Can LaMelo Ball & Scoot Henderson Co-Exist in the Same Backcourt?

With the Charlotte Hornets landing the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, they will have an opportunity to take the best player available after Victor Wembanyama officially heads to San Antonio.

Most around the league believe Scoot Henderson is that next-best player. The question is, will that be the direction the Hornets go in considering they already have LaMelo Ball on the roster? Or do they go with Brandon Miller, who is an extremely talented scorer and would help fill more of a need for the Hornets?

That will be the biggest question surrounding the draft over the next month. What will Charlotte do? 

Henderson recently did an interview with ESPN at the NBA Combine in Chicago and talked about the possibility of playing in Charlotte with LaMelo Ball or Portland with Damian Lillard and those are situations he can be successful in.

"I think anywhere is a good fit. I can play off the ball. That's what's so special about me. I can play off the ball, I can defend. I can do so many things. I don't have to have the ball in my hands to manipulate the defense or make a big impact on the team."

Shortly after the lottery wrapped up, Hornets GM Mitch Kupchak was asked if they would consider drafting another point guard.

“Yeah, I could see it," Kupchak said. "We’re getting a little bit more advanced in putting this team together. I think three years ago or even two years ago, I would’ve said without question that we’re going to take the best available player. That’s been our position for the last three or four years when you try to accumulate talent. I don’t think we’re where we need to be from a talent level, but we’ve got a lot more talent now than we did two or three years ago, so I think we can be a little bit picky and take into consideration not only the overall talent but also the position.”

Those comments sound like the Hornets could go in either direction. They'll take the next month to do their final evaluations, interviews, and such to determine the best option for the organization be it Henderson or Miller. 

Personally, I believe Henderson would fit in just fine with LaMelo. They can both share the rock and moving LaMelo off the ball here and there will lead to more catch-and-shoot situations, which is something he really hasn't been able to do a lot of in his first three seasons with the club. Henderson's elite athleticism and ability to get to the rim compensate for Melo's inability to consistently finish at the basket. And on the other hand, Ball's shooting efficiency makes up for Henderson's shot-making which is still a work in progress. Ball is an unselfish player. He doesn't need the ball in his hands all the time. Neither does Scoot. They complement each other well, so if it comes down to picking the best player, Henderson will likely be the pick.