In LaMelo Ball's absence, Brandon Miller has emerged as the Hornets' franchise cornerstone

LaMelo Ball has been considered the Charlotte Hornets' franchise cornerstone since being drafted with the third overall pick in 2020. 

When healthy, he is one of the brightest young prospects in the league. His exciting style of play ensures there's always a stadium full of fans eager to see him play. The problem is that he hasn't been healthy for the past two seasons.

Last season, Ball missed most of the year due to a fractured ankle. The Hornets slipped down the Eastern Conference standings without him in the rotation. The result was the second overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, which led to Brandon Miller's addition. Unfortunately for Ball, this season hasn't been much better for him.

As such, Miller has been force-fed additional touches. He has quickly been positioned as the focal point of the Hornets offense and has been entrusted with some tough assignments on the defensive end. 

In return, he is providing his team with 17 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game on 43.7 percent shooting from the field and 37.3 percent shooting from three-point range.

Miller is quickly establishing himself as a young star in the NBA. Given Ball's last two seasons, he's also emerging as a potential replacement as the franchise's cornerstone moving forward. 

That's a good spot for the Hornets to be in. They have two young talents who are both capable of leading a team. So long as they can work in tandem, the future will be bright for the franchise.

However, Ball's injury issues can't continue much longer. Every season he's in and out of the rotation is another year of lost developmental time. You can only improve as a player if you're on the court. 

Miller has taken leaps in his development this season. Now, head coach Steve Clifford and his staff will hope their young pairing can flourish on the court together in the coming seasons. 

With Ball's current injury struggles, it's becoming clear that Charlotte is Miller's team for the taking.