The Charlotte Hornets made a massive move Monday, signing their star player Brandon Miller to a five-year $209 million contract extension which runs through the 2031-32 season. Miller's deal won't begin until the 2027-28 campaign, as he plays on the final year of his rookie contract this season.
Miller's new contract is comparable to that of Amen Thompson's. Thompson, the No. 4 overall pick in the same draft class as Miller (2023), agreed to a five-year $208 million extension with the Houston Rockets earlier this summer. Miller's deal is worth $41.76 million annually and is broken down as follows:
2027-28: $44,000,000
2028-29: $41,200,000
2029-30: $37,680,000
2030-31: $41,200,000
2031-32: $44,720,000
Grading Brandon Miller's contract extension
How Brandon Miller performs this year will likely
control the narrative of this extension. If Miller is unable to make a considerable leap during the 2026-27 season, fans will say the front office should have waited to extend him next summer. If Miller performs like a franchise cornerstone (which the Hornets believe he can do), then Charlotte's executives are likely to be praised. But, considering Miller's deal comes in at about 20 to 22% of the salary cap and is well below max-level with escalators, the deal is a solid move for the Hornets. All in all, it's a reasonable contract, as Miller's upside is apparent. That said, its uncertain whether or not Miller's potential caps out as an All-Star or a potential All-NBA candidate. In his third season last year, Miller led the Hornets in scoring, averaging 20.2 points to go along with 4.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, one steal and 0.7 blocks.
Although waiting another year may have cost the Hornets more money, if Miller were to exceed expectations this season, Charlotte would be assured that their investment was going to the right player.
Overall grade: B+
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Grading Brandon Miller's five-year extension with the Charlotte Hornets
