So…Scoot Or Brandon Miller?

Yes, the 2022-23 NBA season just ended on Monday…but that doesn’t mean the speculation that surrounds the league ever ends.

In fact, it’s officially draft season.

The No. 1 selection has been a foregone conclusion since even before the season began, with French center Victor Wembanyama primed to join the San Antonio Spurs with the top pick. But who gets picked after the Frenchman is anybody’s guess.

For much of the season, G-League Ignite star guard Scoot Henderson appeared to be penned in as the likely option at No. 2. But, with the Charlotte Hornets obtaining the No. 2 pick through the lottery, and already set with a ball-dominant guard in LaMelo Ball, former Alabama forward Brandon Miller’s name has risen the draft board, even slotting in as the No. 2 selection on several mock drafts.

It’s another example of the age-old question of whether a franchise should pick the best player available or fill needs within its current roster. Both options have had extreme consequences in certain cases.

Henderson is without a doubt the most athletic prospect in the draft class, with his speed and explosiveness standing out to NBA scouts. He follows a model set by guys like Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and Ja Morant, using his speed, strength and athleticism to impact the game. Much of his offensive arsenal is based around those key attributes, as he does most of his damage on drives and around the rim.

There are questions surrounding Henderson’s court vision and shooting ability, as well as his attention to detail on the defensive end, but he’s shown improvements in those areas over time during his two-year stint with G-League Ignite. Me personally, I would take Henderson with the No. 2 pick, just based on his physical gifts and mentality.

Then, there’s Miller, a lengthy, three-level scoring forward who can create his own shot with relative ease. Miller was by far the best freshman in the country for Alabama last season, aiding the Crimson Tide to the SEC regular season and tournament titles and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament behind 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Despite being a freshman, Miller ranked third nationally in box plus/minus (12.0) and 10th in win shares (7.0) en route to earning the SEC Player of the Year and a consensus All-American nod.

Miller struggled mightily during the NCAA Tournament however, with the Crimson Tide bowing out in the Sweet 16 while he averaged just 9.3 points per game on shooting splits of 20/16/80. To be fair, Miller was battling through an ankle injury during the postseason run, but the late-season struggles were still concerning to say the least. It’s also hard to talk about Miller without acknowledging the legal troubles he found himself engulfed in during the season, though he was never formally charged with any crime, and it doesn’t appear that his draft stock will be impacted at all.

Regardless of where they land, whether that be Charlotte, Portland or elsewhere, both Henderson and Miller are primed to have excellent NBA careers, though.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Scoot Henderson