The New Orleans Pelicans are in desperate need of perimeter shooting. Darius Miller provided a moderate boost in that category, but with his contract expiring, should they bring him back?
Darius Miller had a marginally extended role this past season but regressed or stagnated in nearly every major stat category. He played in 25.5 minutes of action (career-best) and started 15 games for the New Orleans Pelicans in 2018-2019—also a career-best for the 29 year-old. But what he did with a more prominent role within the rotation underwhelmed.
The Pelicans were abysmal shooting the ball from the perimeter in 2018-2019, so Darius Miller leading the team with 1.9 makes per contest, shooting the ball at a 37% clip from distance does showcase some of his worth. However, it should be noted that of his 7.0 field goal attempts per game, 5.3 of them come from three-point range. With 76% of his shots coming from three, his versatility on the offensive end is limited.
Compare this with fellow teammate E’Twaun Moore—who shot 43% from three and relied on just 33% of his offense coming from distance—it puts Miller’s lack of versatility on display. Moore connected on 1.4 threes per contest and shot 48% from the field overall, averaging 11.9 points. Miller shot just 39% from the field and averaged 8.2 points in comparison.
But in Darius Miller’s defense, only three players in the entire NBA were more adept at drawing fouls from the three-point line. Miller finished 4th in the NBA in 4-point opportunities this past season with nine, a phenomenon that is growing expediently each year. Though this stat is flattering to a résumé, it should not be the ultimate reason why a player is signed/re-signed.
Another weakness in Miller’s overall game has been his defense. And though it’s nearly impossible to have appealing individual stats when your team is among the worst defensive teams in the league, Miller has failed thus far to make any significant developments on this end of the court. In 2018-2019, he had a defensive rating of 116, which ranks worst of his career up to this point.
It’s also noteworthy that Miller has never bested 0.6 steals or 0.3 blocks in any season. And with the Pels in desperate need of forming a defensive identity, David Griffin and company could look elsewhere to turn things around.
So, in essence, Miller has been a fan favorite in the city of New Orleans at times. But, his overall play has yet to see any true forms of progression. And at the age of 29, it seems unlikely it ever will. Miller is known solely as a three-point marksman, but even in that aspect, he has unfortunately regressed. In 2017-2018, Miller shot 41% from distance. This past season, he slipped down to 37%—which is not astounding for a spot-up shooter.
Darius Miller has played his entire career with the New Orleans Pelicans and does not warrant a huge price tag. But with an inevitable revamping of this current roster—don’t be surprised if he’s not a part of the immediate future. What do you think about Miller’s status with New Orleans? Should they bring him back? Or do you agree with our stance? Let us know in the comments below!