LIFT Sports Management, operated by former NBA player Mike Miller, landed its biggest client so far when Duke’s Paolo Banchero signed with the agency on Saturday, tweets Jeff Goodman of Stadium. LIFT released a short video announcing the move and welcoming Banchero to its team (Twitter link).
Banchero was one of the top players in college basketball this season, being named ACC Rookie of the Year and earning second-team All-American honors. He is projected as a top four pick in next month’s draft and is rated as the No. 2 prospect on ESPN’s big board.
Miller launched the agency last year after spending two years as an assistant at the University of Memphis. According to RealGM, he has six other clients who are eligible for this year’s draft.
There’s more draft-related news to pass along:
- Washington State’s Mouhamed Gueye has been invited to participate in the NBA G League Elite Camp, according to JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors (Twitter link). The freshman center averaged 7.4 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Cougars this season.
- Josh Minott of Memphis has been impressive in his early workouts for a few Eastern Conference teams, tweets Adam Zagoria. He averaged 6.6 and 3.8 rebounds as a freshman with the Tigers.
- Canadian high school prospect Leonard Miller has been ruled eligible for the draft, tweets Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated. Paperwork issues prevented him from being included on the official early entries list, but those problems have been resolved.
- Woo has released a new list of top 100 prospects, which has Auburn’s Jabari Smith at No. 1. Woo calls Smith “the best pure freshman jump shooter to enter the draft in years” and “a legit No. 1 pick candidate in most drafts.” Rounding out his top five are Purdue’s Jaden Ivey, Banchero, Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren and Kentucky’s Shaedon Sharpe.
Which draft has better top 8 picks, 2021 or 2022?
Is there a potential top 10 player in the nba this draft?
Multiple top10 players in this draft. Remember the name Bennedict Mathurin
2021 was better
Leonard Miller can play ball. Pretty similar to MarJon Beauchamp who is 1 of my favorite players in this class. Both guys long & versatile. Neither will be a #1 scorer for a team but both will be making good plays in the league for a long time
Imo the draft order will determine where Holmgren goes. Was not big on him at first. But after Memphis gm. Have watched lot of video on him. I still believe he has to get 50-60 LBs. He has NBA gm but needs NBA strength. So just physically speaking he won’t be ready for 2-3 yrs. Definitely big upside at center. He’s a Jokic type to me. High IQ and gm at center position. He’s a true center to me. But you will have to be patient with him. I start him in G-league first yr.
Smith is clear #1 to me. Banchero should be the 2nd pick. But if Pistons get 2nd pick. I don’t see them pass on Ivey. Iveys mom is a legit coach. He knows the gm well. The NBA comp will bring out more gm in him. He can be a special player imo. With Cade there and being so unselfish. Ivey can really grow there.
Extremely interested to see how Mike Miller does as an agent. Definitely see this as a stepping stone for him to eventually end up running some team’s front office in 5-10yrs. He could definitely be the head coach at Florida rn if he wanted it but when you go ahead & sign the #1 pick in the draft a few months after becoming an agent then you’re prob doin the right thing
Should teach him how to get his shot off in NBA. Miller was a great shooter
His brother Ryan Miller is a shooting coach for the Grizz. Turned Bane into one the best shooters in the league.
Really, I guess it runs in family. Nice fact
Not quite true. Ryan Miller’s real team, Creighton is primed to do big things next season tho
Ok I was mistaken, Miller was however an assistant at TCU and worked with Bane on perfecting his shot.
Wrong link to Jabari Smith
Another guard heavy top 5 with 3. I pray rockets don’t go out and draft another. Christopher and Green last year, was enough with KPJ and Gordon in the mix. There are others who shifted in the guard position too. Drafting another guard, will only create a further disbelief that they are building a young team. Another guard in Houston just creates a longer log jam at the positions. Rockets should be on Holmgren or Banchero to add a big man. Sunguin, Green, KPJ, and one of Holmgren/Banchero would be interesting group in the floor at the same time. Add Tate Jr and the starting 5 would be near the top of the league on paper in a few years. Christopher could step in as needed if Green or KPJ struggle. There is depth at guards but holes at forwards and centers long term. A big man in this draft, doesn’t have to be all offensive. As long as they can use their frame to defend the rim and get necessary rebounds for Green or KPJ to be playmakers as they are set to be. Every great guard had a big man to make them better. You don’t need Shaq or Yao big, but big enough to hold their own. They need to Take shots when needed but puts defensive at the top priority. Green and KPJ aren’t typical defensive specialists. Adding some defense to the starting 5, would be a huge boost to the team while playing Green and KPJ.
Sharpe should be a worthy #5 but not right away. In a couple years this draft may look like it should have been a top-5 draft.
Of course all drafts eventually make the GMs look silly!