2014 NBA Draft: Players The Houston Rockets Should Consider At #25

Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

K.J. McDaniels

Small Forward/Shooting Guard – Clemson

One role player the Rockets will be looking hard for is an elite wing defender.

K.J.McDaniels is 6’6”, 195 with a 6’11” wingspan, which can be critical to be an above average wing defender in the NBA. He is extremely athletic and likes to get out and run the floor which Kevin McHale’s Rockets do a lot of. He also has tremendous leaping ability and rebounds very well despite his thin frame.

McDaniels’ thin frame, along with his long wing span, have many projecting him as a “lock down” perimeter defender in NBA, capable of defending either wing position and even point guard. He also shows great awareness when defending off the ball, reading screens and slipping into passing lanes.

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

McDaniels needs improvement is his offensive game, namely his perimeter jump shot.  He has already shown some improvement towards becoming a respectable 3 point shooter (31%), particular in catch and shoot situations when he has time to set his feet. I believe he will continue to improve this part of his game as he has his free throw shooting which went from 68% as a sophomore to 84% as a junior this past year.  This shows a willingness to get in the gym and work on a particular area of his game.

Currently the Rockets only have three above average defensive players, Dwight Howard, Omer Asik and Patrick Beverley. If they add another star player this off-season, beyond that, more offense will not be their concern. Their biggest concern will be improving defensively. K.J. McDaniels can help balance the roster.

The hope would be that McDaniels can become a Tony Allen type defensive player, although with a better offensive game, if he continues to develop. If all works out, he could perhaps become more like Kawhi Leonard.