OKC Thunder draft prospect profile: Jaden McDaniels
Jaden McDaniels strengths and weaknesses
Strengths:
Dive into Jaden McDaniels freshman season with the Washington Huskies and you’ll come away with more questions than answers.
Although he was projected to be a top-level (potentially lottery pick) he underwhelmed compared to his projections.
On the other hand, McDaniels strikes me as one of those NCAA prospects who’ll perform better as a professional than he did in college. His natural physicality and untapped ceiling could bode well for a drastic leap in production as a pro.
Although he failed to be exceptionally in any specific statistical category he demonstrated the ability to do a bit of everything well. If he pieces everything together and commits to bringing consistent energy those statistics could swell.
His athleticism began to show results as the season progressed.
light. Related Story. Draft prospect profile Deni Avdija
Weaknesses:
His strength could equally be his weakness as there isn’t confirmation his motor is active or consistent.
Although he projects to be capable of becoming a Swiss Army knife level player he could just as easily continue to do enough to get by without the energy to meet those standards on a daily basis.
Despite his height, he’s undersized and without added strength, he won’t be able to capitalize on his athleticism or physical gifts such as his close to seven-foot wingspan.
His propensity for collecting fouls in quick order speaks to his lack of focus (or care) and that factor alone could turn off potential drafting teams.