Bobby Miller still alive in the NBA Draft: ideal destinations after being left out of the first round

Baba Miller did not hear his name called during the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, but far from being seen as a failure, everything indicates he will be one of the early picks in the second round. Recent forecasts place the player from Cincinnati between picks 33 and 37, with the Sacramento Kings emerging as the team that has shown the most interest so far. If selected, he would become the third Spanish player chosen in this Draft after Aday Mara and Sergio de Larrea, completing a historic night for Spanish basketball.

The buzz surrounding Miller remains positive within the NBA. His fall out of the first round seems to owe less to doubts about his talent and more to his age and context. At 22 years old and after completing a lengthy college journey, many teams have prioritized younger profiles with more challenging potential to project, a trend increasingly common in the modern Draft.

Sacramento Kings Emerging as the Most Likely Destination

If there is a franchise that has shown real interest in Baba in recent weeks, it is Sacramento. The Kings hold the 34th pick and have closely monitored the Mallorcan's progress throughout the pre-Draft process. In fact, the franchise made efforts to conduct private workouts with him after an illness forced the postponement of an initially planned visit. Various recent predictions place Miller precisely at that number 34 spot.

From a sporting perspective, the fit is quite intriguing. Sacramento needs size, defensive versatility, and players capable of contributing in various aspects without demanding too much ball time. Baba fits that description perfectly. His ability to defend multiple positions, run the floor, and serve as a secondary playmaker would make him a very valuable piece within an NBA rotation.

Furthermore, the Kings do not seem to be seeking an immediate star at that draft position, but rather players capable of adding value collectively, precisely one of the strong points of the Spanish player.

Spurs, Clippers, and Thunder Might Also Enter the Picture

If Sacramento decides to go for a different profile, there are several teams between picks 35 and 37 who might seriously consider Baba.

The San Antonio Spurs have the 35th pick and would likely be one of the most attractive destinations for any young player. The Texas organization continues to be a reference in talent development, especially for European players. Sharing the structure with Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle would allow Baba to grow in an ideal environment, without immediate pressure and within a widely recognized work culture.

The Los Angeles Clippers show up at pick 36. Although there might be fewer immediate opportunities, the franchise has long been seeking depth in perimeter positions and versatile forwards capable of adapting to different tactical contexts.

Behind them is the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 37th pick. It would probably be the best purely basketball destination. The issue is that it would also be the most challenging in terms of finding playing time. Oklahoma boasts one of the deepest young rosters in the entire NBA, but their track record in developing talent over the years makes any selection made by Sam Presti particularly appealing.

Has Missing out on the First Round Been a Disappointment?

The short answer is no.

While there were moments during the process where projections placed him closer to the backend of the first round, most specialized reports continued to project him between the high end of the second round and the early mid-second round.

What has happened is part of an increasingly common trend in the NBA. Many franchises use their first-round picks to take chances on 18 or 19-year-old players with immense potential, even if they are far from being competitive realities.

Baba belongs to a different category. Teams have a much clearer idea of what player they can expect to find. Perhaps his ceiling is less spectacular on paper, but there is also a greater sense of security about his ability to contribute to professional basketball.

In fact, several analysts still consider him one of the most intriguing players available in this second day of the Draft. Reuters has included him among the best talents still on the board after the first round.

His Virtues Continue to Entice NBA Teams

Miller enters the Draft with a profile highly valued in today's league.

His nearly 6 feet 11 inches height, ball-handling ability, vision, and defensive versatility make him an extremely adaptable piece. Many scouting reports define him as a "jumbo connector," a player capable of bridging different aspects of the game without needing to dominate the spotlight.

In addition, his previous experience at Real Madrid, Florida State, Florida Atlantic, and Cincinnati has allowed him to accumulate a competitive background uncommon for many players of his generation. During his final college season, he also received significant accolades within the Big 12, establishing himself as one of the most complete players in the conference.

History Shows That the Second Round Is No Condemnation

One of the most common mistakes when analyzing the Draft is assuming that dropping out of the first round determines a player's future.

Reality shows exactly the opposite.

In recent years, numerous players selected between picks 33 and 37 have gone on to develop extraordinary careers. Jalen Brunson was picked 33rd in the 2018 Draft and is now one of the top point guards in the NBA. Nic Claxton was selected at pick 31 in 2019 and has become one of the league's most valuable defensive big men. Herb Jones was chosen 35th in 2021 and is currently one of the most sought-after defensive specialists in the league.

All of them serve as a reminder of a very simple reality: the difference between the end of the first round and the beginning of the second round is often much smaller than it seems.

All Signs Point to Him Hearing His Name Very Soon

The great news for Spanish basketball is that Baba Miller still has many chances of being selected in the early minutes of the second round. Sacramento emerges as the strongest candidate, but the Spurs, Clippers, and Thunder also represent plausible scenarios if the Mallorcan remains available.

Therefore, rather than speaking of disappointment, it is probably more accurate to speak of patience. The outlook for Baba remains positive, teams value his versatility, and several Mock Drafts place him among the early selections of the day. If he finally hears his name among picks 33 and 37, he will have achieved a goal that very few Spanish players have accomplished, reinforcing the excellent state that Spanish basketball currently enjoys in the NBA.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Baba Miller sigue vivo en el Draft NBA: los destinos ideales tras quedarse fuera de la primera ronda