With the NBA Draft set to start in just about 3 hours (7:00pm ET) at the Barclays Center in New York City, this is a good time to give our last thoughts on the NBA prospects for MSU’s three players who are eligible for the draft and if we think any of their names will be called tonight.
The short answer is no, I don’t foresee any Spartans having their names called tonight. However, the longer answer is probably, maybe.
While I don’t think it’s super likely, I do think McQuaid checks a lot of boxes the NBA is looking for and could be drafted tonight. He can shoot the lights out, he can handle the ball, and he can defend (although athleticism could limit his ability here in the NBA). I definitely see him as someone who will get a call quickly after the draft for a G-League spot, maybe even a two-way deal, though.
For Nick Ward, it seems like he will need to prove it in the G-League before getting his opportunity. I think his inconsistency on defense and his seeming lack of athleticism are going to prevent him from finding a home tonight, but as Draymond Green said, as long as he makes the most of his situation, he can accomplish great things in this league.
With Kenny Goins, I think it’ll be a while, if ever before we see him with an NBA team. He might honestly need to go to Europe and hone his skills. For him, it’s a matter of ball handling and security. I have a feeling that if he was playing with NBA caliber players right now he’d be a liability, and if I think that as a Spartan fan, NBA teams have to think that too.
