The Nuggets have taken two consecutive home-run swings in the form of Michael Porter Jr. and Bol Bol — infinitely talented prospects draped in red flags. Jaden McDaniels is similar, even if his concerns are tethered more to on-court production than injuries or off-court persona, as they were for Porter and Bol. McDaniels is a hit or miss prospect, and the Nuggets can afford to swing for the fences once more.
It’s uncommon to find someone like McDaniels this late in the draft. He came into the season as a consensus top-10 prospect — a fluid 6-foot-10 wing who with buttery shot creation off the dribble. The Kevin Durant comparisons were always an unforgivable stretch, but even so, it’s difficult to find guys players who move as well as McDaniels does at his size.
Unfortunately for McDaniels, his freshman campaign was mostly a bust. He was inefficient, at times unengaged, and often invisible on the court. His commitment has been a question mark since high school. McDaniels will need to prove he can play hard enough consistently enough to make it in the NBA. For Denver, he’s another upside-laden prospect worth gambling on.