In the 2024–25 season, uncertainty defined the Charlotte Hornets’ small forward position more than stability. With only Brandon Miller and Cody Martin available at the spot, the team counted on both to carry the load. What followed was a mixed bag, much like the Hornets’ season.
Between the two, only 66 games were played. Miller battled multiple injuries before a torn ligament in his wrist ended his season prematurely. Meanwhile, Martin played the best basketball of his career before the Hornets traded him.
With limited availability and shifting roles, evaluating the production at small forward is no easy task. How does the small sample size impact the final grade? And as the Hornets enter another pivotal offseason, how should they approach strengthening the position?
Brandon Miller
In the 2024–25 season, the Hornets expected Brandon Miller to build on his strong rookie campaign and third-place Rookie of the Year finish. He averaged 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists over 32.2 minutes per game, shooting 44% from the field and 37.3% from beyond the arc. With new head coach Charles Lee, hopes were high for a second-year leap.
Early returns were encouraging. Despite missing four games with a left glute strain, Miller returned strong, averaging 21.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.0 steals over 26 games. He looked like a legitimate two-way force, emerging as the Hornets’ go-to option on both ends.
Efficiency dipped during that stretch—he shot just 40.2% from the field and 35.4% from three—but the touch and confidence were evident. Miller also delivered in clutch moments: he hit the game-winner in a 108–107 victory over the Pistons on November 6 and sealed a 123–121 overtime win on November 21 with a game-saving block.
Had injuries not derailed his season, Miller was on track to make an even bigger impact. The flashes of stardom were there—now it’s about staying healthy and putting it all together.
Grade: B+
Cody Martin
When called upon to bring energy off the bench, Cody Martin delivered. Martin returned looking more polished and confident after a quietly solid 2023–24 campaign cut short by injury. He improved his three-point shooting from 21.4% to 31.4% last season, while also evolving into a more well-rounded contributor, bumping his assists from 1.6 to 3.7 and his steals from 0.6 to 1.1 per game.
That upward trend continued this season. Martin averaged a career-high 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds, while flashing improved playmaking and his usual gritty defense. He shot a personal best 43.3% from the field, and his three-point percentage ticked up again to 32.3%.
Unfortunately, a sports hernia sidelined him in late January, and he didn’t return until March 16 against the Los Angeles Lakers. By then, he was a Phoenix Sun—traded alongside Vasilije Micić in the deal that brought Jusuf Nurkić to Charlotte. Martin’s impact diminished in limited minutes with the Suns, averaging just 3.7 points in 14.7 minutes per game.
Still, before the injury and trade, Martin proved to be a dependable and versatile bench piece, capable of impacting both ends of the floor.
Grade: B
The Position in the future
The Hornets expect Miller to be fully healthy and ready for the 2025–26 season, but depth behind him remains uncertain. With a likely high draft pick and ample cap flexibility, the Hornets have multiple avenues to shore up the small forward spot—either through the draft, free agency, or both.
Adding a veteran presence on the wing could provide stability and leadership for a young team still finding its identity. Alternatively, the Hornets could explore internal options. Players like Josh Green and Josh Okogie offer positional versatility and defensive grit, capable of soaking up minutes at multiple spots and easing Miller’s burden.
Regardless of their route, one thing is clear: Charlotte must address the position this offseason to avoid another year of uncertainty on the wing.
In Conclusion
The Hornets’ small forward spot was inconsistent in 2024–25. Brandon Miller showed flashes of real potential before getting hurt. Cody Martin provided steady production before being traded midseason. Injuries and roster changes made it hard to find a rhythm.
Miller looks like a future cornerstone for the franchise. The Hornets now need to add depth and reliability behind him.
With a pivotal offseason ahead, the Hornets can reinforce the position through the draft, free agency, or internal development. Locking down the wing spot will be a key part of that process if they want to take the next step as a franchise.
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