NBA Expert Eric Pincus: Hornets Made Late Offer as Miller Sought to Surpass Thompson’s Deal

The Charlotte Hornets have undergone significant changes this offseason as they look to build on last season’s progress. But with the 2026-27 NBA campaign about to begin, the franchise has made one thing clear: Brandon Miller is central to its future.

For the NBA’s 2023 draft class, Monday 19th October was the deadline to extend first-round picks heading into the final seasons of their rookie-scale contracts. 

The Charlotte Hornets reached a significant deal with 6’7″ forward Brandon Miller at $209 million over five seasons—the second-largest extension of its kind this offseason, behind San Antonio Spurs All-Star center Victor Wembanyama.

Miller averaged 20.2 points per game for the Hornets last season, shooting 38.3 percent from three-point range on a high volume of attempts (8.2). 

The Hornets’ late-season run was one of last year’s best stories, though the franchise fell short of making its first playoff run since the 2015-16 campaign.

Still, the Hornets chose to sell high on one-time All-Star LaMelo Ball and veteran forward Miles Bridges to build around players like Kon Knueppel, Coby White, Naz Reid, and Miller. 

If Miller is meant to be one of the team’s best players, the Hornets needed to give him a commensurate extension instead of leaving him with a year of uncertainty as he faced restricted free agency in 2027.

Hornets Raised Brandon Miller Offer to $200M Ahead of Deadline

Miller wasn’t in Wembanyama’s max range of a projected $255.2 million over five years, but according to a league source, the Hornets raised their offer to $200 million as the deadline neared. 

Miller was willing to meet the team closer to its number, but it was important to exceed the extension awarded to Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson.

Thompson, No. 4 in 2023, was the best player in the Rockets’ first-round loss to LeBron James (since departed to the Philadelphia 76ers) and the Los Angeles Lakers, with Kevin Durant missing much of the series with leg issues. 

As strong as Thompson was throughout the 2025-26 campaign, averaging 18.3 points per game, he shot just 21.6 percent from the three-point line.

Miller, selected two picks ahead of Thompson, clearly felt the need to beat a player he can shoot circles around. 

Realistically, both represent the NBA’s influx of tremendous young talent. 

The Hornets avoid the inevitable disillusionment Miller would feel without a deal, while getting him at a number slightly higher than their $200 million offer.

Can Brandon Miller Lead the Hornets Back to the Playoffs?

Charlotte made significant strides last year, and while parting ways with Ball was a risk, the franchise is optimistic about the future, with Miller as the centerpiece of what it hopes will be a special season and a fruitful playoff run. 

The Eastern Conference will be extremely competitive this season, with Giannis Antetokounmpo joining the Miami Heat, Tyrese Haliburton healthy again with the Indiana Pacers, James in Philadelphia, and the defending-champion New York Knicks expecting to repeat.

The Hornets are still a developing squad, which makes the journey ahead entertaining, even if the team falls short of the postseason yet again.