Washington Huskies: NBA Mock Draft Consensus on Jaden McDaniels and Isaiah Stewart 1.0
Jaden McDaniels, Washington Huskies.
Jaden McDaniels – Forward, 6-10, 200-pounds
- Highest draft spot – Minnesota, 17th
- Lowest draft spot – Sacramento, 35th
- Most common draft spot – Denver, 22nd
The Seattle native was in and out of Hopkins starting lineup last season. Even though he was a starter in two-thirds of the Huskies games, McDaniels still averaged 31.1 minutes per night, contributing 13.0 points and 4.8 rebounds. There were many times he was the best player on the court. Then there were other times when his inexperience and mistakes cost his team.
Scouting report
McDaniels is a raw talent. Even with a 7-foot wingspan, he projects as a wing player at the next level. That’s due to his rail-thin frame. At 200-pounds, McDaniels won’t be boxing and banging with the big boys on the glass. But because of his size and athletic ability, he might out jump them.
His skills aren’t a problem. Last season, McDaniels showed flashes of brilliance on the court. The issue is his consistency. Somewhere along the line, McDaniels needs to prove to his team that they can count on him to perform at a consistently high level. He’ll also have to improve his long-range shooting because 33.9 percent from three won’t cut it for him at the next level.
“His shot is nearly impossible to block and he’s got a sweet release. His iso game can be lethal and he shows a lot of promise as a mid-range and out jump shooter who can get his own shot. He can shoot over the top of most guards and wings and he can also take the defender to the rim, using his long strides to gain separation.” – NBA Draft Room
Prospects 1.0
Five of the mock drafts had McDaniels going to Denver with the 22nd pick. Right behind the Nuggets was Oklahoma City (25th) with four hits. Interestingly, four other mocks predict McDaniels will head to Boston, but two were with the 26th pick, and two were at number 30.
Denver might not be a good fit. They already have two big men with skinny builds, Michael Porter Jr. (6-10, 218-pounds) and Bol Bol (7-2, 220-pounds). OKC might be a better fit because he would make a nice three-man rotation with Danilo Gallinari and Steven Adams.
Other places McDaniels might end up: 23rd – Utah, 31st – Dallas (2), 32nd – Charlotte, and 33rd – Minnesota.