How much does talent matter in the NBA? Surely it gets you at the door, but to stay in the league, it goes beyond the ability to put the ball in the hoop. History has shown us how intangibles such as attitude, injuries, and even the teams players end up in factor into an NBA player’s career. 

Many promising players have become cautionary tales at times through no fault of their own, but there are also those that make decisions that derailed their careers. Others were counted out the moment they stepped into the NBA, but through hard work and the right environment, they were able to carve out a career beyond their wildest dreams. 

Talent was never the issue with Brandon Miller, who has averaged at least 20.2 points per game in the last two seasons and has done so with improved efficiency. His ability to score inside and extend his range from behind the 3-point line make him one of the toughest players to defend when his offense is on point. That Miller is nearly 7-feet makes him a walking mismatch on any given night. 

However, health has not been so kind to Miller, who has missed 72 games in the last two seasons. Both campaigns ended with season-ending surgeries and even the recovery may have eaten into his offseason programs. 

All things considered, the Charlotte Hornets are more likely than not to bring back Miller and re-sign him to a rookie max extension. But, the amount of money (guaranteed or not) and contract length will depend on how this season fares. His play will obviously factor into this, but durability is the greater consideration for how much the Hornets are willing to invest. 

The opportunities are there for Miller, who remains one of Charlotte’s primary options along with incoming sophomore Kon Knueppel and Coby White. Even with the Hornets having a more loaded lineup in recent years, Miller is still an important piece in the Hornets’ future, but if the others step up and do so to the point that Charlotte head coach Charles Lee may have trouble finding minutes, a hard decision may have to be made. 

That being said, it is somewhat of a make-or-break year for Miller, whose ability to be great largely depends on how healthy he can be. It’s not as if he wants to be hurt and stuck on the sidelines for the most part, but with the NBA’s punitive salary cap rules, the Hornets would prefer to keep their flexibility as they put together a competitive roster. 

After all, availability is the best ability and there’s no better time for Brandon Miller to show that to the Charlotte Hornets than this season.