CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Hornets have settled the future of their top young scorer, agreeing to terms with Brandon Miller on a $209 million extension that runs five years, two days before the team tips off its season.
The deal is a rookie-scale extension, the type teams give to former first-round picks before they reach restricted free agency. The team had not formally announced the agreement as of Monday, and word of the terms came from a person familiar with the talks who was granted anonymity because nothing was official yet. A league source separately confirmed the extension.
Miller arrived in Charlotte as the second overall pick of the 2023 NBA draft, taken one spot behind Victor Wembanyama of San Antonio. Now 23, the 6-foot-7 wing is heading into his fourth NBA season.
His production has climbed steadily. Across three seasons he has put up 19 points a night, along with 4.6 rebounds and 3 assists, and hit 37.3% of his 3-point tries. Last season, while playing through a shoulder injury, he raised his scoring to 20.2 a game, with 4.9 boards and 3.3 assists on top, and made 43.5% of his field goal attempts.
That run helped push the Hornets into the NBA Play-In last spring, with Miller teaming with rookie Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball during a strong second half.
The roster looks different now. Ball has been traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and forward Miles Bridges was also dealt in the offseason, leaving Miller as the clear first option on offense.
Charlotte opens the regular season Wednesday on the road at Brooklyn, giving fans in the Queen City their first look at Miller as the face of the franchise under a long-term deal.
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