Dream Scenario: OKC Thunder Land Third Pick, Brandon Miller

Just one day out from the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery, we’ll take a look at what landing the third overall pick could mean for the Thunder in a dream scenario.

In just over 24 hours, the 2023 NBA Draft lottery will commence, granting the top 14 teams their picks for the upcoming NBA Draft.

While it isn’t likely Oklahoma City jumps to the top of the draft, doing so would be a dream scenario for the team. If they landed the third overall pick, they’d likely select Alabama’s Brandon Miller, who is both projected to go third overall and likely the best overall fit for OKC in that spot.

Miller, who was likely the top freshman in all of college basketball last season, stands at 6-foot-9, 200-pounds, and functions as a wing. He averaged 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 43 percent overall and 38 percent from beyond the arc on a whopping 7.5 attempts per game.

Suffice to say, Miller would be a potent addition to Oklahoma City’s offense as a perimeter-oriented wing next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams.

With the ball in-hands, Miller has a solid handle, decent finishing ability and above average passing chops, but doesn’t quite have the speed or strength to get to the ring at will. Due to that, he projects to be a tertiary playmaker, which is perfect for OKC’s guard-laden squad.

Defensively, Miller is a bit of a work in progress, but overaged just shy of one steal and block per game with the Crimson Tide. With length and solid feel for the game, he’ll likely be a plus defender down the line with the right development.

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