Brandon Miller still expected to land Hornets extension, possibly above Amen Thompson’s $208 million, Marc Stein reports

Brandon Miller remains on track for a contract extension with the Charlotte Hornets, and the final number could climb past what Houston gave Amen Thompson last month, Marc Stein reported in his newsletter late Sunday.

The timing matters because the clock is short. Players from the 2023 draft class have until 6 p.m. ET on Monday, October 19, to sign rookie-scale extensions, the day before the 2026-27 season tips off. If Miller and the Hornets do not reach terms by then, he would head toward restricted free agency next summer.

According to Stein, people around the league still view a deal as the likely outcome, and some believe it could exceed the five-year, $208 million extension Thompson agreed to with the Houston Rockets. Shams Charania of ESPN first reported Thompson’s terms on September 9, including a 10 percent trade kicker and a run through 2032.

Stein framed a contract of that size as a wager on Miller’s scoring upside. He also noted that questions remain about the forward’s defense and his durability. Neither the Hornets nor Miller’s representatives have commented, and no figures from the talks themselves have been made public. Jake Fischer, Stein’s co-author on the newsletter, had reported in September that a $208 million extension was a possibility for Charlotte.

A strong case, and a health question

Miller’s numbers explain the price. In his third season he started all 65 games he played, averaging 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 30.3 minutes. He hit 204 threes at a 38.3 percent clip and made 89.2 percent of his free throws.

The concern is his left shoulder. A subluxation cost him 13 straight games starting in late October last season, and he finished the year wearing protection on it. The Hornets announced on May 7 that he had surgery to address instability in the shoulder and said they expected a full recovery.

He looked healthy in his first exhibition on Sunday, October 11. After sitting out the preseason opener with a shin bruise from practice, Miller scored 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting, including 4 of 9 from deep, with four assists in just under 23 minutes as Charlotte beat the Milwaukee Bucks 105-90. The Game Center has the full box score.

With the franchise reshaping its roster around Miller and Kon Knueppel, a long-term commitment would settle the biggest contract question facing the front office before opening night.

What comes next

The Hornets visit the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, October 14, at 7:30 p.m. ET in their next preseason game (Game Center). The extension window closes five days later, on Monday, October 19.