The Toronto Raptors have not been one to shy away from making an unpopular or unusual draft selection if the right player falls into their laps. Leonard Miller is not going to be a player that everyone falls in love with, but he has all the traits that Toronto loves to covet in the draft.
Miller went from one of the best high school prospects in the country to a legitimate professional prospect that teams will be more than willing to give up big chunks of their future to acquire. Miller is as raw as anyone, but the fantasy of what he could become is mouth-watering.
Just one year after making Dalano Banton the first Canadian player to ever be selected by Toronto, the Raptors could double up on homegrown talent and make Miller a part of their plan for contention. Toronto is showing a degree of interest in bringing in a raw player like Miller and making him another cog in their machine.
Miller has met with the Raptors, per Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. Miller said that teams are trying to “pick my brain” ahead of what should be a very important stretch of weeks. Staying in Canada would be an ideal situation for Miller, as he could end up with a team with a history of working with players like him.
Leonard Miller said he's met with the Raptors and Hawks, among other teams.
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) May 20, 2022
"A lot of teams got to pick my brain," he said. "Got to know who Leonard Miller is."
Will the Toronto Raptors take Leonard Miller?
It’s hard to put much weight on Miller’s statistical excellence, as even the best Canadian high school talent won’t adequately prepare him for life in the NBA. His value lies in the fact he’s such an impressive scorer with the fluidity of a guard nearly a foot shorter. While not a point forward, his ability to slash, pull up, and distribute are all excellent.
Miller is a bit lean, but that length and mobility he possesses could help him line up as a traditional power forward with a quality perimeter game, or an oversized small forward makes him very promising.
Fort Erie International Academy 's Leonard Miller official measurements from the NBA Combine: 6'10 in shoes, 7'2 wingspan, 8'10.5 standing reach, 211 lbs with 5.7% body fat
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 18, 2022
Any team that takes Miller needs to be aware of the fact that he won’t provide anything of value on the court for a year. Raptors 905 will do wonders for him during his rookie season. With one or two more years of seasoning that helps him add weight and correct some questionable shooting mechanics.
Miller has his fair share of traits that make him a prospect worth reaching for. If he clicks, he’ll be an All-Star. Going to a poorly run team that hasn’t had a ton of recent success could be such a risky move for him that it kneecaps his career. Toronto will allow him to flourish.