What's Next for Mac McClung? Ranking His Most Likely Landings Spots
Mac McClung has been on one of basketball's strangest journeys for years, and it took another wild turn this season.
He first exploded onto the scene with mind-blowing high school mixtapes. He followed that up with an underwhelming college career that included three seasons and stops at Georgetown and Texas Tech. He's won three NBA dunk contests, despite not being in the NBA for any of them. And this month, he was released by the Indiana Pacers just over a week after he signed a multiyear deal with them.
Right when it finally looked like he might have an NBA home, McClung is once again out of the league and likely surveying options to continue his basketball career.
Despite only appearing in nine games in the league, that could very well be with another NBA team. It could be another stop in the G-League, where he won the 2023-24 MVP. It might even be overseas, where plenty of Americans have had long, successful runs.
Below, we'll examine the best possible options for the 26-year-old combo guard.
5. Dallas Mavericks
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By relative offensive rating (a team's points per 100 possessions minus the league average for that season), the Dallas Mavericks have the absolute worst offense in NBA history.
Now, we're dealing with a very small sample size here. And Dallas has already shown signs it might abandon the "Cooper Flagg is a starting point guard" experiment (or at least spend less time with it).
But there's just no question that in the wake of the still inexplicable Luka Dončić trade, and while the Mavs are waiting for Kyrie Irving to return from a torn ACL, they desperately need more scoring, ball-handling and playmaking from the backcourt.
McClung obviously wouldn't be a Day 1 replacement for D'Angelo Russell (who's averaging 13.0 points with a way-below-average 43.8 effective field-goal percentage), but he could check a few of those boxes for the second or third units.
G-League MVPs don't have a great track record for becoming NBA contributors, but during that 2023-24 campaign for the Osceola Magic, McClung put up 25.5 points, 6.5 assists and 2.9 threes, while shooting 38.0 percent from deep.
Just a hint of that kind of production could give McClung a shot at making the Mavs' woeful backcourt rotation.
4. Brooklyn Nets
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The Brooklyn Nets had five first-round draft picks this past summer. They kept all five, and brought the players they drafted with those picks into the 2025-26 campaign. Three of them, Egor Dёmin, Nolan Traoré and Ben Saraf all profiled as potential lead playmakers.
The latter two have already spent time with Brooklyn's G-League affiliate, and Dёmin (who was taken in the lottery), is averaging just 2.6 assists.
In other words, the Nets could use a little more playmaking. And McClung should be able to provide that without derailing what should be Brooklyn's ultimate goal this season (getting the best possible draft lottery odds it can).
During his G-League career, McClung has averaged over eight assists per 100 possessions. He can get the ball to Michael Porter Jr. and Cam Thomas.
And what's more, he may be able to generate some excitement and highlights for a team that hasn't had a ton so far.
3. Orlando Magic
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The Orlando Magic are the NBA team that's devoted the most time and energy to McClung to date. He's played 28 games for their G-League affiliate. He's played in two games for Orlando itself.
And despite the additions of Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones this past offseason, the Magic are still in the bottom third of the league in points per 100 possessions.
McClung isn't a quick fix for what's ailing Orlando on that end, but he does have scoring and playmaking talent. He could provide a little jolt to the end of the bench.
And while this certainly wouldn't be the primary reason for signing him, McClung finally making it work with the team he's been around the most would be a great story.
2. Back to the G-League
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There's no shame in a player persisting in the G-League.
McClung has spent part of four seasons there, won a championship with the Delaware Blue Coats and won an MVP for Osceola.
During his G-League career, he's averaged 22.0 points, 6.1 assists and 2.2 threes.
If he wants to go back, some team would surely have him. And there, he could continue working on his outside shooting consistency, decision-making and defense.
That could help make him more appealing to NBA teams and give him another shot at that dream down the road. A call-up from the G-League can be a lot less complicated than a buyout from a league and contract not affiliated with the NBA.
1. EuroLeague
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Still, after half a decade of trying to break into the NBA, it might be time for McClung to embrace a different path.
Years ago, Jimmer Fredette faced similar challenges. He dominated the G-League but was never quite able to crack an NBA rotation long term.
He eventually went overseas, where he put up huge numbers in China and strong ones for EuroLeague powerhouse Panathinaikos.
McClung's success in the G-League is more than enough evidence that he at least has the talent necessary for a similar transition.
He may not win EuroLeague MVP or anything like that, but he could be a role player for years and make a lot more money there than the G-League has to offer.
It may not be the ideal ending to McClung's story. Most American-born basketball players dream of long NBA careers, but there's plenty of glory to be had in the EuroLeague.
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