A CBS Sports mock draft has the Oklahoma City Thunder drafting a power forward optimists think can blossom into a playmaker.
With the 25th pick, Oklahoma City drafted power forward Jaden McDaniels out of Washington.
Sam Presti loves himself some high-upside athletes who have length, so of course Jaden McDaniels fits the profile. He struggled a bit at Washington with consistency but the 6-foot-9 combo forward has some real potential with a polished handle and pull-up game that stands out for his size and position.
McDaniels certainly has high upside, particularly for a player likely to be taken near the end of the first round. Entering college as a five-star prospect, he showed a unique ability to serve as a ball handler with a 6-foot-9 frame. He could score from around the floor, rebound well, and was a very good defender.
However, his play at Washington was much less promising. McDaniels shot just 40.5% from the field and 33.9% from behind the arc as he averaged 13.0 points and 5.8 rebounds. He had more turnovers per game (3.2) than assists (2.1) and had led the Pac-12 in fouls, picking up at least four in 15 of 31 games.
He only started eight of 18 games against Pac-12 Conference opponents.
If McDaniels can tap into what makes him a special player, he can be a strong contributor and will make teams who passed on him look silly.
He’s worth the risk near the end of the first round.
