Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; K.J. McDaniels (Clemson) shakes hands with NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum after being selected as the number thirty-two overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
K.J. McDaniels
This one isn’t a surprise since the 76ers are devoid of any talent on the wings and McDaniels seemingly fits multiple needs. He’s a solid defender who is an excellent shot-blocker for a 6-foot-6 guard/small forward. His defense will fit in seamlessly once this team is whole and Joel Embiid joins Nerlens Noel on the front line.
Andrew Wiggins, the number one pick in this year’s draft, was shut down by the former ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Wiggins only attempted three shots in the 20 minutes he was guarded by McDaniels during their matchup in Las Vegas. He’s shown early on that he’s up to the task of matching up against whomever the opposition has to offer.
The most important thing we can take from McDaniels’ performance in Summer League was his consistency from beyond the arc. K.J. shot 50 percent from three-point range in Las Vegas and 55 percent in Orlando. It’s not the biggest sample size in the world — 7 for 13 — but it’s certainly encouraging. If McDaniels can be a consistent 3-and-D guy for this team, then he will be a second-round steal.