

[Goldstar88]

Brandon Miller and the Charlotte Hornets have agreed to a five-year, $209 million rookie-scale contract extension.

I wouldn't have signed him to that. I would have waited until next summer when he is a restricted free agent. He is not enough of a sure thing / proven player to justify that much money.

They drafted B-Miller 2nd overall behind Wemby. He has averaged 20ppg/5rebs/3ast/1stl the last two seasons and has career shooting splits of 43/37/86. Looks like a sure thing to me.

[Vermont Green]

He will get $36M in 2027-28, and go up from there.  I would sign him for that.  It is the next contract the could be a bigger concern.

[Who]

Brandon Miller and the Charlotte Hornets have agreed to a five-year, $209 million rookie-scale contract extension.

I wouldn't have signed him to that. I would have waited until next summer when he is a restricted free agent. He is not enough of a sure thing / proven player to justify that much money.

They drafted B-Miller 2nd overall behind Wemby. He has averaged 20ppg/5rebs/3ast/1stl the last two seasons and has career shooting splits of 43/37/86. Looks like a sure thing to me.

There have been lots of players who score 20ppg and have minimal impact on winning.

This is my holdup with him. I'd rather wait until next summer and take another 82 games to further evaluate him.

[Goldstar88]

How does he have a minimal impact on winning? Brandon was the 2nd best player on the Hornets last year behind LaMelo and they finished 44-38. Miller is a versatile defender at 6?7 and is improving on that end of the court every year.

[Who]

How does he have a minimal impact on winning? Brandon was the 2nd best player on the Hornets last year behind LaMelo and they finished 44-38. Miller is a versatile defender at 6?7 and is improving on that end of the court every year.

Well that is the question. How much impact is there?

B Miller has a lot of Rudy Gay type vibes about him. His defense is okay but not great. It is other players who were driving their defense last year. B Miller is just a passenger; not a driver of their quality defense. His rebounding was okay last year but subpar his first two years. His passing and ball-handling are both limited.

His shot creation is okay but not great. He doesn't create enough high value attempts. He doesn't get to the rim enough. He doesn't get to the FT line enough. He settles for a lot of 3 pointers.

His scoring efficiency is questionable. 55%, 54%, 57% last year. 57% is okay if he can maintain it. Or better yet continue to improve on it. On the other hand, his scoring could take a step back next year without LaMelo's playmaking on the court. Charlotte haven't replaced LaMelo. They are one of the worse passing teams in the league. So it will be interesting to see how B Miller's scoring efficiency does when he is likely taking harder lower quality shots next year than last year.

There are still a lot of questions there.

I'd wait the extra 12 months and see if that extra season brings more clarity to the situation. Last year was encouraging but I'd wait for more info before investing that much money in him.

[Who]

Jaden McDaniels got a 1 year $40mil contract extension. Same money as Brandon Miller. Interesting comparison.

[Vermont Green]

Jaden McDaniels got a 1 year $40mil contract extension. Same money as Brandon Miller. Interesting comparison.

That is one year added for 2029-30 at the end of his rookie extension.

Do you really think that paying Brandon Miller $36M in 2028-29 (and going up from there) is going to turn out to be an overpay?  I don't think so, even if he doesn't improve much at all (and he may not).  That is about where Derrick White is at.  There is risk that Miller plateaus, but even worst case, this contract does not cripple a team or anything like that.

[Who]

Milwaukee have waived Kevin Porter Jr.

[Who]

Jaden McDaniels got a 1 year $40mil contract extension. Same money as Brandon Miller. Interesting comparison.

That is one year added for 2029-30 at the end of his rookie extension.

Do you really think that paying Brandon Miller $36M in 2028-29 (and going up from there) is going to turn out to be an overpay?  I don't think so, even if he doesn't improve much at all (and he may not).  That is about where Derrick White is at.  There is risk that Miller plateaus, but even worst case, this contract does not cripple a team or anything like that.

Average salary of $42 million.

What do you expect for $40+ million? Should that be a top 10 player at his position? A top 10 SF? Is it okay to be a 10th-15th rated SF?

What if he is lower and more of a 15th-20th rank SF?

[Goldstar88]

How does he have a minimal impact on winning? Brandon was the 2nd best player on the Hornets last year behind LaMelo and they finished 44-38. Miller is a versatile defender at 6?7 and is improving on that end of the court every year.

Well that is the question. How much impact is there?

B Miller has a lot of Rudy Gay type vibes about him. His defense is okay but not great. It is other players who were driving their defense last year. B Miller is just a passenger; not a driver of their quality defense. His rebounding was okay last year but subpar his first two years. His passing and ball-handling are both limited.

His shot creation is okay but not great. He doesn't create enough high value attempts. He doesn't get to the rim enough. He doesn't get to the FT line enough. He settles for a lot of 3 pointers.

His scoring efficiency is questionable. 55%, 54%, 57% last year. 57% is okay if he can maintain it. Or better yet continue to improve on it. On the other hand, his scoring could take a step back next year without LaMelo's playmaking on the court. Charlotte haven't replaced LaMelo. They are one of the worse passing teams in the league. So it will be interesting to see how B Miller's scoring efficiency does when he is likely taking harder lower quality shots next year than last year.

There are still a lot of questions there.

I'd wait the extra 12 months and see if that extra season brings more clarity to the situation. Last year was encouraging but I'd wait for more info before investing that much money in him.

This sounds like the Keyonte George take. Guess we shall see what happens

[Vermont Green]

Jaden McDaniels got a 1 year $40mil contract extension. Same money as Brandon Miller. Interesting comparison.

That is one year added for 2029-30 at the end of his rookie extension.

Do you really think that paying Brandon Miller $36M in 2028-29 (and going up from there) is going to turn out to be an overpay?  I don't think so, even if he doesn't improve much at all (and he may not).  That is about where Derrick White is at.  There is risk that Miller plateaus, but even worst case, this contract does not cripple a team or anything like that.

Average salary of $42 million.

What do you expect for $40+ million? Should that be a top 10 player at his position? A top 10 SF? Is it okay to be a 10th-15th rated SF?

What if he is lower and more of a 15th-20th rank SF?

He won't make over $40M until the 2029-30 season.  I have no idea exactly what rank SF will make what amount 3 seasons in the future but it will probably be more than either of us expect by then.  This contract does not seem bad to me.  There is some risk for CHA, of course, but there is also a reasonable chance he outplays this contract.  I see him as certainly a top 15 SF, maybe top 10 by the time this contract kicks in.  In the Brandon Ingram range or better.  The extension part of this contract is right around what Ingram makes now.

He may play a little above this contract, he may play a little below it, but this contract is not going to bust their roster/cap.  Players are not looking to sign with CHA, they need to take this as a win and hope for the best.  He is not even 24 yet (close).  Better in my view then waiting for RFA.  That ends up being a quagmire a lot of the time.