Darius Miller gets a rare second chance with the New Orleans Pelicans

Second chances are not common in the NBA. Once you’re drafted, you usually only have two or three years to show value before a team gives up on you. By the end of your rookie contract, if you haven’t stuck somewhere, you’re probably not going to be in the league much longer. If you’re a former top-five pick, that window is a little larger — just ask Michael Beasley. But if you’re a second-round pick such as Darius Miller, the No. 46 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, that window shuts even more quickly.

Miller played two years with the Pelicans, and struggled to catch on with his new team. In two years, he played just 14.6 minutes per game, averaging 3.3 points and 1.3 rebounds per game while spending time with the Iowa Energy in the D-League. He had his moments, usually late in the season, such as a 16-point performance in a late 2013 win over the Nuggets. But he could never break through as a consistent rotation player, finding himself behind Al-Farouq Aminu and Luke Babbitt in the small forward rotation. When the Pelicans added Quincy Pondexter in 2014-2015, it was curtains for Miller, who was waived after five games.

Now, nearly three years later, Miller’s back. After spending the last three seasons at Brose Bamberg in Germany, Miller decided to test the NBA waters again. What he found, was the rare second chance. He’ll be back in the NBA this year, and it’s and even rarer second chance — he gets to return to the Pelicans.

Part of the reasoning for this has nothing to do with Miller’s play. Given the team’s desire to build around Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, two former Kentucky Wildcats, Miller’s signing is probably a favor to his two former teammates. Miller was a glue guy for both the 2010 and the 2012 Wildcats, playing with both Pelicans stars, and it’s well known that Davis and Miller in particular are close. The two probably have enough influence that they were able to swing the Pelicans towards giving Miller another shot.

But that isn’t the only reason he was able to come back to the NBA. Miller excelled with Bamberg, a Euroleague side, and grew into a role that, if replicable in the NBA, will be a nice fit with this roster. That was his biggest impediment to playing time in his first New Orleans stint — he struggled to find a consistent role, essentially playing as an “athlete” on the wing with few polished skills. This time around, it’s a little more obvious what he’s good at.

It starts with his 3-point shot, which left him after he hit 22-of-56 (39.3 percent) in his rookie season. He rediscovered it in Germany, and became a lethal shooter, hitting 44.6 percent on 616 attempts over his three seasons. His shot is aesthetically solid, and his length helps him shoot over contests at a high level.

Miller does have a long gather to his shot, preferring to step into his shot before he releases. In the NBA, that’s going to be a little bit harder to do against NBA length. But he was calm under pressure in Europe, and his release is consistent even though his lower body mechanics vary due to that extra gather step. He does have a quicker release coming off screens as well, which could be a bigger part of his game, particularly off dribble-handoffs with the Pelicans’ star bigs.

Miller was used as a ball-handler at times for the Pelicans, but it didn’t go much beyond the occasional isolation possession. He’s a plus ball-handler at the three, but lacked the shake and power to get to the rim. This time around, Miller could be a little better, as he’s more comfortable making decisions and attacking out of pick-and-rolls thanks to Bamberg’s motion/pick-and-roll system.

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The Pelicans are hoping that Miller’s time in Europe has put him on a better path to success. His spot-up shooting and passing out of the pick-and-roll are enticing as a role player, and he’s added strength and transitioned to playing some four, which could make his skill set more valuable. His offensive fit as a secondary ball-handler off the bench could help the Pelicans, who struggled to initiate at a functional level when Jrue Holiday wasn’t on the floor last year.

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Miller has gotten the rare second chance with his old team. Most second round picks don’t get this opportunity. Now it’s up to Miller to make the most of it. If his shot holds up better this time around, and he can reign in his habit of taking off-the-dribble midrange jumpers, he fits well with his former Kentucky teammates. The Pelicans have given him another opportunity, which he’s earned. Now it’s time for him to make the most of it.