Wildly Unnecessarily Lengthy 2014 NBA Draft Board, Part 1: NCAA Centres
 |
| Spontaneous Superman impression. |
Daniel Miller, Georgia Tech, Senior, 6'11 275lbs
2013/14 stats: 30.8mpg, 10.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.4 bpg, 1.5 apg, 1.2 spg, 2.5 fpg, 1.5 TOpg, 57.8% FG, 61.6% FT
2013/14 stats: 30.8mpg, 10.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.4 bpg, 1.5 apg, 1.2 spg, 2.5 fpg, 1.5 TOpg, 57.8% FG, 61.6% FT
Miller has an intriguing mix of size and finesse. Plenty big enough for the centre spot and with a decent wingspan, Miller is a disciplined player who plays within his limits, who plays smart and efficiently, and who contributes on both ends of the court.
On the offensive end, Miller makes useful work of a turnaround jumpshot on which he has a deft touch despite fading heavily sideways. He shoots from the mid range and no further, and inexplicably has a poor free throw stroke that does not readily reconcile with this, yet the mid-range jumpshot is nice and not easily found in one so big. Miller is a finisher, not a creator - he needs everything setting up for him, be it a J or a shot from the paint, as he has little handle and post-up creativity. Nonetheless, Miller can catch and finish down low with good hands and good touch, passes well from down there, utilises a little spin move to get closer, and he is also more than willing to run the court.
Decently athletic, Miller is a rim protector with a nice leap and good timing, and also defends the perimeter well for one so big, demonstrating good footwork and not getting himself crossed up. He occasionally gives up on closeouts, yet he is for the most part a disciplined defender who anticipates well and competes, especially strong in man to man defense. He has not the most toned physique, carrying a little meat on the bones, but centres ought be allowed that when their job is to give and take contact. Miller's lateral quickness does not match his leap and straight line speed, and he is a fairly poor rebounder for his size, but the rim protection makes up for a lot of this and is certainly the most important and impactful part of his defensive game.
Miller's main problem is that he excels in no one facet of the game. Perhaps best as a shotblocker, he is nonetheless a mediocre rebounder, which offsets this ideal of post purist somewhat. The jumpshot is nice but not brilliant, and as mentioned above, his offense is opportunistic. Regardless of this, however, he has been a nice role player for Georgia Tech and he will go on to be a nice role player wherever he goes. Not everyone needs to star. Some just don't work like that.