By William Qualkinbush.

By William Qualkinbush.

By William Qualkinbush.

It isn’t often Clemson fans can boast of having multiple players in the National Basketball Association at the same time. In fact, not since the 2008-09 season—when Greg Buckner played his final year in the league for the Memphis Grizzlies and Will Solomon had a brief stint with the Sacramento Kings—has this phenomenon occurred.

Trevor Booker and  K.J. McDaniels both hope the current era of Clemson representation in the NBA continues for a while. In 2014-15, Booker enjoyed a fine season with the Utah Jazz, while McDaniels proved a valuable commodity during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers and was ultimately traded to the Houston Rockets at the trade deadline.

Since the season is over for both players—Booker’s Jazz missed the playoffs, while a wrist injury ended McDaniels’ year—here is a rundown of both players’ respective campaigns and a bit of analysis from moi.

Trevor Booker, Utah Jazz

79 GP (5 GS), 19.8 MPG, 7.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, .487/.345/.581

15.3 PER, 18.1% USG, 3.6 WS (.11 WS/48), +0.8/100 possessions

Booker parlayed a nice stint with the Washington Wizards during his rookie contract into a two-year deal with the Jazz during the offseason. He made $5 million in 2014-15 and appeared to earn every penny with a solid season off the bench in Salt Lake City.

Health was a big reason Booker capably filled his role this season, as his 79 games played were a career high. He failed to crack 20 minutes per game, but his per-possession numbers and overall efficiency were pretty much in line with his career averages, give or take a little here and there.

Booker was utilized almost exclusively at the power forward position with the Jazz, not exactly a departure from his role with the Wizards. However, the Jazz allowed him to play more on the perimeter, as opposed to his more traditional utility as the 4-man in D.C. After attempting a total of 10 three-pointers in four seasons with the Wizards, Booker took 84 this season, making a solid 34.5 percent of them.

The Jazz were the slowest team in the league, which made Booker more valuable because of the efficiency with which he played. Among players who finished the year with the Jazz, Booker was fifth in player efficiency. He was a low-usage guy who still finished fourth on the team in total win shares, a testament to his ability to contribute in ways that aren’t readily apparent on the stat sheet. Also, for the first time in his career, Booker contributed positively in the plus-minus stat.

Booker finished the year with a bang, as his best game came on April 11 at Portland. In 36 minutes, he scored 36 points on just 15 shot attempts—an absurdly efficient performance that should make your jaw drop. He made all four three-point shots he took, grabbed nine rebounds, and had no turnovers in a 111-105 victory.

Booker is under team control next season for $4.775 million. Although only $250,000 of that is guaranteed, it’s likely the Jazz will welcome him back with open arms. Believe it or not, even as a player who just completed his age-27 season, he is one of the elder statesmen on a young team that has much room to grow.

K.J. McDaniels, Philadelphia 76ers/Houston Rockets

62 GP (15 GS), 21.8 MPG, 7.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, .396/.287/.752

10.6 PER, 19.3% USG, 0.6 WS (.020 WS/48), -10.1/100 possessions

McDaniels began the year as one of many young pieces on the 76ers’ rebuilding roster. His decision to sign a one-year contract for the league minimum raised some eyebrows around the league (and may have played a role in his exit from Philly), but the rookie made sure his next contract would be more lucrative because of the way he played.

Aside from the stat sheet, McDaniels took his flair for the dramatic with him to the NBA. He was a regular fixture on highlight shows for both dunking and blocking shots. This attracted peripheral fans to him and made his games must-see TV around the league.

This is important to note because the stat sheet suggests McDaniels’ season might not have been quite as good as it actually was. The plus-minus number is misleading because he played most of the year with the least competitive franchise in the league. The 76ers also refused to define his role, which led to fluctuating minutes from night to night—often at random—and affected his efficiency and percentage numbers.

In his best game, McDaniels had 21 points and 13 rebounds in a November 29 loss to Dallas. He had several solid performances in Philly, but the trade to Houston forced him to the bench on a playoff team flush with viable contributors on the wing. McDaniels only played in 10 games after he was traded.

His shooting percentages must go up, and they probably will if he signs with a team willing to utilize him in a more consistent reserve role. McDaniels’ usage number isn’t outrageously high, so it’s reasonable to conceive of his numbers improving next season by default if his usage remains constant and his minutes stay in the 18-22 range per game.

There’s no telling where McDaniels will be next season as a free agent, but he showed the entire league he can be a valuable commodity when properly utilized. Just as he was in college, McDaniels is a game-changer who can ignite a crowd with an electrifying play and has the tools to be a consistent contributor in a number of ways.

God Bless!

WQ