Duke Blue Devil guard Jared McCain is one of the most unique prospects in the 2024 class, largely due to his presence on and off the court.
After he was criticized for focusing on social media, his freshman season was a success in the eyes of most. Thanks to the strong campaign, most are projecting McCain to go somewhere in the teens in June’s NBA draft.
Here’s a look at three of the best landing spots for McCain in the 2024 NBA Draft.
1. Sacramento Kings
It’s quite clear that the Kings’ backcourt could benefit from additional scoring guard alongside star De’Aaron Fox, especially considering the potential departure of Sixth Man of the Year runner-up Malik Monk, who is an unrestricted free agent. After the season-ending Play-In Tournament loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, Monk made it clear that he'll weigh his options this offseason.
In Sacramento, McCain would be thrust into a prominent role his rookie year, likely backing up sharpshooter Kevin Huerter. The Blue Devils guard averaged 14.3 points and 5 rebounds on 46.2% shooting from the field and 41.4% from 3-point range in 36 games. His strongest ability is undoubtedly his diverse shooting, as NBADraft.net pointed out in their scouting report: “Prolific shooter. Shoots well off the catch, dribble, or on the move with good balance.” Down the road, the potential late lottery pick could blossom into a true and trustworthy backcourt partner for Fox. The Kings have the No. 13 pick in this year's NBA Draft.
2. Miami Heat
Meshing the personalities of McCain and veteran star Jimmy Butler would be one of the more intriguing aspects of this fit. More specifically, the Duke guard’s ability to blend with the idea of 'Heat Culture.' This established environment is a major reason for Miami's multiple NBA Finals appearances since 2020, and McCain would transition flawlessly. NBADraft.net described him as “highly confident and competitive. Knows how to play aggressive without being selfish."
While his on-ball defense could use some improvement, the ability to shine in the biggest moments is there. He hit the 30-point mark in two of Duke’s three NCAA Tournament games.
Alternatively, Miami’s success with a developed prospect in Jaime Jaquez Jr. could sway them into selecting a more experienced player at No. 15. If the Heat are willing to develop the 20-year-old, he would have the opportunity to learn behind Terry Rozier and Tyler Herro.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia’s front office has a variety of routes to take with the No. 16 pick, including finding a backcourt partner for Most Improved Player Tyrese Maxey. At 6-foot-3 with a lack of playmaking ability, McCain is essentially a lock to play shooting guard. Buddy Hield and De’Anthony Melton provided solid contributions in that spot but are seemingly past the point of significant improvement.
The 76ers’ biggest issue will always be the health of MVP center Joel Embiid. While the Duke guard could not directly impact that, he’s another scoring option in his absence. Fans saw Kelly Oubre Jr. take on a heavier work load with Embiid sidelined last year, and McCain could emerge as a similar offensive weapon alongside (or in place of) Embiid.
