Round 3, Pick 10: Brad Miller, C, Sacramento Kings

Dominance?  Not at all.  One of the most well-rounded big men in the league?  Most definitely.  While Brad Miller has never really been on the forefront of scoring options for the Kings, dating back to the Chris Webber days, the guy still gets it done in other areas, contributing across the board for fantasy rosters.  While most big men lack free-throw skills or the ability to pass the ball once it hits the low post, Miller has the innate ability to not only see the floor, but drop free throws at an astounding percentage for a seven-footer.

Statistical Production:

Brad Miller has never been one to score in buckets (no pun intended), as his career high for a season is 15.6 points per game.  However, he has been a model of consistency (which I’m a huge fan of, and you should be too as a fantasy owner) chipping in double-figures since 2001 when he was getting less than 30 minutes a game with the Bulls. 

The benefits of this former Big-10 banger are unleashed when you look at the rest of his statistics.  Aside from three-point field goals, in which he had his career high (34) last season, the big guy does it all:

2005-2006: 15 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 4.7 apg, 46% FG, 83% FT, 0.8 spg, 0.8 bpg, 2.3 topg

Concerns about Brad Miller’s game arise when you see a center who doesn’t exactly put up ‘center’ numbers.  His 7.8 rebounds a game is a figure that has decreased year-over-year since he joined the Kings, and his steal and block figures have decreased by 0.5 a game from the 2004-05 season.  However, to have a center who actually improves your free-throw percentage as opposed to tanking it, while still putting up a solid field goal rate, and spreads the ball around like a mid-tier point guard is gold in my mind.

Add in the fact that Miller has played in at least 72 games every season aside from his fluke injury in 2004, and this guy is a big man that you can depend on year in and year out.

Team Contribution:

On a team that already has two stud point guards, the rich get richer in terms of assists and free throw percentage.  If this is a head-to-head team, consider yourself locked in at least two categories.  If this is rotisserie, rebounds and blocks are definitely on the weaker end of the spectrum, but we’re one specialist away from a well-rounded team.  Not to mention, I believe this is the only squad in this draft to have three white guys!  How ‘bout them apples?

Other Team Members:

1.10. Chris Paul, PG, New Orleans Hornets
2.3. Steve Nash, PG, Phoenix Suns