Clippers NBA Draft Targets: Ranking top 5 wings to consider
By Tom West
4. Patrick McCaw, SG, UNLV
Patrick McCaw isn’t near the top of wing prospects for the Clippers to target due to obvious physical issues. As a 20-year-old with a slender 6’7″ frame, weighing it at a mere 180 lbs, he’s one of the lightest players in the draft. When matching him up against the stronger competition of the NBA, it’s safe to say that McCaw will be well and truly limited to playing as a shooting guard and will have a tough time guarding stronger opponents. So, essentially, everyone.
As someone who’s showed real defensive talent and potential already, though, he starts to make up for that lack of power pretty fast.
In his second year at UNLV, McCaw embraced a bigger role and earned Second Team All-Mountain West Conference and All-Defensive Team honors. Off the ball is where he really excels, diving into passing lanes with great quickness and instincts to average 2.5 steals per game this season to rank a tremendous 6th in the NCAA.
Offensively, McCaw averaged 14.7 points per game last season and shot a solid 36.6 percent from three with 2.1 makes a night. He’s athletic, too, and poses a threat in transition as a scorer or passer. And when it comes to facilitating in the half court, he’s shown potential with his ability to drive and kick, averaging 3.9 assists per game.
Yet, due to his light frame that will take time to mature and occasional issues with constant defensive effort, avoiding gambles for steals, and generally developing each area of his offensive game, a relatively raw prospect like McCaw (in comparison to other wings listed here), won’t be at the top of the Clippers’ target list. He earns a spot just above Brogdon, though, due to his potential as a promising 3-and-D energizer.
Next: The tall, versatile, sharpshooting combo guard