Former Miami Hurricane Jordan Miller began his stint with the LA Clippers as a late second-round pick who was compared to the reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The build was there, and if the unique scoring strategies could be picked up on from experience in the G-League, Miller could have blossomed as the first real young talent on the roster.
The Clippers even showed their share of hope for Miller, as he came a long way in just one season from a rookie to a sophomore, by converting his contract mid-season. He was on track to do great things, but only if Tyronn Lue played him.
Although Lue did occasionally substitute Miller in or give him extended minutes during times of injury, there was no consistent foundation, which stunted his development in the NBA, as the ball is not always in his hands. This is reasonable, as the coaching staff cannot expect a young, rising star like Miller to produce consistently if, in one game, he plays 20 minutes and in the next, he checks in for just five.
The postseason passed, and Miller only logged 13 minutes against the Denver Nuggets. He had remained a reserve for most of the regular season and the entirety of the playoffs, meaning the contract he agreed to, which was mostly non-guaranteed, was at risk.
The Clippers waited until after John Collins was traded, and before the signing of Bradley Beal, which seems extremely likely, to waive Miller. He could still play in the summer league and may even sign a two-way contract with LA, but this decision could be added to the list of senseless transactions made by the organization regarding its youthful talents.
By waiving Jordan Miller, the future is predictable, as this mistake by the LA Clippers has been made before
Before Jordan Miller, the LA Clippers made a mistake with the wrong call on Brandon Boston Jr. and Moussa Diabate. Both had potential and were drafted by LA, but were passed over years later as the front office gave far more priority to the veterans in the rotation.
Furthermore, a young team like the Utah Jazz or Charlotte Hornets will likely find a way to add Miller, ultimately giving him a better opportunity than he received from the Clippers.
This is where he will be able to showcase his unique skill set, as the new environment will be more tailored towards maximizing the youth, similar to what Boston Jr. and Diabate did in the second phase of their careers.