Darius Miller - good candidate to start at Small Forward?

[Mr. Mojo]

So I think I'm rooting for Darius to get the starting job at SF. I love Aminu, but i think he is misused. Like Eman said in another thread he is definitely a PF; he is a very underated rebounder and a great defender and he gets tons of hustle and clean-up points around the basket.

Aminu could be more aggressive playing in the paint - when he's at midrange or 3 point territory he doesn't have the ball-handling skills to be able escape or create space, and more frequently just waits to make a pass or takes a shot that is slightly out of his range. I think his skills would be better catered-to by him learning some post moves and more of the pick and roll game instead of dribble moves and perimeter shooting.

I think Darius could make the best use of and convert on more of those wide open looks that come from being the 4th or 5th option in a starting unit with Gordon and Davis in it. I think that would work out great for the bench also, because it allows Anderson to play SF offensively (with Aminu at PF) but on defense he can cover PFs and Aminu the SFs. The bench in this case would be Rivers/Mason/Anderson/Aminu/Smith.

To me that bench lineup has a nice balance of shooting, rebounding, and defense. On nights when we're playing a team without a center who's too strong for Davis at this stage (teams like Heat,Thunder,Celtics, Bulls, Mavs, etc.) we could go small and start Vasquez/Gordon/Aminu/Anderson/Davis, with Aminu covering the best wingman because he is our best perimeter defender.

So do y'all see Darius as a possible starter at the SF? See any potential problems with starting Darius or with the resulting bench lineup? prefer a random unmentioned third party as the starter?

[Pantazis76]

HE might start.. one day definitely not rooting for him to start in the first half of this season though..

[nolaslim213]

If he can hit the 3 like he is doing now, I can almost guarantee you he starts at some point this season - or at least gets starter minutes. He needs to improve defensively, but he'll be fine. Just a natural rookie curve, but he is a very heady player, so I expect the adjustment to be shorter than it is for 90% of this rookie class.

[PennStatePelican]

I think Darius could make the best use of and convert on more of those wide open looks that come from being the 4th or 5th option in a starting unit with Gordon and Davis in it. I think that would work out great for the bench also, because it allows Anderson to play SF offensively (with Aminu at PF) but on defense he can cover PFs and Aminu the SFs. The bench in this case would be Rivers/Mason/Anderson/Aminu/Smith.

I think this would be the best way for Anderson to see heavy minutes consistently. It maximizes each's strengths on offense while minimizing each's weaknesses on defense. I'd like to see that rotation in a pre-season game or early in the season to see how well it would work.

[Eman5805]

The way Aminu played yesterday, he'll be tough to unseat.

[HornetGuru]

aminu needs to be the starter, he has all the tools, size, strength, athleticism, defense, agility, he only needs to improve his shot like he is doing now, yesterday he had a sweet step back jumper from deep, once he finally hits his stride he will be absolutely deadly

[MeSoHornets504]

I think a lot of people underestimate Miller's athleticism. It's not quite on par with amino, but it isn't a significant drop off. I feel like Miller already knows who he is as a player. He came into the league after 4 years in a system that produced major NBA talent in the last half decade. He has played with talent that will be, or already are, stars. He isn't some one and done kid either, his maturity is insane. I can certainly see him giving aminu a run for his money. I feel like Miller will be more ready than Aminu by December, I still believe Chief has the higher ceiling though.

[Pelicans78]

I think a lot of people underestimate Miller's athleticism. It's not quite on par with amino, but it isn't a significant drop off. I feel like Miller already knows who he is as a player. He came into the league after 4 years in a system that produced major NBA talent in the last half decade. He has played with talent that will be, or already are, stars. He isn't some one and done kid either, his maturity is insane. I can certainly see him giving aminu a run for his money. I feel like Miller will be more ready than Aminu by December, I still believe Chief has the higher ceiling though.

I agree with this post. Aminu may have the higher ceiling, but Miller has the skill set to be play well next to Davis, Anderson, and Gordon.

[Mr. West]

I feel like Miller fits into our starting lineup better than Aminu seeing how we've got 3 pt specialists in Mason and Anderson coming off our bench already and no real 3 pt threat in the starting group. However, its easy to see that Aminu's ceiling is much higher than Millers so I don't want to give up on him.

Only real thing we can infer from Miller playing well so far is that X has to step up otherwise he will get left behind. No room at 2 with Gordon and Mason. Hopefully no room at 3 with Aminu and Miller both looking alright. His player option may be an easy decision...

[Pelicans78]

I feel like Miller fits into our starting lineup better than Aminu seeing how we've got 3 pt specialists in Mason and Anderson coming off our bench already and no real 3 pt threat in the starting group. However, its easy to see that Aminu's ceiling is much higher than Millers so I don't want to give up on him.

Only real thing we can infer from Miller playing well so far is that X has to step up otherwise he will get left behind. No room at 2 with Gordon and Mason. Hopefully no room at 3 with Aminu and Miller both looking alright. His player option may be an easy decision...

Yeah, I'm pretty sure X won't get extended. He hasn't played much in the preseason and Miller and Aminu are showing good things.

[AUSSIE_PELICAN]

What would be so wrong in accepting Aminu, Vasquez and Xaviers options?
We have the cap space this season.
Monty and Dell have said it takes 3-4 years to see a Rookies worth.
If either players doesn't improve beyond this season then don't accept their QO.

BTW don't the Hornets have to decide on these players by the end of October?

[Vinny6420]

I think he can be a start, but I would stick with Aminu for now

[gerryv]

I'm careful not to label a player a "great defender" until i see him perform under real game situations...right now lots of simple offensive situations are being defended...same holds true for rebounding...caliber of the competition must also be considered.....I'll hold judgement till later.

[BP225]

What would be so wrong in accepting Aminu, Vasquez and Xaviers options?

1) You'd tie up cap space for very replaceable bench players that could prevent you from going after a much higher caliber Free Agent
2) You'd lock yourself into overpaying for players with much lower market value. Look at Jason Smith, his option didn't get picked up and Marco's did, but Smith is the player that ended up sticking around. And I'm not saying I expect Henry to stick, I don't, but if any of these players don't get their options picked up it doesn't necessarily mean that they are gone next year, it may just mean that Demps thinks he can sign them cheaper/longer.