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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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CHICAGO, IL – MAY 14: Jalen McDaniels poses for a portrait at the 2019 NBA Draft Combine on May 14, 2019 at the Chicago Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 14: Jalen McDaniels poses for a portrait at the 2019 NBA Draft Combine on May 14, 2019 at the Chicago Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Fit with the LA Clippers

Few teams better complement McDaniels’ game and position than the LA Clippers, and few have made it a point to draft and sign players with similar strengths to McDaniels than the LA Clippers. Because of that, we feel like he’d fit in perfectly with what this team has going on.

McDaniels is aggressive, has a high motor and the ability to knock down a timely three-ball. And with his two-way potential, he’s at least worth taking a look at.

As far as rotations go, McDaniels seems like he’d play well alongside Montrezl Harrell in the same role that JaMychal Green played for the Clippers this past season. He might not be able to jump in there immediately, but with a good offensive skillset and the ability to lock down opponents on the perimeter, he could play his way into the rotation before too long.

Of course, if the Clippers feel confident in their ability to retain Green or have their eyes on another floor-stretcher in free agency, there may not be a big need to take McDaniels. But given his versatility and lean frame, it seems possible that he could move over to the wing and become a Robert Covington-type of player.

At the same time, if he’s able to put on enough bulk, McDaniels has great potential as a small-ball center. His greatest strength may very well be his versatility, and that’s something NBA teams can’t get enough of anymore as the league moves towards more positionless basketball.

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If McDaniels is still on the board at No. 48, he may be the perfect player for the LA Clippers to take a gamble on. Otherwise, there will likely be other prospects with similar upside available in the same range.