Milwaukee Bucks NBA Draft Prospect Watch: Jaden McDaniels
Fit with the Bucks
It goes without saying McDaniels is an intriguing, albeit frustrating mystery, even as his many deficiencies and raw tools cloud just how viable of a player he’ll be at the next level.
The Bucks certainly have an infrastructure in place that are necessary for McDaniels to find his way and establish his place within the NBA. That even comes as the Bucks may have to address their forward depth behind superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, with Ersan Ilyasova‘s salary being non-guaranteed for next season, Marvin Williams being a free agent, and D.J. Wilson being a non-factor in the rotation.
It’s Wilson, in particular, who may serve as a cautionary tale for the Bucks as there are some parallels to draw from between the two athletically-gifted, versatile forwards whose skill sets haven’t yet matched the allure of their athletic gifts, respectively.
Of course, that’s not a like-for-like comparison as some of McDaniels’ athleticism and elements of his skill package, such as his handle and pull-up shooting, aren’t in the realm of Wilson’s capabilities. And there was a reason why McDaniels was such a highly-ranked prospect coming out of high school where Wilson wasn’t viewed that way in the slightest.
Getting back to the matter at hand, though, it’s clear the idea of what McDaniels could be doesn’t meet the current perception of his skills and overall role in a winning situation.
Offering a more simplified role for the former Husky is certainly a prerequisite for any NBA team, much less the Bucks, and will be crucial for McDaniels to unlock his skill set and find a path in the league initially.
Next. Donte DiVincenzo’s future could be at point guard. dark
Whether the Bucks will be the ones to buy into that idealized version of how to develop McDaniels remains to be seen, but there are plenty of hurdles that still remain in him ironing out and realizing his vast potential in some manner.