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LA Clippers 2019 NBA Draft Profile: Jalen McDaniels

By Garrett Chorpenning

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 20: Jalen McDaniels #5 of the San Diego State Aztecs celebrates a three point shot during a second round game of Maui Invitational college basketball game against the Xavier Musketeers at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 20, 2018 in Lahaina Hawaii. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 20: Jalen McDaniels #5 of the San Diego State Aztecs celebrates a three point shot during a second round game of Maui Invitational college basketball game against the Xavier Musketeers at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 20, 2018 in Lahaina Hawaii. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 20: Jalen McDaniels #5 of the San Diego State Aztecs celebrates a three point shot during a second round game of Maui Invitational college basketball game against the Xavier Musketeers at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 20, 2018 in Lahaina Hawaii. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 20: Jalen McDaniels #5 of the San Diego State Aztecs celebrates a three point shot during a second round game of Maui Invitational college basketball game against the Xavier Musketeers at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 20, 2018 in Lahaina Hawaii. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

San Diego State forward Jalen McDaniels may end up being selected before the LA Clippers make their picks, but if he slides, he’d be worth a look at No. 48.

It’s finally NBA Draft day, LA Clippers fans. And while the team doesn’t have any picks in the first round of this year’s edition, the Clippers do have two second-round selections that could end up being used to draft a future star.

Plenty of the elite NBA talents in today’s game have come from the second round: Denver Nuggets big Nikola Jokic was taken with the 41st pick in the 2014 Draft, max contract candidate Khris Middleton was drafted at 39th overall back in 2012, the same year in which Draymond Green was drafted 35th overall.

Admittedly, none of those players were taken as far back as the 48th or 56th picks, the two selections the Clippers have tonight. But you never know who will be this year’s Jokic or Green, and with proper guidance, LA could turn any one of these players available tonight at least into a solid performer.

One player in particular they could look at is Jalen McDaniels, a 21-year-old stretch forward out of San Diego State. At 6’10”, he could provide the Clippers some of the frontcourt depth they need, and will require if JaMychal Green leaves via free agency this summer.

The Ringer‘s latest mock draft has McDaniels being selected by the Detroit Pistons at No. 45 overall, and that’s something the Clippers may need to worry about. But if he’s a guy they’re interested enough in, LA may be able to package their two picks in order to move up a few spots and take him.

But before we get into what could happen tonight, let’s take a look at McDaniels’ skillset and understand what he could bring to the Clippers.