2. Drafted Leonard Miller
Traded two second-round picks for No. 33 pick, drafted G League Ignite forward Leonard Miller
Minnesota’s first-round pick was in the hands of the Utah Jazz, and they used it to draft Baylor guard Keyonte George. The Wolves didn’t want to be left out of the draft entirely, however, so they traded up to the 33rd pick to take G League Ignite forward Leonard Miller.
Miller had a very interesting path to the NBA Draft, almost entering the draft last summer as a raw recruit with limited exposure to top teams. Miller instead elected to wait a year and join the G League Ignite, where he proved himself one of the most gifted and efficient interior scorers in the league.
On a team with Scoot Henderson, he was second on the team in scoring with 18 points per game, and his 11 rebounds per game were fifth in the entire league. He is an elite finisher, with a touch from all angles that suggests he can increase his shooting range as well. Given that last year was his first high-level basketball of any kind, his upside to gaining polish on both offense and defense seems immense.
Miller was a lottery pick on some draft analysts’ big boards and seemed a sure first-round pick heading into Draft Night. For the Wolves to get him at pick No. 33 is a steal and gives them a raw but incredibly talented forward to develop.
Grade: A