Brandon Miller struggles again in loss to Hawks

Miller has been the focal point of the offense for Charlotte early on this year, which gives him a green light to shoot often. He is averaging 21.3 shot attempts per game this season, and while he still isn’t shooting efficiently, he was able to pour in the points in this one. The difference in this game was the free throw rate. He shot three total free throws in their first two games, far less than his 12 attempts in this one. Miller is going to continue to get as many shots as he wants until Kon Knueppel (hamstring) returns. He should be in for more big scoring nights, especially when his shot starts falling at a higher rate.

Miller had 18 points, but struggled with efficiency as he was 7-of-21 from the field and 3-of-14 from behind the three-point line. There will be better games in his future, but with Kon Knueppel and Coby White sidelined defenses will be continue to key on Miller.

The Hornets have Kon Knueppel and Coby White out, so Schroeder and now Sion James will get the start with Grayson Allen coming off the bench. Even in a start, Sion James is not a great per minute producer and will likely not impact many fantasy leagues even in a start.

Miller’s future in Charlotte is set, as he’s agreed to a rookie-scale extension worth more than $40 million per year. With the offseason decision to trade LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, the franchise has moved forward with Miller and Kon Knueppel as cornerstones. Miller appeared in 65 games last season, averaging 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 3.1 three-pointers per game.

Miller was on the court on Sunday after sitting out Charlotte’s preseason opener. He led the Hornets in scoring, and he’ll be expected to do that nightly once the regular season begins. Kon Knueppel (hamstring) is not expected to be available when the season opens on October 21, which may raise Miller’s fantasy ceiling. However, to live up to those hopes, he’ll need to be more efficient.

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.