How Leonard Miller Fits with the OKC Thunder

With the Oklahoma City Thunder entering the offseason, it’s officially time to time to switch gears to prospect evaluation mode.

And this year’s impending draft has plenty of players that can help bolster the OKC core.

No matter how unlikely it is Oklahoma City lands certain prospects, the Thunder Fit series will take a look at how they would fit with the current team’s configuration. And with a war chest of assets, you never know how far the front office could move up to acquire a player.

The next prospect up in the series is forward Leonard Miller, who saw massive improvement with the G League Ignite.

Here’s how Miller could fit alongside the rest of the Thunder core:

Offense

At 6-foot-10, Miller offers a massive presence with a non-traditional style of play. He lacks a conventional interior scoring package, but functions well as a rim-runner, in the dunker spot and in transition due to his athleticism.

With a tight handle, he has a bit of outside game. And despite a wonky shot has the ability to knock down threes here and there, too.

His gumbo of skills makes for a weird fit on most teams, but especially with an already weird Oklahoma City squad. In the least, he would be another big body teams would have to prep for in addition to OKC’s already lengthy squad. And his rebounding would be massive for a team that could certainly use a boost in that area.

Regardless, Miller’s production — 18.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game on 56 percent shooting overall — speaks for itself. And his massive growth over the last year is reason enough to give him lottery looks.

Defense

Defensively, Miller averaged just shy of one steal and block per game for the Ignite, using the very same athleticism to generate defensive playmaking opportunities.

He’s far from a completely sound product on the defensive end, but there’s rarely a time he isn’t giving full effort. He can block shots here and there, and even stretch out to the perimeter with relative ease.

Miller is another in the growing line of point guards who saw a growth spurt late, so he’s still learning to play within himself. If he can continue to hone his skills, he’ll likely be a strong selection in the 2023 NBA Draft.

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