2023 NBA Draft Megathread

[seattlejazzfan]

That was early in the year. Miller was VERY productive in the G League this year and made huge improvements over the year. This is as a teenager against grown *** men. In March he was 23/12 with a block and a steal. His shooting is wonky but has shown improvement and has some promise. Also athletic 6-10 with 7-2 wingspan is a good thing too.

His backstory is kind of interesting as well… he was skinny and his high level competition stuff in HS was cut short because of injury. Vecenie has a story coming out on him soon… I can see him being overlooked in plain sight…

taking into account his production, especially in March, including the efficiency with which he did it, you could argue by the end of the season he was the best player in the league. which is bonkers for a 19 year old playing against pros. we've only seen it with Luka - not that he's a comparable player to Luka, but that's really the only time we've a player that age dominate a comparable pro league like that.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

taking into account his production, especially in March, including the efficiency with which he did it, you could argue by the end of the season he was the best player in the league. which is bonkers for a 19 year old playing against pros. we've only seen it with Luka - not that he's a comparable player to Luka, but that's really the only time we've a player that age dominate a comparable pro league like that.

He's just making rapid improvements... like he was a bean pole and people put him in the "2 years away from being 2 years away" category and he's already added enough strength that he was moving grown men. From the accounts I've heard he is just picking things up fast and improving rapidly... the numbers bear that out.

Give me a kid who is legit 6-10 with a 7-2 wingspan, has a high motor, demonstrated his work ethic... even if his jumper is ugly as ****... I will work with that.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

in february and march, miller averaged 20 ppg on 65% TS, 12.5 rebs. 56% FGs and 83% FTs (83% from the line is a great sign for his potential to figure it out from distance). the only problem i would have with taking him at 9 is if you can get him at 16, then it's a wasted pick that early. otherwise, he's a good enough prospect to take at 9 in my mind.

 

[KqWIN]

Miller is another one I didn't see much from in their game vs Wemby's team. And I wasn't overly impressed in his highlights. What's the appeal there? He seemed utterly mediocre to me in those two games...

I was with you. His shot was so fugly in that game and it was painful to watch him. He ended up having a really great season in the G_League though. Super productive. I think his performance and the production the G-League was as good as any prospect, and that includes former and future high draft picks like Jalen Green and Scoot.

Before this past season, he had some hype as a 6'10 PG. I thought that was false hope and didn't buy into it. Looked slow and his skill level wasn't up to par with an actual guard. But he transitioned into this super productive big who is active and energetic on both ends. I like him at #16, but probably not at #9.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

in february and march, miller averaged 20 ppg on 65% TS, 12.5 rebs. 56% FGs and 83% FTs (83% from the line is a great sign for his potential to figure it out from distance). the only problem i would have with taking him at 9 is if you can get him at 16, then it's a wasted pick that early.

And I keep on mentioning this but it is unique to the G League... they shoot 1 free throw for 2 points on most fouls. The first free throw is generally made at a 3-4% higher rate than the second... so with all the G League guys you can tack a little bump up on their FT%.

His wonky *** release will likely limit how many threes he will take... but I think he could end up a 35%+ 3P shooter on low volume. Not enough to make defenses close out hard to him but also good enough to punish if they completely ignore him.

I get some Siakham vibes there.

 

[KqWIN]

I’ve seen varying opinions… Dean of the Draft is obviously not the most trustworthy on this stuff but I always end up perusing his stuff… and he scoffed at Bilal and that league in general… he’s kinda bonkers but I think there will definitely be front offices that kinda say “cool story” to the kid on the JV French team.

Toronto is project 6-9 but also they drafted Malachi Flynn and traded for a guy like Gary Trent Jr… so I could see them going away from toolsy wings too. I think Miller is an awesome fit next to Chet.I just don’t see it as a certainty he’s gone… I think it’s closer to a coin flip and if I was betting today I’d say he’s there at 16.

Dean is a crazy guy for sure haha. I like reading his thoughts, but this is one of those one's I don't necessarily agree with. There will be teams that pass on him because of his lack of box score production, but in terms of mystery prospects Bilal really isn't that big of a mystery anymore. I don't even think being a mystery hurts draft stock anyways. I can see them saying cool story to Bilal, but in the same way some teams said might have said cool Dieng last year and say cool story to his crappy play in AUS. There have been way more "out there" picks made in the past and certainly by TOR and OKC in particular. It only takes one team to like him, and the teams most likely to do that are in the the 11-13 range. Every team needs 6'8 athletic wings.

I'm biased, but it doesn't even feel like a reach to draft him the lottery. I've seen a lot of people come around to that opinion as well. Not everyone is high on him, but I don't think if he went 12 or 13 that's some kind of giant unexpected leap. The sticker shock of ranking him so high isn't what it was when he was still playing with the Jr team when I first mentioned him. Where would you rank him? I noticed that you drafted him at #15 in the mock.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Dean is a crazy guy for sure haha. I like reading his thoughts, but this is one of those one's I don't necessarily agree with. There will be teams that pass on him because of his lack of box score production, but in terms of mystery prospects Bilal really isn't that big of a mystery anymore. I don't even think being a mystery hurts draft stock anyways. I can see them saying cool story to Bilal, but in the same way some teams said might have said cool Dieng last year and say cool story to his crappy play in AUS. There have been way more "out there" picks made in the past and certainly by TOR and OKC in particular. It only takes one team to like him, and the teams most likely to do that are in the the 11-13 range. Every team needs 6'8 athletic wings.

I'm biased, but it doesn't even feel like a reach to draft him the lottery. I've seen a lot of people come around to that opinion as well. Not everyone is high on him, but I don't think if he went 12 or 13 that's some kind of giant unexpected leap. The sticker shock of ranking him so high isn't what it was when he was still playing with the Jr team when I first mentioned him. Where would you rank him? I noticed that you drafted him at #15 in the mock.

Probably late teens for me... someone may take him before 16 but I think you make it more of a certainty than it actually is.

 

[Bodhi]

Here is where I stand today. Dudes still moving a lot by the game/day:

1: Wemby
2: Amen
3: Scoot
4: Miller
5: Ausar
6: Keyonte
7: Walker
8: Wallace
9: Hendricks
10: GG
11: Leonard Miller
12: Black
13: Jett
14: Nick Smith Jr
15: Hawkins
16: Whitmore
17: Dick
18: Sensabaugh
19: Filipowski
20: Hood-Shifinio
21: Maxwell Lewis
22: Kris Murray
23: Ware
24: Clowney
25: Whitehead
26: Sasser
27: Terrance Shannon
28: Rupert
29: Jackson-Davis
30: Colby Jones

Yur boi out here EARLY on that Leonard Miller love......

 

[Elizah Huge]

Yur boi out here EARLY on that Leonard Miller love......

I invented liking him but you were early as well.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Yur boi out here EARLY on that Leonard Miller love......

If you got GG above him then you ain't love him enuff.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Dean is a crazy guy for sure haha. I like reading his thoughts, but this is one of those one's I don't necessarily agree with. There will be teams that pass on him because of his lack of box score production, but in terms of mystery prospects Bilal really isn't that big of a mystery anymore. I don't even think being a mystery hurts draft stock anyways. I can see them saying cool story to Bilal, but in the same way some teams said might have said cool Dieng last year and say cool story to his crappy play in AUS. There have been way more "out there" picks made in the past and certainly by TOR and OKC in particular. It only takes one team to like him, and the teams most likely to do that are in the the 11-13 range. Every team needs 6'8 athletic wings.

I'm biased, but it doesn't even feel like a reach to draft him the lottery. I've seen a lot of people come around to that opinion as well. Not everyone is high on him, but I don't think if he went 12 or 13 that's some kind of giant unexpected leap. The sticker shock of ranking him so high isn't what it was when he was still playing with the Jr team when I first mentioned him. Where would you rank him? I noticed that you drafted him at #15 in the mock.

Not trying to throw cold water on Bilal... I just think NBL has a better history and is easier to gauge with guys. The French league Bilal plays in has had some duds in recent history so it might not be viewed as the same. Hayes, Sekou, Maledon, Okobo... I am painfully ignorant on overseas leagues... but not sure this one has a ton of clout atm.

Have there been some big wins I am not considering out of that league? I just think that ultimately works against him.

 

[Eddie Zero]

lol at those who think they invented following this guy.
Leonard Miller was largely considered a triple t before he opted for the g league last year. He was always a lottery level or fringe one imo. He has solidified it further the closer we get to the draft, and is worth every single penny to take a 16th overall if they don't think he will be taken 10-15. I think he is gone before 16.
That being said, I think he could maybe even have a meteoric big board rise in stock for a team like us, and we take him at 9.