NBA Draft: Is Ignite Forward Leonard Miller Being Undersold?
Leonard Miller has long been thought of as a raw prospect, dating even back to his time lingering around the 2022 NBA Draft.
And while some of those concerns may be true, Miller averaged 18.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and nearly one block and steal per game in 24 contests versus elevated G League play this season.
It begs the question, is Miller being undersold in the 2023 NBA Draft? Draft Digest writer Derek Parker broke down the forwards talents in his latest video of the Heat Check series:
Miller does have a bit of a niche scoring package. At 6-foot-10, he lacks a traditional post game and reverts to wing tendencies with the ball in hands. He functions well in the dunker spot and as a transition scorer, but outside of those two roles, he primary thrives getting into the paint via a mix of solid handle and fluidity.
Defensively, he’s a work in progress, but took massive strides in his lone professional season with the Ignite.
He’s likely most suited to guarding power forwards and “fours” with his rare mobility. But he shouldn’t have massive amounts of trouble guarding your average center or even slower-footed wing, too.
Miller is the next in line of guards who saw a late-growth spurs, growing from 6-foot-3 while in high school to his current size. So he’s very much still learning to play within himself and learning how to use his size on both ends of the court.
Regardless, his production, mixed with his immediately translatable and much-needed skills like rebounding, transition play and high-effort defense, seem to outweigh any project concerns.
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