Brandon Miller is the number one freshman in the draft, headlined by being named a consensus All-American and both SEC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. As a freshman, Miller averaged 18.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG, and 2.2 TOPG on splits of 43/38/86. Below is his full scouting report:
Name: Brandon Miller
Height/Weight: 6’9/200
Wingspan/ standing reach: N/A
Hand size: N/A
Position: SF
Pre-Draft team: Alabama
Tools: Shooting, size
Pros:
- Ideal frame for a wing
- Can pass on the move
- Easily projectable shooter
- Quick release on jumper with minimal dip and pauses in motion
- Comfortable with both hands
- Has a good lefty hesi move for drives
- High motor and doesn’t give up on plays
- Willing rebounder on both ends of the floor
Cons:
- Can settle for bad shots too often (Houston game)
- Gambles off-ball defensively forcing him to often play a step behind
- Needs to be a better decision maker offensively
- Doesn’t get a lot of lift on drives
- Poor finisher at the rim (39.3% in the halfcourt)
- Needs to get stronger
- Negative assist/turnover ratio
Summary:
Offensively, Miller’s ceiling is very high given his upside as a 3 level scorer, in addition to seeing the floor well and having a growing self-creation ability with both hands. As a shooter, he relocates effortlessly as an off-ball shooter, and as an on-ball shooter he is able to shoot off the dribble and over contests due to a quick trigger. As Miller gets stronger, his separation ability (being able to absorb contact as a ball-handler, for example) will improve, as will his finishing at the rim.
As a playmaker, Miller still has room to improve as a decision-maker, but his vision is impressive, particularly in quick offense. As he becomes a better decision-maker off the dribble, he should see improvement in his assist:turnover ratio. One limitation Miller has with the ball in his hands is that he doesn’t always get an explosive lift towards the rim, which would heavily limit his impact within 15 feet. His low half-court rim percentage is alarming, and the lack of lift likely plays a part of that.
Defensively, Miller will likely face the normal limitations most NBA rookies have defensively. Due to a growing frame that needs more strength & some defensive habits that could burn him more in the NBA than college basketball, Miller will need a strong defensive NBA program for him to hit his full two-way upside.
One saving grace for Miller is that he has a high motor and appears to have a strong work ethic, which makes giving him the benefit of the doubt on his current weaknesses on both ends of the floor easy. Strong intangible wings with two-way upside, a safe high-level skill, and ideal size for a modern wing is the starter kit for either a great role player or a star on the wings.
Similar to: Harrison Barnes, Khris Middleton, Corey Maggette
Projected draft range: 2-4
Expected role: Scoring wing that can take on any role any given night as the primary, secondary, or tertiary option while contributing in other areas on both ends of the floor.
Unplayable if: Will almost certainly never be unplayable, but a worst case involves his lack of explosion/lift towards the rim limiting his offense, and his decision making never makes a jump.
Exceeds expectations if: Finishing ability improves, allowing him to be a successful two-way 3 level scorer. Additionally, he hits his ceiling if he fully fills out his frame.
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