(#33) Minnesota Timberwolves- Leonard Miller
It would’ve been such a Spurs-y move to keep Leonard Miller and develop him into a key piece as a second-round pick. Instead, the Timberwolves acquire him and basically dole out all their frontcourt minutes in the process. Although Miller has a ton of upside and long-term appeal, it might take a while (or a major trade) for him to find opportunities alongside Rudy Gobert, Karl Anthony-Towns, and Naz Reid—a trio that combines to make just below $90 million next season, $107 million in 2024-25, and nearly $115 million in 2025-26. One of these guys (or Miller) will have to be dealt in order to carve out a meaningful role for the rookie.
(#35) Chicago Bulls- Julian Phillips
After watching him since middle school, it’s always been easy to see the appeal with Julian Phillips. His combination of size, skill, and athleticism has always caused problems for opponents. That being said, the Bulls will secure one of the highest value picks in the draft if they can ultimately unlock his three-point shooting. If Phillips can just get to 35% from beyond the arc, he will greatly outperform his draft position (especially accounting for everything else he already does to impact the game). That being said, Chicago has a variety of different paths to consider. They seem less likely to blow it up and trade all their veterans after inking Nikola Vucevic to a pretty favorable contract extension, but it’s not completely out of the question. Either way, Phillips has multiple paths for earning minutes.
(#37) Denver Nuggets- Hunter Tyson
Given the pieces Calvin Boothe has drafted since becoming the Nuggets’ general manager, it makes sense that they’d trade to acquire a veteran piece like Hunter Tyson. Between his career at Clemson and general trajectory, he’s the type of player whose game could certainly benefit from the NBA structure. Sure, Tyson might be older than a lot of guys in this draft, but that’s actually a positive for Denver. They’ll inevitably need someone to fill the void left by Bruce Brown, and while Tyson can’t provide the same defensive prowess, he has the tools to carve out rotation minutes for this group. His combination of size, rebounding, and three-point shooting will make him a useful piece, but there’s no telling his ceiling playing alongside Nikola Jokic.
(#38) Boston Celtics- Jordan Walsh
After allowing Grant Williams to walk in free agency, it appears the Celtics already had a replacement plan by drafting Jordan Walsh. Though his per-game averages at Arkansas won’t necessarily jump off the page, Walsh has been a difference-maker at every level. His length, motor, athleticism, and general versatility causes a ton of problems for opponents. Despite being a capable cutter, his offensive identity will need to continue to grow. That being said, Walsh can already defend multiple positions, including some big men, and looks comfortable toggling between any position on the floor. Expect him to steadily emerge for this group.
(#45) Memphis Grizzlies- GG Jackson
The youngest player in the draft falls to the middle of the second round, yet there’s no real reason or explanation as to why GG Jackson wasn’t a bigger priority to more teams. Perhaps it’s due to some questions regarding maturity, but folks can rest assured knowing Jackson is not a bad teammate or locker room guy. Again, he’s the youngest player in this draft. His numbers at South Carolina were quite impressive, especially as someone forced to burden such a heavy load as freshman. In the NBA, Jackson should outperform his draft position by being a matchup problem for opposing forwards. He’s a polished, versatile scorer with the ability to apply pressure in a variety of different ways. Depending on the timeline for Brandon Clarke’s return, don’t be surprised to see Jackson earn some playing opportunities.