Who gets more Timberwolves PF minutes? KAT, Slo-Mo, Minott, or other?

Begging for minutes: Leonard Miller

The Minnesota Timberwolves loved the versatility of rookie Leonard Miller, but they were not alone. In post-draft interviews, a number of NBA general managers cited Leonard Miller as the top prospect on their respective draft boards in Round 2. Just to refresh everyone’s memory, the Timberwolves traded up to the third pick in Round 2 of the 2023 NBA Draft just to select Miller.

So what is all the fuss about?

Well, the truth is that forward Leonard Miller is 6-foot-11 and weighs 210 pounds. More importantly, he is only 19 years old, and could easily top 7-foot-2 when he stops growing. But that is just the tip of the good news iceberg surrounding this rising NBA rookie star.

Miller has point guard ball-handling skills. He has NBA center height and rebounding prowess. And he has the wingspan of a small forward, and the tenacity to stick in an opposing player’s back pocket and create plenty of frustration for the entirety of an NBA game.

In two preseason games, Leonard Miller played 24 minutes, scored 14 points, hauled in four rebounds, delivered one assist, snagged two steals, and blocked two shots. And that was as a 19-year-old rookie against the Dallas Mavericks, a team that is almost a unanimous projection to make the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

Much like many players on the Timberwolves roster, Miller’s versatility will allow the team to pick their spots in terms of playing him in a power-forward role. It may not be his primary spot in the Timberwolves rotations, but he has the raw ability to deliver if and when he is asked to play at the 4.