The NBA in March is thoroughly weird. It’s a time when guys who usually fly under the radar string together games (due to injuries to the team’s primary players) where they look like future key pieces.
Are they? In some cases, yes. In other cases, perhaps not. But that shouldn’t prevent us from enjoying their play, while hoping they stick at the pro level — because let’s be honest, the league is always better when more talent pops.
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Here are three players who are putting in the late-season work while fighting for a role, and even a job, for next season.
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Leonard Miller, Chicago Bulls
After coming over from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Ayo Dosunmu trade, Miller has made the most of his opportunity in Chicago.
The 6-foot-10 power forward has played in 16 games for the Bulls, averaging 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds in just under 20 minutes of play. He’s creative inside, and has a bit of a jumper (which needs work over the summer) and a high motor. He’s cracked double-figure scoring in his last seven games, including a 17-point, 9-rebound performance against the Rockets on Monday.
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Miller is fairly adept on the wing, as he handles the ball competently and is improving as a passer. At 22, there’s still quite a bit of potential left in the tank. So the Bulls are hoping, with a strong summer ahead, that he turns into a permanent rotation player for them as they continue their rebuild.
Julian Reese, Washington Wizards
Yes, he may be better known as Angel Reese’s brother, but he’s also making a name for himself these days.
The 22-year-old is a formidable rebounder (like his sister) who understands the power of angles, is relentless in his pursuit of the ball, and just has a nose for being in the right spot at the right time. While his 9.2 points and 9.4 rebounds are solid, his two-way contractual status limits his availability. But when he plays, he’s making a difference.
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Finally, the power forward is converting on nearly 60% of his shots, and has shown a patience in letting the offense develop. If he doesn’t end up with the Wizards next season, some other team should definitely give him a shot.
Tyson Etienne, Brooklyn Nets
At 6-foot-nothing, Etienne will always be at a size disadvantage, which means a stable offensive game is outright required. After a slow start to the season, the 26-year-old is coming on strong, and he’s doing it off the 3-ball.
Etienne is hitting 43.9% of his 3-point attempts this season, and he’s getting those bad boys up quick and on high volume. Over his past eight games, he’s taking 5.5 of them in just over 17 minutes of play. He essentially doesn’t take 2s, but that’s by design, and it’s a design which works within the construct of the offense.
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Whether Etienne has a future in Brooklyn, or if he has to look elsewhere, remains to be seen. It’s always exceedingly difficult to break through at the NBA level at that size. But if he can spend the remaining part of the season showcasing his ability to take, and hit, a plethora of outside shots, that should give him the ammunition to seek out a more permanent home.
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