Miami, FL
NBA mock drafts: Suns pick Miami’s Jordan Miller, centers
It’s draft day for the Phoenix Suns, who as it stands should have a second-round pick on Thursday.
It’s not clear if the Suns will hang onto their 52nd overall selection or if a pick swap is in order for the pending Bradley Beal-Chris Paul trade with the Washington Wizards. That, by the way, isn’t expected to go through until a trade call Friday, reports Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fischer.
A swap likely lands the Suns at 57th overall, where Washington owns a pick.
The final round of NBA mock drafts trend toward the Suns picking either Miami Hurricanes wing Jordan Miller or a few project centers.
People are assuming there is a Deandre Ayton trade on the horizon. Even without that, Bismack Biyombo and Jock Landale are free agents, though there’s reason to believe they will attempt to re-sign at least one of those players.
As for Miller, it would make sense. He’s a 3-and-D wing who went to Miami, the same school as Suns president of basketball operations and GM James Jones.
A five-year college player at George Mason and Miami, he was the second-leading scorer on the national runner-up (15.3 points per game), who was efficient (55% overal) and took a step as a three-point shooter (35% on 2.5 attempts per game) this past season.
He’s also got pretty darn good length in a slim frame, can create with a few dribbles and rebounds at a solid rate.
Beyond Miller, Washington State center Mouhamed Gueye, Florida center Colin Castleton and UConn’s Adama Sanogo are mocked to Phoenix, as is project wing Emoni Bates, who we covered in the previous edition of this mock-draft outlook.
2023 NBA mock draft picks – Suns
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo
57th overall: Miami wing Jordan Miller
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie
52nd overall: Miami wing Jordan Miller
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor
52nd overall: Florida center Colin Castleton
If the Suns move Deandre Ayton, then they’ll likely need to add some centers on the cheap. Castleton could develop into a solid two-way presence.
Yahoo! Sports’ Krysten Peek
52nd overall: UConn center Adama Sanogo
With the addition of Bradley Beal and an established backcourt, the Suns can add some more size in the post and defensive presence this late in the draft with Sanogo. He was one of the best rebounders during the regular season and in the NBA Draft Combine scrimmages and can be slotted beside Deandre Ayton in the post or give solid secondary minutes off the bench right away.
Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman
52nd overall: Washington State C Mouhamed Gueye
In a draft with limited true bigs, Gueye should hear his named called after a productive season that highlighted a combination of post skill, mid-range touch, face-up driving potential and rebounding motor.
ForTheWin.com’s Bryan Kalbrosky
52nd overall: Washington State C Mouhamed Gueye
NBADraft.net
Eastern Michigan wing Emoni Bates
Miami, FL
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Miami, FL
The Miami Hurricanes Lose Three Players, One to the Portal and two to the NFL
CORAL GABLES, Fl – The Miami Hurricanes offseason continues with its trail of players leaving for the NFL Draft or entering the transfer portal.
Transfer cornerback Mishael Powell and red-shirt junior tightened Elijah Arroyo have now declared for the NFL Draft per each player’s social media.
After two injured-plagued seasons, Elijah Arroyo had a breakout year for Miami as a redshirt junior in 2024. Arroyo is turning his second team All-ACC season in and entering the 2025 NFL Draft. Arroyo flashed career highs with 35 receptions for 590 yards and seven TDs in 2024.
Mishael Powell will also declare for the NFL Draft for any team that is looking for a secondary piece on the pro level. With how questionable the secondary was this season for the Hurricanes the flashes that Powell showed were inconsistent at best but he did have some high moments.
He finished his lone season with the hUrricanes with 28 tackles, five interceptions, and six pass deflections.
While these players are Declaring for the NFL Draft, one player has decided to enter the transfer portal. Jaden Harris is entering after a disappointing season as the secondary begins to revamp the entire room.
The 6′, 195-pound redshirt sophomore from Atlanta had a rough season for Miami, grading at 56.6 on PFF with 15 missed tackles (25.9%) and a 57.2 coverage grade.
For his career, Harris has made 47 tackles with 5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, and 1 INT. He was ACC Defensive Back of the Week after his performance against Florida.
READ MORE FROM MIAMI HURRICANES ON SI:
The Hurricanes Squander The Final Game of the Season Away, Failing to Crush Iowa State
The Cam Ward Era is Over for Miami, but will Never be Forgotten
Ward and George Opt Out at Halftime, Quit on Their Team
Follow all social media platforms to stay up to date with everything Miami Hurricanes- Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and BlueSky.
Miami, FL
Watch: Shaquille O’Neal Scored First NBA Basket Against Miami Heat
Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal retired as one of the most dominant players in NBA history.
Let’s take a look back at when it began. In 1992, he scored his first basket in the preseason against the Miami Heat. A few days later, he scored his first official points on a dunk against the same Heat. The bucket came after he rebounded a Donald Royal missed layup.
Years later, O’Neal joined the Heat to help lead them to the first title in franchise history in 2006.
JORDAN WASN’T READY FOR FRESH START
By 1998, Michael Jordan was already in for the long haul.
The Chicago Bulls had to accept Jordan and coach Phil Jackson as a package deal. So when rumblings began of the Bulls parting ways with Jackson at season’s end, Jordan spoke up.
He made his feeling clear an interview at the NBA All-Star game that season. Jordan said he would rather retire than play in Chicago without Jackson.
“It very well can be,” Jordan said of it possibly being his last All-Star game as a member of the Bulls. “I think right now in Chicago, they’re looking to make a change to go a different direction with the coach staff, which I think affects me a lot. They really don’t leave me with many choices. So right now, in my mind, I’m thinking that’s it.”
Jordan made good on his threat. The Bulls won a sixth title with Jordan, but hired Tim Floyd as coach in the offseason. It led to Jordan’s second retirement because he was unwilling to have a fresh start.
STOUDAMIRE HAS REGRETS ABOUT LEAVING TORONTO
Years later, Damon Stoudamire can admit he got a little ahead of himself.
He was the Rookie of the Year in 1996 after being drafted by the Toronto Raptors but grew impatient playing for a losing expansion team. It eventually led to Stoudamire wanting a trade.
He landed with a stacked Portland Trail Blazers team that made the 1999 Western Conference finals, but nowadays Stoudamire thinks back to what could have been with the Raptors.
“Big picture again, I should’ve stayed,” Stoudamire said on the Ballislife podcast. “You know, T-Mac [Tracy McGrady] was a rookie. He was gonna hit his stride. And you still had Marcus Camby.”
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