Fresno State forward Cullen Russo (13) fouls UNLV guard Patrick McCaw (22) as he gets off a shot during their Mountain West Championship second game at the Thomas & Mack Center on Thursday, March 10, 2016.
Published Thursday, June 23, 2016 | 8:28 p.m.
Updated Thursday, June 23, 2016 | 10 p.m.
Related Content
Some projections had them pegged for the late first round or early second round of today’s NBA Draft. But, then again, handicapping the draft is an inexact science, and selections later in the draft are impossible to predict.
Still, as the wait went from minutes to hours this evening to learn of their professional future, UNLV teammates Stephen Zimmerman Jr. and Pat McCaw surely slid further than they would have liked when they declared for the draft this spring with college eligibility remaining.
Finally, with the eighth pick of the second round, the Milwaukee Bucks ended the waiting for McCaw. The 6-foot-7 guard was the draft’s 38th overall pick, but unlike first-round selections, the roster spots and contracts aren't guaranteed in the second round.
McCaw's rights were traded for cash consideration to Golden State, whose Splash Brothers backcourt of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson is one of the best in the league. Then, three picks later, the 7-foot Zimmerman was selected by Orlando at No. 41 overall.
McCaw, who left UNLV after his sophomore season, averaged 14.7 points and 5.2 rebounds in 2015-16, and was arguably UNLV’s best player. Zimmerman, a forward and center, averaged 10.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in his lone UNLV season. He was a McDonald’s All-American and five-star recruit in 2015 at Bishop Gorman, where he won four state championships.
It appears McCaw could have an easier path to a roster spot. Golden State General Manager Bob Myers told media tonight he expects McCaw to make the team, adding they had him ranked in the top-30 of their draft board, reports Casey Pratt of the Bay Area ABC affiliate.
It’s the second consecutive year UNLV has had a player selected and the third pick recruited by former coach Dave Rice’s staff. In 2015, Rashad Vaughn went No. 17 overall to the Milwaukee Bucks. In 2013, Anthony Bennett was the first overall selection to Cleveland.
"If you told us in the middle of the year we'd get (McCaw), we'd be thrilled," Myers said.
Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy