2016 NBA Draft: UNLV’s Patrick McCaw is drafted by Bucks, traded to Golden State

With the 38th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft the Milwaukee Bucks draft former UNLV sophomore guard Patrick McCaw. McCaw was expected by some to be taken in the first round but slipped to the Bucks in the second round.

However, McCaw will go the Warriors as part of a trade.

McCaw ended up being one of the Rebels top players this past year where he averaged 14.7 points and 5.1 rebounds and he finished strong by scoring 20 or more points in five of his final eight games.

As a freshman he appeared in 32 games, making 16 starts and 15 of those starts were the final games of the season. He averaged 9.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game, while playing an average of 29.6 minutes per contest.

We broke down McCaw’s NBA game and a few of his strengths are defense and size:

Defense - During McCaw's two years at UNLV, he built a reputation as one of the top defensive guards in the nation. As a sophomore he averaged 2.5 steals per game and became known as a strip and score specialist. Furthermore, he has the ability to aggressively defend all three guard positions and it's his defensive prowess that has him climbing up in mock drafts and it will be his best opportunity to carve out a role for himself early on in his NBA career.

Size (height) - McCaw possess great size for a guard, measuring in at 6'7" with a 6'10" wingspan. NBA teams love this type of size with guards, because it allows players to switch on perimeter ball screens making it easier to defend against other teams 3-point shooters. This attribute, combined with his defensive ability, should allow McCaw to contribute immediately as a defensive specialist on whatever team drafts him.

McCaw also has some potential weaknesses at the NBA level, and while his height is a plus he needs to bulk up to play well at the NBA level.

3-pt Shooting - As a sophomore, McCaw shot 36% from three point range, which is respectable in college. However, with the NBA becoming even more dependent on three point shooting, McCaw will need to become a much more efficient perimeter shooter if he's going to become more than just a role player on an NBA roster.

Size (weight) - While McCaws height and wingspan are strengths, he is one of the lightest players in the draft, weighing in at 180lbs. Until McCaw fills out his frame, NBA teams will question his durability and also his ability to drive into the lane and finish at the rim against more psychically developed NBA players.