5 NBA Draft prospects for Cleveland Cavaliers to watch
By Tony Pesta
4. Jaden McDaniels
A versatile and athletic forward, Jaden McDaniels is a rising star.
McDaniels has great size for his position and is a fluid athlete. He has no trouble playing above the rim and utilizes all of his 6’11” wingspan to score.
He still has some improvement to do as a shooter, but the potential is there. His mechanics are solid and his release in catch-and-shoot situations looks good. With proper development, he can become a consistent shooter from deep.
McDaniels is averaging 14.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He is a smooth scorer with the ball in his hands and is a good playmaker for his size. He loves to drive into the lane and use a quick pull-up over shorter defenders much like Kevin Durant.
The hope here is that McDaniels will continue to improve as a scorer and become a reliable offensive option. If his physical tools manage to make him a good defender, he can transform into an elite two-way talent.
The Cleveland Cavaliers could use a player with this potential. The team is looking for a wing player to pair with their backcourt duo of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland. Since Cedi Osman is struggling to take the next step in his progression, McDaniels may be their best bet.