Leonard Miller, NBA Draft scouting report (Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports)
The miraculous postseason run of the Miami Heat came up just short. But the No. 18 pick in this year’s NBA Draft is a chance to reload for next year.
The Miami Heat were the biggest surprise of the NBA postseason, almost becoming the first No. 8 seed to win an NBA title in a full, uninterrupted season. But their magical run ended, three wins short, against the Denver Nuggets.
The Heat have plenty to celebrate but unfortunately, time is short. The NBA Draft is less than two weeks away and the work begins almost immediately to upgrade this roster for next season and another run. Miami has the No. 18 pick in the first round of this year’s draft, and a loaded class of prospects will give them plenty of great choices as they look for an impact contributor. Here are three prospects that could pay off in the short and long term.
Perfect NBA Draft picks for the Miami Heat: 3. Leonard Miller
Miller is a player with incredible physical tools and two-way potential but at this point, he’s still fairly raw. The 6-foot-9 forward has an immense 7-foot-2 wingspan, bouncy athleticism and the quickness to feed positional versatility at both ends. He’s been connected with the Miami Heat in several mock drafts, including our own, and makes a lot of sense.
In a perfect world, Miller could be a dynamic 4 next to Bam Adebayo — a swarming, switchable defender with a nose for the ball, a solid handle and the ability to beat other bigs down the floor in transition or attack slower matchups off the dribble. But he still needs a lot of reps and polish and that ceiling is a ways away. Even at the G League level (he spent last season with the Ignite) he was at his best when playing off instinct and his processing speed will need to increase significantly. He’s also a decent but not elite mid-range shooter who will need to really develop from beyond the arc to round out his game.
Miller could be a great fit for the Heat down the road but that scenario might be two or three years off. If they’re looking for someone who can contribute big minutes on another deep playoff run next season, he might not be the guy.
Check out our full scouting report on Leonard Miller for more information.