How Brandon Miller Fits with the OKC Thunder

Next up in the Thunder Fits series, which will detail each draft pick's fit with the Thunder, is Alabama star Brandon Miller.

With the Oklahoma City Thunder out of the playoff running and the 2023 draft closing in, it’s time to switch gears to prospect evaluation mode.

And this year’s impending draft has plenty of players that can help bolster the OKC core.

No matter how unlikely it is Oklahoma City lands certain prospects, the Thunder Fit series will take a look at how they would fit with the current team’s configuration. And with a war chest of assets, you never know how far the front office could move up to acquire a player.

The third prospect in the series is Brandon Miller, who will likely hear his name called within the first three to four picks in the 2023 NBA Draft, meaning the Thunder will need plenty of lottery luck to land his talents.

Here’s how Miller could fit alongside the rest of the Thunder core:

Offense

Offensively, Miller is a seamless fit in Oklahoma City.

At 6-foot-9, Miller is a lanky forward who made a name for himself as one of the best players in the country with Alabama. He averaged 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in 37 games for the Crimson Tide, shooting 43 percent overall.

Miller’s outside prowess, 38 percent on 7.5 three-point attempts per game as a freshman, would immediately bolster the Thunder’s numbers, and provide a solid option for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams to defer to alongside Isaiah Joe.

Even more than that, Miller showed real upside as a jumbo playmaker and ball-handler, meaning he could continue to hone his skills as a tertiary option for OKC for the foreseeable future.

Off the ball, he provides size, length and shooting alongside the primary core, with real on-ball upside down the line.

Defense

At 6-foot-9 with a near-7-foot wingspan, Miller would offer OKC another versatile option alongside Luguentz Dort, Williams and, next season, Chet Holmgren.

Whoever drafts Miller will be doing so for his offensive upside, but he gives solid effort on the defensive end of the court and does a good job of putting himself in good position. He can hound the opposition with his length on-ball and generally attentive off-ball.

With his feel for the game, there’s a pathway to him being a plus defender in the league. Especially so on OKC's roster that has valued positional length.

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