Brandon Miller scores 18 in preseason debut

Given how well Knueppel played as a rookie and the Hornets’ decision to move on from LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, Friday’s news gives his 2026-27 season a brutal start. At a minimum, the runner-up for Rookie of the Year will be sidelined for four weeks, and that’s just for him to be re-evaluated. According to the Hornets, Knueppel suffered the left hamstring injury during an offseason on-court activity. His absence boosts the early-season values of Brandon Miller and Coby White while also making Grayson Allen a more viable late-round option in drafts.

Miller, who missed 13 games early last season after suffering a subluxation of his left shoulder, underwent surgery in May to address instability in the area. While he still has not been fully cleared to resume basketball activities, the 6-foot-7 wing is making strides in his recovery. “It’s going good, going good,” Miller told the Charlotte Observer. “I’m getting stronger. That’s all I can ask for. The stronger I get, the more mobile I am with the shoulder and that is the most important thing.” With the Hornets moving on from LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges this summer, Miller’s role will expand next season, raising his fantasy ceiling.

While the report says the Hornets have not signaled they’re looking to move on from Ball, that has not kept some teams from taking the initiative to see if they can get something done. According to both Charania and NBA insider Marc Stein, Minnesota and Toronto are the teams in question. Having struggled with injuries in recent years, Ball appeared in 72 games last season and was one of the reasons why the Hornets landed in the Play-In tournament. He averaged 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 3.8 three-pointers per game, shooting 40.7 percent from the field and 89.9 percent from the foul line. If Ball is moved, it would be a clear sign that Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel are the Hornets’ cornerstones.

Miller is out indefinitely, but expected to make a full recovery. He hurt his shoulder early in the season, but managed to play 65 games while wearing a wrap on his shoulder most of the time. Miller led the Hornets with 20.2 points per game this season.

Miller shot the ball efficiently and had a great three-point shooting performance on Friday. However, he was responsible for five of Charlotte’s 16 turnovers, and was just one of several Hornets to find difficulty on the offensive end. A blowout loss ultimately limited Miller to 29 minutes in the season-ending loss. Nonetheless, he put together another solid fantasy season in Year 3. Perhaps a jump could come in his fourth season.

In his first taste of the postseason, Miller delivered a well-rounded performance to help Charlotte keep its playoff hopes alive. The third-year forward was one of three Hornets players to score at least 20 points in the night, as he tied a team-high five three-pointers. Miller also made contributions on the glass and as a passer, while recording a couple of blocks to round out a very balanced effort. He’ll get a chance to dial up another strong performance on Friday when the Hornets face the winner of Wednesday’s Sixers-Magic game.

Miller and the Hornets secured the No. 9 seed in the East with Sunday’s victory, meaning that they’ll host the Heat on Wednesday. However, he may not be a lock to play. Miller exited Sunday’s game during the fourth quarter after taking a shot to the head while attempting a layup. The Hornets never officially declared him done for the night, which may be a positive sign regarding his availability for Wednesday.

Miller had 20 points, but not much else in the loss to the Celtics on Tuesday. The Hornets were 16-of-49 from behind the three-point line in this one and the 23-year-old small forward contributed to the total by going 2-of-8. Miller has provided top-60 per game value this season, making him a value at his preseason ADP.

Miller did a good job scoring-wise on Friday, but the defensive contributions, as limited as they were, are a notable story from Friday’s win. Before Friday, he had last recorded at least one steal and one block in the same game on March 6. That isn’t a strong suit of Miller’s in terms of fantasy value, so Friday’s line was a welcome bonus for those rostering him. The Hornets play once more in Week 23, at Minnesota on Sunday.

Miller got off to a scorching hot start to this game, scoring 16 points in the first quarter without missing a shot. He cooled off after that and wasn’t able to turn it into a huge performance, but it was enough for Charlotte to take a massive lead and not give it back. This came two days after he shot 5-of-13 and scored just 13 points in a loss to the Celtics on Sunday. He’ll look to keep this going into Thursday’s game against the Suns.