Former Timberwolves 2005 first round draft choice Rashad McCants, who didn’t play basketball last season, was supposed to be part of Cleveland’s NBA Summer League tryout team that finished play earlier this week. However, McCants was a no-show, apparently because he spent time with his ailing mother, according to https://www.cavstheblog.com/?p=2668.
McCants’ life out of basketball is the subject of a not too flattering feature in the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine. The article, which explores why McCants can’t find an NBA job, quotes former Wolves coach and executive Kevin McHale and also former teammate Kevin Love.
McHale describes the 6-4 shooting guard as a talented player with a “high basketball IQ.” He also says McCants wasn’t enough of a team guy during his four seasons in Minneapolis.
“Rashad has a me-against-the-world attitude,” Love says in the story. “You have to get past that if you want to help yourself.”
The Wolves traded McCants to Sacramento in February of 2009. Those close to the Wolves have characterized McCants as moody. He certainly wasn’t smiling when I was around him.
In the magazine story McCants defends his demeanor and says just because he isn’t “chipper” doesn’t mean he’s a “bad guy.” His lack of job offers, though, indicates that NBA employers are cautious about him.
At almost 26 and after being without an NBA home last season, the clock is ticking for McCants. He’s a difficult to defend scorer who sometimes earns points quickly with a pretty jump shot that can be accurate for three pointers and shots closer to the basket. He’s also capable of slashing to the hoop and finishing with dunks. That kind of athleticism translates to defensive potential too.
His best NBA stats were during 2007-08 including an average of 14.9 points per game. He also averaged career highs in minutes per game at 26.9 and made .407 percent of his three point field goals.