DRAFT WATCH #1 - Leonard Miller of G League Ignite is draftniks’ favorite for Nets

The Draft Lottery is done. The Spurs are the big winners. After that, who knows? The Blazers may trade the No. 3 pick as they try to pacify Damian Lillard. For the Nets, nothing changed in their draft picture. They hold the 21st pick (from the Suns), the 22nd pick (their own) and the 51st pick (their own). Some have speculated that the Nets might send out one of the two firsts to stock the roster with experienced players but as of now, three picks it is.

Scanning the mock drafts so far, there is a consensus pick (like there was two years ago with Day’Ron Sharpe) and it’s 19-year-old G League Ignite forward, Leonard Miller. Miller, a native of Toronto, is the draftniks choice, mocked at either 21 or 22 in five of the 10 mock drafts we follow. At 6’10” with a 7’2” wingspan, Miller is a versatile player at both ends of the court.

Here’s some video...

Here’s Jonathan Givony of ESPN’s analysis of how Miller could fit in Brooklyn:

The Nets have one of the longest, most positionless rosters in the NBA, with size and versatility at every position,” Givony wrote in the ESPN mock. “Adding a 6-10 wing in Leonard Miller — who is coming off an incredibly productive G League season in which he averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds as a 19-year-old — could make sense in that vein. His perimeter shooting, decision-making and defensive consistency are still in need of refinement, but it’s hard to find teenagers with the type of length, activity and scoring instincts Miller brings.

Givony also posted video from Miller’s workout at the NBA Draft Combine Monday in Chicago...

The Nets needs are well known: depth at the 5 and the 1, and Miller is a wing, but it’s likely the Nets will stick with their overriding Draft theme: Go BPA: Best Player Available. Other than Miller, only four other prospects are projected on one more than mock and none of them were on more than two mocks: Bilal Coulibaly, a 6’7” wing who was a teammate of Victor Wembanyama on Metropolitans92; Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 6’6” freshman combo guard from Indiana; Max Lewis, a 6’7” wing from Pepperdine and Ryan Rupert, the 6’7” French point guard Sean Marks twice scout in Australia and New Zealand.

So all that said, here’s first post-Lottery mock roundup:

ESPN

21. Leonard Miller, 6’10” forward, G League Ignite, 19 years old

22. Bilal Coulibaly, 6’7” wing, Metropolitans92, 18 years old

51. Julian Strawther. 6’7”, small forward, Gonzaga, junior

NBADraft.net

21. Jordan Hawkins, 6’5” shooting guard, UConn, sophomore

22. Leonard Miller, 6’10” forward, G League Ignite, 19 years old

51. Jordan Miller, 6’7” shooting guard, Miami, senior

The Athletic

21. Brice Sensabaugh, 6’6” wing, Ohio State, freshman

22. Jett Howard, 6’8” wing, Michigan, freshman

51. Omari Moore, 6’6” wing, San Jose State, junior

The Ringer

21. Jalen Hood-Schifino, 6’6” combo guard, Indiana, freshman

22. G.G. Jackson, 6’9” forward, South Carolina, freshman

Tankathon

21. Rayan Rupert, 6’7” guard, New Zealand Breakers, 18 years old

22. Kris Murray, 6’8” power forward, Iowa, junior

51. Dillon Mitchell, 6’7” small forward, Texas, freshman

SB Nation

21. Rayan Rupert, 6’7” guard, New Zealand Breakers, 18 years old

22. Max Lewis, 6’7” wing, Pepperdine, sophomore

Chad Ford’s Big Board

21. Max Lewis, 6’7” wing, Pepperdine, sophomore

22. Leonard Miller, 6’10” forward, G League Ignite, 19 years old

Bleacher Report

21. Jalen Hood-Schifino, 6’6” combo guard, Indiana, freshman

22. Bilal Coulibaly, 6’7” wing, Metropolitans92, 18 years old

51. Nikola Đurišić, 6’8” wing, Mega Basket Serbia, 19 years old

Yahoo! Sports

21. Leonard Miller, 6’10” forward, G League Ignite, 19 years old

22. G.G. Jackson, 6’9” forward, South Carolina, freshman

51. Kobe Brown, 6’9” forward, Missouri, senior

Sporting News

21. Kobe Bufkin, 6’4” combo guard, Michigan, sophomore

22. Leonard Miller, 6’10” forward, G League Ignite, 19 years old

The NBA Draft is June 22 at Barclays Center.

• Nets Projected to Land G League Ignite Star, Potential Future Top-10 Pick in NBA Draft - Heavy.com