2. Will the real Jared McCain please stand up?
I will continue to preach patience as McCain has struggled to convert his shots during his first Summer League. As exciting as it is to get your first look at our new first round acquisition, the Summer League is a platform for second and third-year players to expand their games and increase their roles, similar to what Ricky Council IV has done for the squad this summer.
I know his shooting percentages. I know he has shot a combined 27.5 percent from the field this summer. Patience. His shooting form is consistent and the quality of looks he has generated demonstrate promise. So again, I reiterate patience.
McCain’s shooting stroke is too pure to continue to suffer so vastly. It’s almost impossible to imagine him shooting this poorly for an entire season. Which means he is likely to convert shots on the other end of the extreme to bring his numbers to his true shooting range, potentially somewhere between 41-48 percent. For context, Tyrese Maxey has averaged 46.8 percent from the field during his career and shot 45 percent last season as his responsibilities and volume increased.
It would be nice to see a good shooting game and I bet we will see one as the Summer League reaches its conclusion. Each night, I see the ball leave his right hand and think, “that’s got to go in,” only to see it careen off the rim. It’s coming and even if it doesn’t by the finale, be patient.