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Thunder Draft: Is Leonard Miller Still the Best Option?

Although there hasn't been as much public buzz on Leonard Miller of late, he could still be the best choice for Oklahoma City on draft night.

Around the time of the draft lottery last month, there was a sense around the league that Leonard Miller had a great chance to land in the lottery of the 2023 NBA Draft. He measured well at the combine and opted not to play in scrimmages, which was assumed to mean he got positive feedback from teams and didn’t need to participate to increase his stock.

With just over two weeks left until the June 22 draft, Miller now seems to have a wide draft range. Some experts have him mocked as high as No. 12 to Oklahoma City, while others have him in the twenties.

Regardless, he still would be a fantastic selection for the Thunder in the lottery. He has the fluidity to play in the frontcourt next to someone like Chet Holmgren, but also the size to hold down the center position at times on his own as well. As a member of the Ignite last season, Miller was one of the best players in the G League. This is arguably more impressive than producing in any other league in the world, college included. He spent the entire season playing against adults, many with NBA experience.

The primary knock in Miller is the 3-point shot, which is pretty inconsistent. However, keep in mind he did play with an extended NBA 3-point line last season which is much deeper than the college or international distance. If the shot comes around at the next level, there’s no question Miller could be a top 10 talent in this class. Especially in OKC, the fit is seamless. 


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