Chris Finch frequently used the term “stray voltage” when describing Karl-Anthony Towns’ wild passes or questionable decisions. However, it can also be used to describe the raw energy and talent Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Leonard Miller has exhibited throughout the first two preseason games. In Minnesota’s first two games against the Dallas Mavericks, Miller showed the unrefined talent that justified the Wolves drafting him. But he also showed the youth and inexperience that made him a second-round pick.
Starting with the positives, Miller brings hustle and energy to the defensive side of the floor. Considered an incredible athlete before the draft, Miller can use that athleticism to play multiple positions on defense. In Abu Dhabi, the 6’10” forward defended opposing the Dallas Mavericks’ bigs and wings. His versatility seems to match what the Wolves have been looking for. They also signed Troy Brown Jr., who is versatile defensively. Below is a clip from Summer League that shows the exciting potential of what Miller’s athleticism can bring to Minnesota.
His defense especially shines when he is in a help side role. Miller can use his length to simultaneously keep his assignment in check while providing assistance to the other defenders. Miller jumps in front of passing lanes and slides off his matchup to affect shots and shut down drives. In Abu Dhabi, Miller showed an understanding of his role in a defensive system. That’s something the Wolves will need if they play him next to Towns. The clip below is a slowed-down look at Miller’s ability to help on defense without fouling.
The improvement in Miller’s ability to time shots and get blocks was also on display against the Mavericks. Miller had at least one block in each game in Abu Dhabi. That’s an improvement from last year, when he averaged 0.8 blocks per game with the G-League Ignite. He also struggled defensively, with a 113.3 defensive rating and -3.6 net rating. Miller’s improvements against similar competition in the preseason and even Summer League are notable. His preseason defensive rating dropping to an astounding 91.1.
In preseason, Miller has also shown that he can score. His jump shot appears more compact and comfortable, even compared to Summer League. Miller’s big leg kick out is significantly less noticeable, and his release appears to be more consistent. He also displayed the ability to both score in transition and shoot threes.
Again, this is something the Wolves have shown a fondness for in the bigs with Towns and Naz Reid. Noticeably, like Reid, Miller has the ability to take the ball off of a defensive rebound and dribble in transition. It’s a great way to push the pace and allows the offense to get set without needing a guard to wait for a pass.
Miller’s ability to score shines when you get into the numbers. There isn’t a lot of preseason data, but Miller’s 7 points per game in only 12 minutes is impressive, as is his 58% true shooting percentage (shooting percentage adjusted for 3-point shots and free throws). However, 24 total minutes of court time isn’t a large enough sample size to rely on.
Looking back to his G League season, he had a 64% true shooting percentage and 18 points per game on similar usage percentages. He had a 21.8% usage percentage in the G League and 24.7% in the preseason. That offers hope for his ability as a scorer in a key role in the offense and with high volume. Below is a look at Leonard Miller’s new jump shot, the leg kick is still there but far less noticeable than in Summer League.
Below is a short Summer League compilation of Miller’s potential, from passing to scoring in a variety of ways and some impressive blocks on defense. Also notice in the video below what his jump shot looked like in summer league. Comparing the below video to the clip above it’s easy to see how he is working to make the leg kick less extreme and more compact.
With the positives come the negatives. Most notably, turnovers have been a problem in preseason. With 6 turnovers in 24 minutes of action, Miller would be on his way to a historic turnover rate averaging 9 per 36 mins. Often, Miller’s turnovers don’t come from great defense either. They come from erratic passes or trying to do too much with the ball in his hands. But turnovers didn’t seem to be nearly as much of a problem in the G League. There he had a similar usage percentage but only had 1.5 turnovers per game in 30 minutes of play. That suggests maybe Miller is trying to play-make or play outside of his G league role.
Miller also didn’t rebound the ball well. Coming into the draft, Miller averaged 11 rebounds per game and exhibited his athleticism and frame. Conversely, Miller had a total of 4 rebounds in his first 2 preseason games. His defensive rebound percentage also highlights his vast decrease in production. Last season with the Ignite, he had an impressive 24.7% ranking 19th among all players who played in the G League in 2022-23. Meanwhile, the same statistic is at 5.9% through two games in the preseason. That’s among the lowest on the team.
However, Miller has been tasked to play more on the wing in the preseason, meaning he is sometimes not in a great position to rebound the ball. Miller also had to compete with rebounds with teammate Luka Garza, who has been excelling at grabbing rebounds against the Mavericks this preseason. Regardless of the reason, Miller’s rebounding has dropped off so much is something of an oddity and should be a concern.
In the preseason, Miller has shown exactly what we should expect from him. He’s a young player with much potential. His ability to score and be multifaceted on offense is encouraging, as is his understanding of oddball defense. With the positives come the concerns of turnovers and lack of consistency with his ability to rebound. That highlights the room for growth and inexperience and is probably why he’s a second-round pick. Wolves fans likely won’t see much of Miller in the regular season, but he could be an excellent development story.
