Wayne Ellington suffered an unfortunate concussion against the Sacramento Kings. Throughout the preseason, it was growing more obvious that Ronnie Price should be kept. While Price is a quality player and adds defensive presence at the point guard slot, the Lakers still lack perimeter shooting.
Wayne Ellington hit a shooting slump at the worst time. The arc and follow-through on his shot is great, yet, I’ve yet to see a jumpshot where he jumps straight up. Usually, he’s leaning left, right, or forward. He’s caught leaning just to get his jumpshot away from other defenders. Unfortunately, those shots have mostly been misses.
Enter Quincy Miller.
According to Draftexpress.com, Quincy Miller is listed at 6’8.75″ with a wingspan over 7’1″. He has a reputation as a shooter. If those two qualities seem familiar from the draft this past summer, they should. The Toronto Raptors selected Bruno Caboclo in the first round.
The quote tied to Bruno Caboclo from ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla is, “He’s two years away from being two years away.” His play during the Vegas Pro League showed otherwise.
Length at the forward position with perimeter shooting ability is a premium in the modern NBA.
Last summer, Quincy Miller played against Bruno Caboclo. He scored 23 points. He hit four 3-point shots. He even nailed a shot right over the stretched-out arms of Caboclo at the end of the first quarter. He has been in the NBA awhile, so he expanded on playmaking ability and help defense. This is most evident with his 4 assists and 3 blocked shots.
Ellington is reliant on a strong base from his legs to elevate for a jumpshot. Quincy Miller relies on his length and quick release.
Last year, Miller shot 36.7% from the field and 31.9% behind the arc. While those numbers are not impressive for any player, Miller is due for a breakout year. His play during the Vegas Pro League is just a sign of things to come. Since his rookie year, he has added some weight and isn’t shy about attacking the basket.
He has been showing more than just a jumpshot.
His skills are becoming more refined as he matures. He just need the right situation for his game to grow.
That situation could be with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Hopefully, the Lakers can pick him up.