According to HoopsHype’s draft workout tracker, the Boston Celtics have attended a workout for Cincinnati senior Baba Miller. Miller has worked out for a handful of teams, thus far, so there’s a chance that the Cs just got a look at him at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago this past week.
The six-foot-11-inch, 209-pound big man could be an option with Boston’s second-round pick (via the Milwaukee Bucks). Draft experts project him to be drafted in the mid-to-early 40s next month.
Miller capped off his collegiate career with an impressive senior season for the Bearcats. He was named to the All-Conference Team for the Big 12 after averaging 13.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game in 31 appearances for Cincy.
What does Baba Miller offer to the Celtics?
Miller, as a second-rounder, could be a decent value pick for the Celtics. His size and mobility make him an interesting defensive prospect whose offense still needs polishing.
The 22-year-old Spaniard has the physical tools necessary to be an effective defender at the pro level. His near-seven-foot frame combined with his seven-foot-two-inch wingspan and quick feet allow him to keep up with quicker guards in switches.
Miller uses his length well to be a disruptor on defense, too, with a combined 2.1 stocks per game this past season. Shot blocking, in particular, is an area where he thrives. Not only can Miller fly across the floor to swat away shots as a help defender, but he’s got the patience necessary to stay disciplined when defending on the ball and stay down on pump fakes.
Offensively, his playmaking ability stands out for a guy his size. Miller can put the ball on the floor, keep it away from defenders, and find his teammates for clean looks quite well. Even in quicker spots where all he needs to do is make the right read and find a cutter or open shooter, he does well.
Making smart connecting passes, while defending at a high level, is a great way to get teammates to trust you, that’s for sure.
He’s more than willing to cut, too, which is effective because Miller has plenty of bounce. He can rise up for quick dunks -- another tool that could enable him to be an effective low-usage offensive weapon. Miller is not Robert Williams III, but Rob is a great example of how extreme hops can make a non-shooter an effective floor spacer from the dunker’s spot.
Maybe there’s a pathway for Miller to see opportunity there in Boston.
He showed real promise as a rebounder in his final two collegiate seasons, averaging 7.0 rebounds as a junior, and then 10.3 as a senior.
Baba Miller has work to do before he'd be ready to help the Celtics
Any projected second-round pick is going to have flaws.
For Miller, the most glaring is his lack of a reliable jump shot. He sank just 19.2% of his triples and 65.8% of his free-throws as a senior at Cincinnati. Neither number indicates that teams should expect the wiry big man to develop as a floor-spacer at any time.
He showed some promise as a junior at Florida Atlantic last year, where he converted on 34.2% of his threes on 3.4 attempts per game. It feels more like an outlier at this point than an indicator that Miller will knock down threes at a reliable rate in the NBA.
It’s tough to imagine him separating himself from some of Boston’s other bigs without a jumper. He’d be a less-effective version of Neemias Queta, which doesn’t add a lot of intrigue.
Miller’s skinny frame raises questions, as well. His success on the glass may not translate to the league since he doesn’t have the size to compete with the strength of most bigs.
“Unless he’s paired with a true center who can also shoot, he’s a bit undersized to handle the responsibilities of defending the post, rebounding, and serving as the primary rim protector,” wrote Yahoo’s NBA Draft expert Kevin O’Connor.
If Boston is willing to give Miller some time to develop his body and maybe add a jumpshot to his game, then he could be worth taking at No. 40. It’s tough to deny his defensive upside, especially the switchability. Even if his name is called on draft night, fans shouldn’t expect to see Miller in Boston much next season. He’d likely spend his time up in Maine with the G-League Celtics.
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