Is Brandon Miller the Hornets’ lone untouchable heading into offseason?

Is Brandon Miller the Hornets’ lone untouchable heading into offseason?

The Charlotte Hornets won fewer than 20 games for the first time since 2011-12. They had the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference and the fourth-worst NET Rating in the NBA, better than only Washington, New Orleans and Utah.

At some point, changes need to be made.

That said, the one player that may be off limits is third-year forward Brandon Miller–not LaMelo Ball, who’s entering the second season of a five-year, $204 million max deal–according to one executive.

“One opposing executive told Hoops Wire that he’s been led to believe Brandon Miller is the lone untouchable on Charlotte’s roster,” Hoopswire’s Sam Amico wrote Wednesday. “Though he doesn’t think LaMelo Ball or Miles Bridges will be moved.

“‘No one would pay what the Hornets are surely seeking for (either player),’ the executive said.”

It’s easy to foresee why Miller would be the more attractive asset. While he lacks pure creation upside because of his average ballhandling, Miller is a sharpshooting wing with defensive upside–and is on a rookie contract. They will have to make a decision with him soon, as he will be extension-eligible after next season.

Ball, 23, has also had trouble staying healthy, only playing 70 percent of his team’s games just twice over his five-year career–and those were in his first two years. He’s played a total of 105 games each of the last three years combined, which isn’t going to cut it if you’re making $200 million in today’s NBA. You can’t build any sort of roster around a player who’s not durable, let alone a one-way player (which Ball is).

Will the Celtics move on from Kristaps Porzingis?

Miller, the team’s No. 2 overall pick in 2023, was limited to just 27 games last year after playing 74 as a rookie. Through 101 games, he’s averaged 18.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists on 36.6 percent shooting from 3-point range (7.8 3PA).

It will be difficult to find a suitor for Ball because of his contract and durability, as well as Bridges, also on the hook for $48 million the next two seasons. The Hornets are in a position where they should be accumulating assets, but they may have to give some up if they have any motivation to get off any of those two contracts this summer.

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