Leonard Miller: The Most Unique Prospect in the 2023 NBA Draft
Why the 19 Year Old Canadian Forward Has Intriguing Upside Leaving NBA Executives Fascinated
A little over two years ago, Leonard Miller was your standard Canadian basketball product. Skilled enough to play AAU with some decent size for a guard but nothing special. A year later, Miller was adjusting to his new body, standing at 6'9" after hitting a 5" growth spurt.
This magical growth spurt caused Miller to develop as a player significantly as he retained his guard skills from when he was younger and was now a guard with a big wings body. Despite this, Miller remained relatively unknown to the public due to his decision to turn down U.S. prep schools, opting to prep at Fort Erie International Academy.
While Miller was off the radar of the public, he was emerging on the radar of NBA scouts. Most noticeably, Miller had a newfound scoring ability that allowed him to go off whenever he wanted, albeit against lesser competition. Miller would go on to declare for the 2022 NBA Draft before withdrawing following a poor NBA Combine performance, opting to go stateside and join G-League Ignite in Vegas. In his time at Ignite, Miller would officially come into his own, displaying various skills. Here are the strengths and weaknesses of his game:
Strengths
Miller's main strengths at this stage in his development are his frame, ballhandling, and mid-range jumper. His frame is the main thing that leaves scouts fascinated when scouting the lanky Canadian. His 6'10", 213lbs frame, including a 7'2" wingspan, allows Leonard to be a good rebounder, where he averaged around 11 a game this past year with Ignite. Although his rebounding benefits from his frame, Leonard's guard skills are most enhanced due to his frame, as he can see things that he used to not be able to see a couple of years ago before his growth spurt. The main area where I'd buy stock in Miller is his defense and what it can become because of his intangibles. Take a look at this clip to see what I'm talkin' about:
Leonard Miller Full Defensive Possession
In every single aspect of this clip, Miller stands out. These are the flashes that scouts and execs want to see more of. First, the ability to slide with guards on the perimeter before showing weakside help, and then lastly, rotating out to contest a shot (although it went it). If he improves his defense, the team that selects him is getting a steal. Here's another clip of Miller showing what he can do when he puts it all together on the defensive end:
Another area of appeal for NBA decision-makers is Miller's elite athleticism. Miller has some serious vertical pop, and watch out because he might bang one out on your head as he did here:
Lastly, I can't go without touching on Miller retaining his guard skills. Just check out this ridiculous pass. Making that pass at 6'9" (ish) is absolutely nuts.
Weaknesses
As intriguing as Miller is, he has numerous holes in his game that he needs to fill before he becomes anything close to a complete player. The first thing that needs to be mentioned is Miller's three-point shot. Miller, a career 30(ish)% shooter from beyond the arc on low volume, must improve his shot by shooting a more arched ball rather than a flat ball. As far as the mechanics, they definitely could improve, but they are alright. Pretty average in terms of mechanics. He could also do with improving his release. Even though Miller's mid-range and free-throw percentages suggest he could become a capable three-point shooter, only time will tell when it comes to his jumper.
Leonard Miller Three-Point Miss
As I referenced earlier, Miller must become a solid defender using his unique frame to help his team. He's got to get quicker laterally because of his late closeouts and rotations. Got to be a better team defender. But the positive is that he is young and has plenty of time to develop.
Fit
Leonard Miller is trending toward being picked in the 20s on Draft Night, so I expect him to be selected by a team with 2 first-rounders. Look at Brooklyn, Indiana, Charlotte (Brandon Miller dependent), or a contender takes a swing on him while allowing him to develop. Similar to what Denver did with Peyton Watson this year. If you're Leonard Miller, your fit is more important than how high you go because he needs to be surrounded by the best coaches who believe in him to reach his potential. Miller has the natural talent, but it's about the fit for him as that will dictate his future.
Wrap-Up
Leonard Miller's journey from an unknown Canadian player to a captivating prospect in the 2023 NBA Draft has been fueled by his growth and development. With a 6'9" frame and impressive ballhandling skills, Miller's unique combination of size and guard-like abilities sets him apart. His defensive potential, evident in his lateral quickness and shot-contesting ability, makes him a tantalizing prospect on that end of the court. While Miller's three-point shooting and overall defensive consistency need improvement, his elite athleticism and playmaking ability highlight his potential for growth.
As Miller is projected to be a late first-round pick, finding the right fit and development environment will be crucial for his future success. Joining a team that can provide the necessary coaching and guidance to refine his shooting mechanics and defensive skills will be essential. With the proper development and the opportunity to showcase his unique skill set, Leonard Miller has the potential to become a valuable asset in the NBA. His size, ballhandling, and defensive versatility make him an intriguing prospect with the upside to significantly impact professional basketball. That is why Leonard Miller is the Most Unique Prospect in the 2023 NBA Draft.