2014 NBA Mock Draft: An in-depth look at both rounds
By Joe Nardone
29. OKC Thunder – Mitch McGary, PF, Michigan
H: 6′ 10″ W: 263 lbs DOB: 06/06/1992
2013-14 NCAA (8 GP) 9.5 PPG 8.3 RPG 1.5 APG 27.0 PER
Mitch McGary isn’t quite as athletic as the bigs that the Thunder tend to go with in their front court (sans Kendrick Perkins), but he’s extremely skilled in transition and in the pick and roll, and the Thunder sure could use another guy like that on their roster.
I don’t want to say his back injury and failed drug test are the only things that kept McGary out of the lottery, but it’s feasible that he could’ve been a top pick in the 2013 draft had he come out after his great NCAA Tournament performance just a year ago. With that said, McGary has his limitations as he doesn’t stand out as a scorer and has the potential to be abused by prolific scoring bigs at the next level.
With that said, McGary’s been on NBA GM’s radars since his Junior year of high school, and if he’s able to stay healthy, he’s a great get for a team with championship aspirations in their immediate future. — Jared