The New Orleans Pelicans have a lot of tough decisions to make this summer and whether to waive Darius Miller is one of them.
The New Orleans Pelicans have until July 8, 2020 to make a decision on small forward Darius Miller, who was injured playing three-on-three last summer.
Miller ruptured his Achilles just after signing a new two-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans and hasn’t seen the floor since. It was expected that he would miss 6-7 months, so Miller had a small chance of returning if the season hadn’t been suspended.
Miller is an interesting player, as he was starting to come on for the Pelicans and is the type of floor spacer and shooter that they could use in the second unit.
Miller averaged a career-high 8.2 points, 2.1 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game while shooting 36.5 percent from 3-point range on 4.3 attempts in his last full season for the Pelicans.
The New Orleans Pelicans don’t have a ton of needs, but when you have a dominant paint player like Zion Williamson, shooters and floor spacers will always be a priority.
Miller fits the bill. He is a 6-foot-6 small forward who shoots 38.2 percent from 3-point range for his career and was evolving into a valuable bench player for the Pelicans before he was injured.
July 8 is an important date because that’s the date by which the New Orleans Pelicans have to waive Miller before his contract of $7 million for 2020-21 becomes fully guaranteed.
The Pelicans are light on wings after Brandon Ingram, and will likely look to acquire one somehow, but the best option may just be to keep Miller.
Miller fits the profile of the type of wing they need, and has a fairly team-friendly price tag, but he is coming off a major injury and the Pelicans may be able to find someone cheaper who is less of a risk.
A solid case can be made either way, so let’s take a look at why the New Orleans Pelicans should and shouldn’t keep Miller.
The New Orleans Pelicans Should Keep Darius Miller
The New Orleans Pelicans are loaded with talent but they do have some holes that will need to be filled in the offseason.
They need a solid backup point guard, a wing who can defend or shoot (preferably both) and a defensive-minded center.
Some of these will be filled via the draft and free agency, though if the salary cap goes down the New Orleans Pelicans won’t have a ton to spend.
There also aren’t a lot of intriguing unrestricted free agents hitting the market, and the ones who are may be priced out of the New Orleans Pelicans’ price range.
It’s possible the New Orleans Pelicans can find someone cheaper, but when you look at salaries for small forwards, Miller is pretty much in line with what guys of his status make.
This is especially true if Miller continues to improve his long-range shooting. He shot 41.1 percent in 2017-18 on 4.4. attempts and played in all 82 games. If Miller could replicate those numbers next season on a few more attempts per game, then he would actually be a bargain.
The New Orleans Pelicans would not only be betting on Miller’s health but on his linear improvement, as he has gotten better every year he’s been in the league.
Miller is a known commodity that plays an important position, makes a reasonable salary and very well could have his best years in front of him.
Miller would be a $7 million risk worth taking, as he can fill a valuable role for the New Orleans Pelicans at a moderate price.
The New Orleans Pelicans Should Waive Darius Miller
The New Orleans Pelicans should waive Miller and find someone better, it is that simple.
Miller is 30-years-old, and while he has shown signs of improvement and can space the floor, the Pelicans can almost certainly find someone as good for less money.
There are any number of players coming out of the draft who might be able to crack the rotation, though there are few who would average 25.5 minutes per game as Miller did in the 2018-19 season.
There are also several veteran free agents who may be willing to take less to join a up and coming team and can provide similar stats and ability as Miller.
While Miller is a plus 3-point shooter, he doesn’t do much else, and the Pelicans are more desperate for defense and rebounding on the wing than they are scoring.
The New Orleans Pelicans already have plenty of guys who can score, and while floor spacers are important, so are defenders.
The Pelicans have the 20th best defensive rating in the NBA and the 4th highest scoring offense, so if they have to prioritize one skill, it should be defense.
Ideally the New Orleans Pelicans can find a 3-and-D type who can do both and won’t have to settle for a one-dimensional player like Miller.
Even though the Pelicans are familiar with Miller, there is no guarantee he will come back from his injury at 100 percent, so taking a risk on free agent or rookie still might not be as risky as betting on Miller’s health.
Free agents like Derrick Jones Jr. or even Jeff Green could put up similar stats and will likely be making less than Miller.
The New Orleans Pelicans have options, so they don’t have to risk an important salary slot on a guy coming off a blown Achilles.
The Pelicans will have some tough decisions to make very soon.
Thanks for reading and stay safe out there!