Nuggets Targeting Mike Miller?
By Evan Wheeler
With the departures of Andre Iguodala and Corey Brewer, and with Danilo Gallinari being out until at least December the Nuggets are looking to add some depth at the wing positions. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, Denver has become a team that free agent forward Mike Miller is giving “strong consideration” to. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies(one of Miller’s former team’s), are the early frontrunners in signing Miller according to Stein. Forward Kevin Durant and center Marc Gasol, have been actively recruiting Miller to both of their respective team’s, the Houston Rockets have also made an offer to Miller as well.
Miller spent the last three seasons with the Miami Heat, where he helped the team win back-to-back NBA titles. Miller’s best performances with the Heat, came in the team’s last two Finals appearances. In game five of the 2012 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Miller drained seven shots from beyond the arc, setting a NBA Finals record for most three’s hit by a reserve. For his career, Miller has averaged 12.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 41% from the three point line. Denver would provide Miller, with a chance to play more minutes and a bigger role than the other team’s who are reportedly interested in his services. The Nuggets also can offer more money to Miller, than Oklahoma City, Memphis or Houston is able to.
In adding Miller, the Nuggets would once again add another shooter to help space the floor. With having Randy Foye, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Evan Fournier and Mike Miller, Denver would immediately be a drastically better perimeter shooting team. Miller would also bring another veteran presence to a young team and bring championship experience as well. There also is some familiar faces here in Denver to make Miller more comfortable, new Nuggets guard Randy Foye and center JaVale McGee, were teammates with Miller in Washington for one season. Miller would provide Denver with much needed depth and scoring on the wing, as long as he can stay healthy. The one concern with the 33 year old veteran has been his durability and recent injury problems. Over the past four seasons Miller has only appeared in a average of 48 games per season, which could be a issue here in Denver. Regardless, I think Miller would be a good addition to Denver’s current roster and be another, much needed shooter that new coach Brian Shaw could utilize.