I wouldn’t have a problem with a combo of Miller and Smith. Relatively long swings that can shoot the 3 and rebound have a lot of value and they both help make up for some of the defensive limitations of Green and Sengun. Also, while it’s true Brandon Miller is a little older than some of the other freshmen, he is the same age as the other player likely to be targeted at 3-4 in the draft (Thompson).
Something else to keep in mind is that just because charges haven't been brought now, that doesn't mean they can't be in the future. So that's another risk factor here.
I still like Miller as a prospect. I think he’s clearly the third best prospect. But I also think there is a massive drop-off from two to three. I don’t know…if we landed at 3, and Harden signed, I’d be really tempted to trade the pick for someone like Siakam, etc.
If Siakam isn’t a franchise player, he’s pretty darn close IMO. Averaging almost 25/8/6 this season with good defense.
Amen can't shoot and we have no idea how Overtime translates to NBA ball. Scoot is a phenomenal talent but I don't see him as a superstar. He's the piece the Rockets need though
I'd be thrilled if we got Miller. He is the #3 for me. He is playing right now in the SeC Championship game. Has taken like 15 3s, no issue. Guy rebounds the hell out of the ball and gets a bunch of steals. Also seems to get to the line with ease. Potential upside as a defender, and great size. And also seems to have the clutch gene. As Nook said, he and Jabari would be a great combo. Highly productive, highly efficient 3-4 combo. If Green turned into a franchise guy, you would really have something.
Versatility on full display. He rebounds, moves without the ball, solid passer. Ball handler outside of just shooting. Some of the comments about him lacking are just nonsense. Y’all are brainwashed to just think the top 2 picks are the only ones who matter. Miller is absolutely a high ceiling prospect. The team who ends up with him won’t be complaining and shouldn’t If the rockets weren’t so desperate for a pg, Miller would absolutely be in position to be taken at 2. The sheer desperation just helps scoot if the rockets won’t get the 1st pick
Nice dunk, but watch it again and look at his back foot. Looks like he got maybe 18 inches off the ground with a running start in a sport where some of the elite athletes exceed a 40" vertical leap from a standstill. Another thing you can look at is his head. Definitely looks below the rim here from a guy who's 6'9". Anyway I'm not saying he's a terrible athlete, I just don't think he's as good as most of the other guys in the top 10, and I think there are some real question marks about whether his athleticism is enough to be a star scorer in the NBA.
You aren’t sniffing a title with a 34 year old Harden and Siakam as your best players. In 4-5 years we would be right back doing the same thing rebuilding.
This isn’t the 1990’s, you don’t need a 40 inch vertical to be an elite player. Skill and instinct as as important as ever. Miller has DRASTICALLY improved in 6 months. He has excellent instincts as a scorer, his handle is much improved and still getting better. His passing is also blossoming. If he can put the ball on the floor against bigger players and shoot over smaller players and finish in traffic, then he will score over 20 a night for a decade. The reality is that the modern NBA is as much about fluidity and skill as anything else. I don’t think Miller will ever be a top 10-15 player in the league, but he may - and I am pretty confident his floor is Harrison Barnes and his reasonable outcome is a handful of all star games. Everyone wants a Kareem level prospect like Wemby, or at least a pre injury Derrick Rose guy in Henderson - but there is like a 3:10 chance at one of them. Miller, Thompson, Nick Smith and Whitmore all are far more likely to be Rockets.
Henderson may not score 30 points a game in his prime and he may not get you a triple double like Jokic or Harden or Westbrook…. But I guarantee you, if he stays healthy, he will make the impact that an elite player will. He is just so confident and smart and a hard worker and competitor. Basketball is his life. His competitiveness is a lot like Isiah Thomas.
Honestly rather have Jarace Walker than any of those guys outside the top 2, but I'm not sold on any of them as a surefire star, so I'd rather us pick basically any of the top 10 other than Miller. For me they all have serious question marks on the court, and it's hard to say any one of them is clearly the best talent-wise, so it's down to character and work ethic off the court. Miller already failed the character test.
Sorry, talent is blurred by events. I just can’t be comfortable with him on my roster. I hope in two years or so this post will have aged very poorly.
