Bucks take ex-Rebel Vaughn in first round; Wood not drafted
A best-case scenario unfolded for Rashad Vaughn on Thursday, when the UNLV freshman was selected sooner than expected in the first round of the NBA Draft.
Vaughn, much to his surprise, was the 17th overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks. It was a night full of surprises.
A worst-case scenario developed for Chris Wood, whose wait extended late into the evening and ended with the Rebels’ sophomore forward going undrafted. Wood staged a draft party at Caesars Palace on the Strip, but there was no reason to celebrate.
There was speculation Wood would fall in the draft, yet he was projected to go in the second round and was widely considered a late first-round pick just a month ago.
“I’m very happy for Rashad,” UNLV coach Dave Rice said. “He will have a very productive NBA career. It started about a month or so ago. He had great workouts, and we were confident about Rashad and his draft status.
“Chris will get a chance to make a team as a free agent. I’m sure he’s disappointed, but there still are great opportunities for him, and we have a lot of confidence in what the final result will be.”
Vaughn, a 6-foot-6-inch shooting guard, worked out in Milwaukee on Monday, but said he had no idea the Bucks would pick him.
“When I first went there for my workout, I loved it,” Vaughn, who watched the draft from his home in Minneapolis, said in a conference call with Milwaukee media.
He joins a young Bucks team that finished 41-41 in coach Jason Kidd’s first season. Milwaukee was eliminated by Chicago in the playoffs.
A former McDonald’s All-American from Findlay Prep, Vaughn averaged 17.8 points in 23 games for the Rebels, shooting 38.3 percent (54 of 141) from 3-point range. He turns 19 in August and was the second-youngest player in the draft.
Vaughn was voted Freshman of the Year by the Mountain West coaches despite missing seven conference games. He suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee Feb. 10 and had to prove he had recovered fully from the injury in predraft workouts.
Bucks general manager John Hammond said Vaughn’s shooting impressed the team in two recent workouts.
“He was in our last workout here and shot the ball extremely well for us,” Hammond said to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “He’ll grow into that prototype NBA two-guard body. We think he has a chance to be a good player.”
The critics who second-guessed Vaughn’s decision to leave UNLV early were quieted. He will get a guaranteed contract as a first-round pick. Wood was not as fortunate.
Wood said Wednesday he had no regrets about his decision and was “very confident” in being a first-round pick. But 60 picks came and went without his name getting called. He can choose which team to sign with as a free agent and could play in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas in July.
“I’m keeping my head high and staying humble,” Wood posted on Twitter after the draft. “I have a chip on my shoulder.”
Wood, 6-11 with a 7-3 wingspan, was the Rebels’ No. 2 scorer (15.7) and leading rebounder (10.0) last season, but some NBA scouts doubted his work ethic and were concerned about his lack of strength.
Vaughn and Wyoming senior forward Larry Nance Jr. were the only Mountain West players selected. Nance went 27th overall to the Los Angeles Lakers and became the first Cowboys player to go in the first round since 1995.
Kelly Oubre, a Kansas freshman and Findlay Prep product, was drafted 15th by Atlanta before his rights were traded to Washington.
Minnesota was reportedly shopping Anthony Bennett, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2013 draft as a UNLV freshman. There were several trades Thursday, but the Timberwolves did not deal Bennett.
Two years into his career, Bennett is considered a bust. Vaughn would seem to have a better shot at NBA success.
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247.
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