The Toronto Raptors made history when they used a draft pick on Nebraska point guard Dalano Banton last year, as he became the first Canadian player to be drafted by the league’s sole franchise in this country. Could they follow suit by taking Leonard Miller in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft?
Miller was regarded as one of the top recruits in the 2022 class, as he was right up there with Duke commits like Dereck Lively and Dariq Whitehead. While he would have had his pick of any of America’s best colleges, the Fort Erie native decided to skip that step and go straight to the pros.
Miller is something out of Masai Ujiri’s dreams, as he is just a shade under 6-11 with a 7-3 wingspan. After a seven-inch growth spurt turned him from a guard to a forward, Miller could be a matchup nightmare considering how he retained his guardlike skills despite his new skinny frame.
Considering that Shaedon Sharpe is going to be a lottery pick despite not playing one second of college basketball last year, Miller is going to garner some significant NBA buzz now that his name is in the draft. The Raptors need to put some feelers out and see if Miller could become a long-term piece.
Leonard Miller is the youngest (and arguably most intriguing) player who declared for the NBA draft. So I called the Canadian prospect, and multiple scouts, to speak about his game.
— Bryan Kalbrosky (@BryanKalbrosky) May 6, 2022
Learn more about Miller, who is also considering Kentucky and Arizona: https://t.co/LFEwErJrBm
The Toronto Raptors might be interested in Leonard Miller.
Teams are working with a minimal pool of information regarding Miller, as his performance in the National Prep School Invitational and his brief work with Canada’s U-16 team are doing a ton of heavy lifting.
On offense, Miller has given evaluators a glimpse into the kind of star he could be if properly developed. With a smooth jumper, a quick first step, and some solid passing ability for someone his size, Miller can be a force on that end within his first two years in the pros.
Defensively, he has all the switchability you’d like to see from a forward with his physical abilities. Once he gets some more meat on his bones, he could become a very versatile chess piece on that end in the Scottie Barnes mold.
Source: the NBA league office informed teams in a memo last night that Leonard Miller's eligibility for the 2022 NBA draft has been verified and he's officially been added to the NBA Draft early-entry list. They can now schedule workouts and interviews with him. https://t.co/IKgKAdclxd
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 5, 2022
With all due respect to Canadian high schools, they’re the furthest thing from NBA competition. Miller would be making a seismic leap in competition. With how raw his game is and how he needs to grow into his body from a physical standpoint, whoever drafts Miller will need to develop him for multiple years.
Miller will either be picked in the first round by a team with multiple picks in the latter half or in the second round by a team who can afford to wait on him. Seduced by his potential, some team is going to take the plunge and draft him.