The Detroit Pistons could take a risk on a young project player in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft and there is one guy who has been rising up the boards.
Canadian Leonard Miller was recently declared eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft, which had scouts and experts scrambling to adjust their big boards.
Draft note: Per sources, as of tonight the NBA has officially ruled Canadian HS prospect Leonard Miller eligible for the 2022 draft. Miller was not initially on the early entry list due to paperwork issues, leading to some minor confusion amongst teams, but he's good to go.
— Jeremy Woo (@JeremyWoo) May 5, 2022
Miller will be one of the youngest players in the draft, a raw prospect, but one with an intriguing set of skills. He might not even be there when the Detroit Pistons choose with the 46th pick in the second round, but if he is, he’s a guy that would definitely be worth a flyer.
Detroit Pistons draft: Leonard Miller’s strengths and weaknesses
It’s hard to get a gauge on Leonard Miller, as he only has high school tape to watch and every NBA prospect looks like a future superstar against high school talent. There are also some highlights from the Nike Hoop Summit, where you can get a look at MIller’s unorthodox shot.
But Miller is a 6-foot-10 combo, who can handle the ball, run the floor, shoot from all three levels and block shots.
His left-handed shot is pretty ugly, especially from 3-point range, but he can knock them down. He’s probably not going to be a guy who handles the ball in the NBA, but more like a Chris Bosh type who can handle the ball in the high post, make passes and hit the mid-range jumper and eventually the 3-pointer.
He has a ton of work to do on his frame, as he is far too skinny, but he’ll still be just 18-years-old at the time of the draft, so has plenty of time for that.
Skilled bigs are a hot commodity in the NBA, so the Detroit Pistons could bet on potential with Miller if he is still there in the second round.
How Leonard Miller fits on the Detroit Pistons
You don’t often get a chance to grab first-round talent in the second round, but that might be what happens with Miller, though some team in the late first could definitely pull the trigger.
Miller is going to need development, so the Pistons would be a good place for him, as they are looking to fill their pipeline with undervalued talent and would love to put a guy with Miller’s ceiling into their system.
He’d be the ideal second-round pick, especially if the Pistons drop out of the top-3 of the 2022 NBA Draft and end up taking a guard with their lottery pick.
The second round is the place to swing wildly for potential and Miller definitely has it. The Pistons will eventually need a replacement for Jerami Grant whether he signs an extension or not, so grabbing a long-term project is not the worst idea.
Now that scouts know Miller is draft eligible, it’s possible he’ll rise into the first round, but if he doesn’t, he’s a guy to watch for the Detroit Pistons.