Spurs pick Leonard Miller at No. 33 overall on behalf of T-Wolves
G League Ignite forward Leonard Miller was taken with the No. 33 pick by the San Antonio Spurs and reportedly dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Miller is one of the most unique prospects selected in the draft, a fascinating blend of size, aggression, shooting, and playmaking rarely found outside of the top selections. Rebounding is his calling card and should translate to the next level. Miller ranked fifth in the G League with 11 boards per game.
But it's the stuff Miller has flashed in smaller spurts that are the most enticing. He didn't get to show off his playmaking skills suiting up alongside Scoot Henderson, but he played point guard in high school in Canada. His ever-growing shooting form also allows the potential for lots of improvement in that realm. If Miller can put it all together, he has a shot to be a draft-day steal.
Bio
Position: Forward
School: G League Ignite
College Experience: N/A
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 213 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot-2
Max Vertical: 37.5 inches
2022-23 stats with G League Ignite
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 55.4 | 32.7 | 79.2 | 11.0 | 1.6 | 18.0 |
Strengths
- Powerful, physical athlete with top-tier size for his position.
- Outstanding rebounder with great positioning, strength, and timing on both ends.
- Improving shooter who makes shots at solid volume despite funky form, including great free-throw numbers.
- Flashes potential as a playmaker, allowing the chance at future on-ball opportunities.
Weakneses
- Is a bit of a tweener between a forward and a big given his size and skill set.
- Needs to improve shooting form further to maximize his potential as a shooter.
- Unorthodox game may not fully translate to the NBA initially.
- Rarely got to the free-throw line despite mostly scoring from 2-point range.
NBA comparable: Lamar Odom. It's extremely easy to see the comparison between the two lengthy left-handed forwards with their effortless athleticism and playmaking chops. Odom's versatility in his younger years was seen as an outlier back in the day but is becoming par for the course in 2023 and lends well for Miller to fit in from Day 1.