The 2025 Undrafted Free Agent Roll Call
The NBA Draft has come and gone, but that's not the end of the road! Maxwell breaks down the undrafted free agent class, where they're headed, and their future prospects.
The 2025 NBA Draft has come and gone. Fifty-nine players fulfilled their lifelong dreams of hearing their names called on draft night (or draft afternoon, for the second-rounders).
But when the draft comes to an end, the dream is still far from over for the prospects who didn’t hear their names echo throughout Barclays Center. Many of them will still go on to sign contracts with NBA teams. And here at No Ceilings, we celebrate the whole hog of the NBA Draft process.
Today, we’ll be giving the spotlight to those guys—the undrafted free agent draft class of 2025. I’ll break down where they’re headed, what they bring to the table, and what they will need to improve to make their games work at the NBA level.
This piece has become one of my favorite things to write every draft cycle. I love underdog stories, and I love the margins. When I first began to follow the NBA Draft with greater intensity, it was easy to find stuff on the big-name prospects. However, the further down a draft board I went, the less information about the players there would be. I’ve always made it my goal to write the type of things I would have wanted to read, and this is one of those columns.
If you don’t think the undrafted class matters, think again. Want proof? Look at the conference finals and beyond this year—Alex Caruso, Naz Reid, Lu Dort, and T.J. McConnell are all undrafted success stories. Winning on the margins matters.
I also want to give a MASSIVE thank you to the people who make this column a reasonable undertaking—namely, Jon Chepkevich of DraftExpress and Rookie Scale. Without his Undrafted Free Agent Tracker, this information would be extremely difficult and/or impossible to compile. All contract information and player heights come from his site. I’d also like to give a big tip of the hat to our good friends at Synergy Sports and Sports-Reference. All statistical information is sourced from those two sites.
This was submitted for publication at approximately 6:00 P.M. on June 29, 2025, and I conducted a last-minute review at 6:00 A.M. on June 30, 2025. Apologies to anyone I missed between now and when you read this!
Before digging in, make sure you’re subscribed to our Substack. At No Ceilings, Draft SZN never ends, and we’re still going to pump out some excellent content this summer. Also, you can follow me on Twitter/X here.
Atlanta Hawks
Two-Way Contract:
-Lamont Butler
-Eli John N’Diaye
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Kobe Johnson
Summer League Deal:
-Deivon Smith
Lamont Butler (95th on my final board) is a 6’2” guard out of Kentucky. Before suiting up for the Wildcats, he was a key part of San Diego State’s final four run. He’s a floor general point guard who knows how to organize and run an offense (4.3 APG to 2.0 TOV). His tenacious approach helps him get into the paint and draw fouls. Plus, at 200 pounds, he has a good amount of bulk on him, which should have him ready to deal with pro-level physicality out of the gate. His frame serves him best on defense, where he’s a hounding presence at the point-of-attack, having registered a career 3.5 STL%. The big question here is his shot. He made 39.1% of his threes this year, but he’s a career 33.3% three-point shooter on low volume for a guard. If his shot sticks, he could carve out a bench role in time.
Eli John N’Diaye is a 6’8” energy forward who most recently played for Real Madrid. He’s willing to take a spot-up jumper, but he only made 29.3% of his threes this past year. If that can improve, there’s a lot to like. He’s an aggressive rebounder, solid decision maker, and potent transition threat.
Kobe Johnson (89th on my final board) has been on radars for ages. He’s the younger brother of Hawks player Jalen Johnson. Kobe’s game is much different. He’s a slender 6’5” wing who thrives as a disruptive defender (career 4.0 STL%, 1.9 BLK%). Johnson is a menace in passing lanes and loves to help around the rim. Offensively, he’s a poised playmaker when run off the line, and he’s comfortable playing off the ball. Johnson has never been much of a scorer (career 17.8 points per 100 possessions) or shooter (career 33.9% from deep). The reason he never really stuck at the top of boards was that he wasn’t as dominant on offense as most players who stay in the NBA. Given his savvy and defense, if he can get there as a shooter, he might find a niche.
Deivon Smith is a 6’1” guard who played at four colleges in five years. He burst onto the radar at Utah, where he was a consistent triple-double threat. While he struggled with efficiency at St. John’s, he developed into a dogged point-of-attack defender. That, paired with his handle and table-setting instincts, is intriguing. A career 33.0% from deep, his lack of length, and subpar shot are concerning.
Boston Celtics
Summer League Deal:
-Aaron Scott
-Ben Gregg
-Zach Hicks
Aaron Scott is an excellent team defender. His career 2.5 STL% and 3.8 BLK% speak to that. He’s all over the floor on defense, covering ground at warp speed and flying for rejections. His offense is a question, as he routinely posted low assist rates and struggled to find consistency from deep (career 33.2% from deep, 29.3% this past season). Ben Gregg is a 6’9” forward who really knows how to play. He’s a great rebounder on both ends of the floor, he keeps the offense flowing, and he makes a ton of plays as an off-ball defender (career 2.3 STL%, 3.7 BLK%). He was never much of a scorer at Gonzaga, and his three-point percentage dipped to 27.3% this past year. Zach Hicks is a wiry shooter who sunk 41.3% of his triples for Penn State this past year. He also knows how to operate within the flow of the offense, averaging 2.0 APG to only 0.9 TOV. He’s also a long defender at the point of attack who knows where to be off-ball. His physicality has long limited him inside the arc, but the bones of a role player are here.
Brooklyn Nets
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Grant Nelson
Summer League Deal:
-TJ Bamba
-Dre Davis
6’10” big man Grant Nelson (84th on my final board) finished his college career at Alabama, but first gained attention after his highlights at North Dakota State went viral. He’s an exceptional run-jump athlete who can send home mesmerizing downhill jams and cover ground better than most his size. Once touted as a stretch big, Nelson takes threes, but he’s yet to consistently make them, going a career 28.7% from deep. Defensively, he’s improved, but he’s long struggled with positioning in ball screen coverages. If Nelson can either develop enough of a shot to consistently play the four or tighten up his defense enough to play the five, he could make things work.
TJ Bamba is a 6’5” scorer out of Oregon who took big strides as a distributor this past year, posting a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He also got better defensively, posting a 3.7 STL%. Unfortunately, his efficiency has left something to be desired, as he shot 38.9% from the field and 25.3% from deep this past year. Dre Davis is a bullying 6’5” guard who had stops at Louisville, Seton Hall, and Ole Miss. He’s awesome on the glass and posts defensive metrics more common among elite forwards than wings (2.2 STL%, 4.8 BLK%). His ball skills are rudimentary, and he only shot 32.5% from three last year.
Charlotte Hornets
Summer League Deal:
-Jamiya Neal
-Dajuan Harris Jr.
Jamiya Neal is a 6’6” guard from Creighton who can run the show (4.4 APG to 2.4 TOV) and use his frame to his advantage on defense (0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG). His lack of a three (career high 31.2% from three last season) has held him back. Dajuan Harris Jr. is a polished playmaker (5.7 APG to 1.8 TOV) and a crafty defender. At only 6’2” and 175 pounds, though, his diminutive frame is an issue.
Chicago Bulls
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Caleb Grill
-Wooga Poplar
At 25 years old, Caleb Grill will have to figure things out quickly. Additionally, at 6’3”, he’s always been an off-ball guard rather than a true point guard. That’s problematic. Still, I ranked him 80th on my final board. Why? Because he’s a deadeye shooter who drained 39.6% of his threes on high volume, and he’s a disruptive defender (1.7 SPG) with long arms. When he gets hot, he’s tough to stop, and his motor never shuts off. It’s tough to find “wing-sized guard” roles, but Grill might be able to make it happen.
Wooga Poplar is a 6’5” wing out of Villanova. He’s a fantastic shooter who made 38.7% of his threes this past season, including 43.2% of his catch-and-shoot attempts. He’s also able to create for himself, displaying good bend with the ball and a bevy of moves to get to his spots in the mid-range. Defensively, his strong frame goes a long way, and he’s eager to make plays off the ball. The biggest issue for Poplar is his decision-making, as he had a negative assist-to-turnover mark this past year, which is a big red flag for a wing-sized senior. His talents as a shooter and athlete are generally better than you’d find on the margins, though.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Norchad Omier
-Chaney Johnson
Norchad Omier is certainly productive. The 6’7” powerhouse from Baylor is a high-end glass-eater who never averaged below 10 RPG at any point in his college career. His lateral agility and strength help him cover a variety of positions defensively. The issue for Omier has been that he’s undersized and lacks the requisite ball skills to play the four, shooting below 30% from three and posting a negative assist-to-turnover ratio this past season. His motor and production make him a reasonable E-10 swing, but he’ll have to surpass similar guys like Oscar Tshiebwe, who’s done great in the G League but remains less interesting to NBA teams.
Chaney Johnson is a havoc-wreaking forward out of Auburn. He’s an above-the-rim finisher as a cutter and off of put-backs. He thrives on the glass and uses his athleticism to make plays on defense. His decision-making is solid, too. At 29.4% from three this past year, he’ll need to prove he can be a reliable shooter to earn a more substantive NBA deal.
Dallas Mavericks
Two-Way Contract:
-Ryan Nembhard
-Miles Kelly
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Matthew Cleveland
-Moussa Cisse
Summer League Deal:
-Matt Cross
-Obinna Anochili-Killen
-Zhuric Phelps
Ryan Nembhard (79th on my final board) is a dynamite playmaker who averaged 9.8 APG this past year while rarely turning the ball over. He’s a slithery, crafty, manipulative mover who is tough to contain. Once he collapses a defense, he’s a high-level thinker who can see everything on the floor and execute on his reads with creativity. At only 176 pounds, he is undersized, and he’s not the best shooter (career 34.7% from deep). His lack of size hurts him defensively, and he’s not much of a threat to score. My lower ranking of him is more tied to my team-building philosophy, as I feel that it will take him some time to adapt to the physical demands of the next level. But a few years down the road, he could absolutely carve out a spot because he’s such a tremendous orchestrator.
Miles Kelly is a 6’4” marksman from Auburn who launches threes at a high clip (12.6 attempts per 100 possessions. He can drill triples off a variety of actions. Plus, he’s a solid decision maker, and he made real strides as a defender this past year. Given his lack of size at 178 pounds, he’ll either need to add bulk or become more efficient from deep (career 35.9%) to stick.
Matthew Cleveland ranked 76th on my board. He played for the Miami Hurricanes this past season. The team was a disaster, but Cleveland's production was a bright spot. The 6’5.25” wing hit 38.2% of his threes, registered 31 dunks, and displayed well-roundedness across the stat sheet. His combination of skill and athleticism is intriguing. He does have some frustrating habits, as he tends to stop the ball offensively and relies on the mid-range shot a little too much. Still, there’s a world where he can trim the fat, improve upon his strengths, and be an NBA roster guy.
Moussa Cisse (82nd on my final board) will likely have his ceiling capped due to his poor ball skills (0.5 APG to 1.0 TOV) and issues with fouling. Still, I like him as a “third big bet.” He’s an exceptional athlete. He’s fast end-to-end, a big-time lob target, an elite rebounder (20.1 rebounds per 100 possessions), and he absolutely soars for rejections (9.8 BLK%). He’ll need to play with more restraint, and his role is likely always to be simple, but he has NBA tools and produces in the way a big man should.
I’m bullish on both Marshall’s Obinna Anochili-Killen (68th on my board) and SMU’s Matt Cross (88th on my board) relative to consensus. The hope for Anochili-Killen is that he can be “Moneyball Ryan Dunn.” He’s an excellent defender with a huge 6’7.75”, 224-pound frame and long arms. He covers ground exceptionally well and is a big-time shot blocker (12.7 BLK%). Like Dunn, his offense is a question, as he shot only 32.8% from deep last year and can’t do much with the ball. Cross never received recognition from mainstream boards, but I’ve long been a fan. He’s a 6’7” do-it-all wing who can move the ball, make plays on defense (2.4 STL%, 2.2 BLK%), rebound, and shoot threes (38.2% from deep on 7.8 attempts per 100 possessions). He bounced around between schools frequently and nearly quit basketball at one point, which likely affected his perception. His motor is absolutely relentless, too. But the bottom line is he’s got a pro frame and does everything you’d ask a role player to do.
Zhuric Phelps is a 6’3” scoring guard who can generate steals but posted a negative assist-to-turnover mark in his senior season while registering 36.3/25.9/69.3 shooting splits.
Denver Nuggets
Two-Way Contract:
-Tamar Bates
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Curtis Jones
Summer League Deal:
-Reyne Smith
Tamar Bates (66th on my final board) is a classic three-and-D prospect. He sank 39.7% of his threes on good volume at Missouri this season while using his length to act as a disruptive force on defense. What differentiates Bates from most shooters is that when you run him off the line, he’s got serious bounce and can finish above the rim. His 72.1% on half-court rim attempts, per Synergy, demonstrates his inside-out scoring prowess. Bates has struggled as a playmaker, posting a negative assist-to-turnover ratio this past year, which is troublesome at 6’5”. Still, during the Portsmouth Invitational, he made some great passes on the move, pointing to potential growth. If he can figure out the passing, he could definitely find a place.
Curtis Jones (92nd on my final board) is a 6’4” microwave scorer out of Iowa State. He’s a shifty ball-handler with a polished pull-up scoring game who can get to his spots behind the arc and in the mid-range. He’s also a clever passer (2.3 APG to 1.4 TOV). His wiry frame can bite him. He only made 46.2% of his half-court rim attempts, he can get plowed through defensively, and he’s not super quick laterally.
Reyne Smith is a 6’2” shooting specialist who can bomb threes in a variety of ways, but doesn’t have much else to him.
Detroit Pistons
Undisclosed Deal:
-Brice Williams
-Dawson Garcia
Summer League Deal:
-Zakai Zeigler
-TJ Madlock
Brice Williams is one of my favorite undrafted targets, slotting 44th on my board. The Nebraska wing stands 6’5.25” with a near-6’11” wingspan. The best way to describe his game is “smooth.” He’s got an old-man game to get to his spots on offense, and he’s an intelligent passer (2.9 APG). Defensively, he can use his length well on the ball and knows where to be rotationally. His most underrated skill, and why I’m bullish on his NBA projection, is his shot. He made 38.5% of his threes throughout his college career. While the volume has never been over the top, he’s displayed impressive movement chops that should enable him to slide into a lower usage role well. He’s not the best athlete, and I worry about his defensive foot speed. But Williams’ combination of size, shooting, and feel makes him one of the best in this group.
Dawson Garcia is a 6’10.5” stretch four who had a winding road through college. He got on radars as a freshman at Marquette, fell off them the following year at North Carolina, and then fought his way back over three seasons at Minnesota. His floor spacing is the sell, as he hit 37.3% of his threes on 4.2 attempts per game last season. He’s also a solid downhill player who averaged 2.0 APG to only 1.5 TOV. The big hangup is his defense, as he’s not a rim protector, nor is he comfortable guarding in space. If he can maintain his efficiency from deep and find the right spot, there could be a place for him. If not, he’ll make bank overseas.
Zakai Zeigler is a small guard listed at 5’9”, and he only made 32.2% of his threes this past year. Still, he’s a fantastic playmaker with tremendous vision and a super pesky defender (career 3.7 STL%). TJ Madlock is on the opposite side of the frame spectrum. The 6’3” guard out of Alabama A&M looks like he could shoulder-shrug with 1,000-pound dumbbells. He averaged a comical 7.1 RPG this past season. He’s an imposing defender and a solid passer, but his jumper needs improvement (29.2% from deep last season).
Golden State Warriors
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Chance McMillian
-L.J. Cryer
Summer League Deal:
-Chris Mañon
-Bez Mbeng
-Coleman Hawkins
-Gabe Madsen
Chance McMillian (98th on my final board) is a dynamite shooter. The 6’2” guard from Texas Tech hit 43.3% of his threes last year while showcasing parking lot range. What differentiates him from most “pure shooter, short non-point guards” is that he can really respond to being run off the line. McMillian has serious lift and made 65.4% of his halfcourt rim attempts, per Synergy. Still, he’s predominantly an off-ball player, he’s skinny, and he doesn’t bring much to the table defensively. He can catch up on the other end of the floor; he could have a chance.
L.J. Cryer is a 6’1” bucket-getter who played for great teams at Baylor and Houston. He made 41.3% of his career threes on high volume. While more of a scorer than a true point guard, he did average 2.0 APG to only 1.1 TOV last year. He doesn’t offer much on defense or the glass at this stage.
Chris Mañon ranked 67th on my board, as he was one of my favorite specialist bets in this class. The flaws are clear—he’s a 6’5” wing who shot 23.5% from three at Vanderbilt, and he’s a bit of a riverboat gambler defensively. The reason I’d swing on him, though, is that while he gambles a lot, he’s really good at gambling. He posted an absurd 5.3 STL% and 6.4 BLK% in his first high-major season. He’s also a slick passer with a career 20.0 AST%. Simply put, I know what his NBA skill is (defensive event creation), and I think he knows how to play. He’s rough around the edges, but so is everybody in this column. You’ve got to bet on something. I’d prefer to bet on someone like Mañon as opposed to a standard “this is a worse version of an NBA player” type bet. Bez Mbeng is a 6’4” lockdown defender out of Yale. He’s smart, rugged, and tenacious. He routinely shuts down his man, and he’s posted impressive steal and block totals throughout his career. Plus, he’s a smart passer who averaged 5.8 APG. His shot is a question, as he went 30.6% from deep over his college career, but he did sink 36.8% of his threes last season. Coleman Hawkins was a hot name at Illinois one year ago, but ended his college career on a sour note. This year, he posted 40.1/30.3/57.7 scoring splits for a disappointing Kansas State team. I don’t mind the “buy low” play here. Hawkins has a rare skill level for a 6’9” guy. He can pass it, he’s a fluid mover, and he hit 36.9% of his threes on good volume a year ago. If he can get his confidence back up, it could be a boon for Golden State. Gabe Madsen is a high-volume shooter who took 15.2 threes per 100 possessions throughout his college career. The 24-year-old, 6’5” wing from Utah can pass a little bit, too. The rest of his game is a bit bare.
Houston Rockets
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Cameron Matthews
Cameron Matthews (58th on my board) is an internal favorite here at No Ceilings. The downside is that the 6’7”, 235-pound forward out of Mississippi State is a non-shooter (24% from three on less than one attempt per game). The good news is everything else. He’s a switchable, powerful, and agile defender. He guards a variety of positions well and boasts fantastic off-ball anticipation. Offensively, he’s a skilled passer who was often an offensive hub for the Bulldogs. His outstanding defensive production, feel, and playmaking could allow him to carve out a bench role.
Indiana Pacers
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-RJ Felton
-Samson Johnson
-Steven Ashworth
RJ Felton took full advantage of a last-second Portsmouth Invitational Tournament selection. The 6’3” guard out of East Carolina finished 87th on my board. He’s powerfully built at 208 pounds, he’s an excellent shooter (37.8% from three on high volume), and he’s a handful on defense. His assist-to-turnover numbers have long been uninspiring, but if he figures out his playmaking for others, he could earn a two-way or even more down the road.
Samson Johnson is an agile dunks-and-blocks big man from UConn. The 6’10” center is a hyper-efficient finisher (76.6 FG%) and flies around to swat shots on defense (8.7 BLK%). The issue for Johnson is that he’s not much of a passer, he’s skinny, and he fouls a lot. If he can hold up to NBA physicality and reel in his aggressiveness, he could end up on a roster.
Steven Ashworth is already 25 years old, and he’s undersized at 6’1”, 170. Still, he can run an offense (6.8 APG) and shoot the three (career 38.6% from deep).
Los Angeles Clippers
Summer League Deal:
-Jahmyl Telfort
-John Poulakidas
Jahmyl Telfort (96th on my board) is a bulky, 6’6.25” forward with heaps of feel. He can bully his way to spots, see the floor, and hit open shots. He averaged 3.4 APG for Butler this past year, and he also made 36.4% of his threes. Telfort is a bit clunky laterally and lacks vertical pop inside, which hinders him as a finisher. John Poulakidas (99th on my board) is a 6’5.5” deadeye shooter from Yale. He hit 40.8% of his threes on high volume this past season. He’s got some quickness, which helps him to separate from his man off-ball and allows him to get to dribble counters, too. Defensively, his poor ground coverage and lack of strength are limiting factors, but he does have a 6’10” wingspan.
Los Angeles Lakers
Two-Way Contract:
-Eric Dixon
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Arthur Kaluma
-Julian Reese
-RJ Davis
-Augustas Marciulionis
Summer League Deal:
-TY Johnson
-Ethan Taylor
Eric Dixon (51st on my board) is an absolute bucket. The big-bodied (6’8.75”, 259 pounds) forward from Villanova is a sniper from deep (40.7% on 7.2 attempts per game). He can also use his hulking frame and soft touch to win on the block. His 23.3 PPG on 58.3 TS% is a fantastic mark. The rest of his game isn’t anything special. He’s not much of a passer, he’s a conservative defender, and he doesn’t rebound as well as his frame would suggest. However, a guy like Jamison Battle demonstrated that being exceptionally large, possessing a baseline level of feel, and being able to hit threes goes a long way. Dixon checks those boxes, and that’s why he’s one of my top players in this field.
I’m also fond of Arthur Kaluma, whom I ranked 60th. The knock on the 6’7” wing is that he’s a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none. Conversely, I think that makes him pretty appealing. For starters, he has an impressive frame at 221 pounds with a nearly seven-foot wingspan. He uses that to bully his way to spots inside, but he still has some slick downhill footwork. He also made 35.9% of his threes on solid volume and posted a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. Defensively, he had a fantastic year. His 1.9 STL% and 3.4 BLK% were career highs. He also held opponents to 10 total points on the 25 isolation possessions he guarded. I think he has a ready-made NBA frame and is up to the task defensively; it’s just a question of whether he has enough juice on offense. I thought he could’ve been drafted, so he’s a bargain on an Exhibit-10.
Julian Reese from Maryland is an undersized big man at 6’9”. Still, he finds ways to produce. Like his sister Angel Reese (GO SKY!), he’s a big-time rebounder on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he’s a quick mover rolling to the basket, and he can finish above the rim. While he’s not a fantastic passer, he’s become a respectable decision-maker throughout his college career. Defensively, he’s pretty versatile in his schemes, but probably best suited for a switching system. His lack of size without the handle or shot to compensate likely makes him more of a G League big, but if he can broaden his skill set, his motor would make him appealing as a bench big.
RJ Davis is a former All-American from North Carolina. The 6’0” guard is a microwave scorer who can also sling the ball as he weaves through traffic. His lack of size and lackluster defense are a problem, though.
Augustas Marciulionis is a phenomenal playmaker. The 6’4” St. Mary’s guard has a fantastic handle, stringing together dizzying dribble combinations to collapse defenses. From there, he has heaps of creativity as a passer. While he got better from three every season, he still only shot 34.7% from distance last year. He’s also a poor lateral mover defensively. Still, his size and savvy make it worth kicking the tires.
TY Johnson is a 6’3” volume scorer from UC-Davis. He scored 21.1 PPG while playing pestering defense on the other end. A career 29.8% shooter from deep with a negative assist-to-turnover ratio, he’ll need to prove he can adjust to a new role at the professional level. Ethan Taylor is an intriguing sleeper from Air Force. The 6’6” combo guard racked up 3.5 APG while shooting 38.4% from deep on 8.0 attempts per game. He’s a real-deal shooter with deep range who can hit off movement or pulling up. While he’s not the most athletic defender, he holds up well laterally and knows how to use his hands. It will be interesting to see him in a more talent-rich environment.
Memphis Grizzlies
Summer League Deal:
-Ace Baldwin Jr.
Ace Baldwin Jr. is a fantastic orchestrator. The 6’0” guard from Penn State’s 36.0 AST% and 7.1 APG are testaments to that. He’s also a smothering defender who nabbed 2.4 SPG last season. He ended his college career below 40% from the field and at 33.4% from deep, so he may have a hard time keeping defenses honest at the next level.
Miami Heat
Two-Way Contract:
-Vladislav Goldin
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Steve Settle III
Summer League Deal:
-Dain Dainja
-Oumar Ballo
-Marcus Williams
Vladislav Goldin (69th on my board) checks all of the classic “third big man” boxes. Big Bad Vlad stands 7’0” with a 7’5.25” wingspan and a 253-pound frame. He’s a strong finisher (69.3% at the rim, per Synergy), a great screener, and a defensive rim deterrent. Plus, he also started to knock down the occasional three this year, going 11-for-33 from deep. He does the garbage man stuff. His ball skills leave something to be desired, and his rebounding has consistently been disappointing given his size. But Goldin should be able to go in, be physical, and take care of business right away.
Steve Settle III (71st on my board) is one of my favorite value plays on the margins in this class. The negative here is that the 6’10” Temple product is a rail-thin 192 pounds. The plus side is that he has everything you’d want out of a rotational forward. He hit 41.6% of his threes. He’s got a gorgeous, high release, and he even showed some pull-up, shot-maker stuff this year. He plays within the flow of the offense (1.7 APG to 1.1 TOV). Defensively, his length and agility create problems for opponents. He can slide up and down the positional spectrum. Settle’s career 2.3 STL% and 3.3 BLK% are strong marks, too. Plus, he’s earned a high character label behind the scenes. Sure, he’s skinny. But with the Heat’s conditioning program, I love this move. If it all comes together, this could pay off in a big way.
Dain Dainja is a bit of an oddity. The 6’9”, 260-pound big man is a fluid, smooth mover defensively who can switch and block shots. He’s an excellent rebounder. Offensively, he’s a ground-bound post player. He’ll need to add a jumper or polish up his passing to make it work on that end. Oumar Ballo was productive at both Arizona and Indiana. The near-seven-footer has a powerful frame, which helps him to clean up on the glass, finish inside, and hold his ground on defense. He can pass a little bit, too. He’s been plagued by conditioning issues, and I worry about him keeping up with the speed of the NBA game. Marcus Williams is a 6’2” bomber from San Francisco. He drained 41.4% of his threes this past season. Plus, he did it in a variety of ways, hitting shots off spot-ups, pull-ups, in transition, and coming off handoffs. Williams has more passing juice than most small shooters (28.5 AST%), and he gives good effort defensively (2.7 STL%, 1.3 BLK%). His subpar finishing is an issue, though.
Milwaukee Bucks
Two-Way Contract:
-Mark Sears
Summer League Deal:
-Terrence Edwards Jr.
-David Joplin
-Wade Taylor IV
Mark Sears (72nd on my board) has been one of the best point guards in college basketball over the past few years. The 5’11” guard shot 37.5% from deep on high volume throughout his career. He’s also built for NBA tempo, having spearheaded Alabama’s fast-paced offense while slinging 5.1 APG this past season. Though short, Sears is strong, and he loves to seek contact on the way to the basket. He draws a ton of fouls as a result. His defensive approach can be too casual, and his 6’2” wingspan is troublesome. He’ll have to beat The Small Guard Stigma, but Sears does have takeover scoring ability and knows how to play.
Terrence Edwards is a 6’6” wing from Louisville by way of James Madison. He’s slender but slick. He’s a shifty, slippery downhill driver who sees the floor well (2.7 APG to 2.1 TOV). He’s also consistently taken tough defensive assignments for his team over the years. A spotty shooter (35.1% from deep on solid volume for his career), Edwards will need to be more of a knockdown guy to carve out a role. David Joplin is a well-built forward from Marquette who loves to let it fly from D. He’s also a chore to deal with on defense (1.1 SPG, 0.9 BPG). The issue is that he’s still behind the curve as a decision maker (1.3 APG to 1.9 TOV this past season). If he can develop the connective tissue, he could find a spot. Wade Taylor IV is a 6’0” guard from Texas A&M who spearheaded the offense for the Aggies over the past four seasons. He posted a 29.5 AST% this past year, and he’s a pesky defender, as evident by his 3.3 STL%. I don’t know how he scores at the NBA level, as he shot 35.4% from the field and 31.8% from three-point range last season.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Summer League:
-CJ Fulton
CJ Fulton is an interesting spreadsheet bet. The 6’2” guard from Charleston produced in a lot of ways this past season. He shot 37.7% from three, averaged 6.5 APG to only 1.3 TOV, rebounded well for a guard (4.1 RPG), and registered a 2.6 STL%. There’s a real “firepower” question to be asked, though, as he only averaged 7.8 PPG as a senior at the mid-major level, which isn’t common among players on NBA rosters.
New Orleans Pelicans
Two-Way Contract:
-Hunter Dickinson
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Chase Hunter
Summer League Deal:
-Trey Townsend
Hunter Dickinson is a 7’0” double-double machine. He averaged 17.7 PPG and 10.5 RPG over the past two seasons at Kansas. He’s also skilled, having showcased the ability to orchestrate offense at the top of the key and hit an occasional three. The issue for Dickinson has always been his defense, as he’s likely too slow to switch at the NBA level without the bounce to protect the rim in drop coverage. If he can figure something out in that respect, he might surprise some people.
Chase Hunter was the 100th-ranked player on my board. I’m skeptical of the 6’3” guard from Clemson, as he only had one great shooting season (40.7% from deep last year) and is already 24 years old. Still, I understand why he has fans across the league. He’s a physical guard who can cover opposing ones and twos, he’s always been on good teams, and he’s a steady playmaker. His well-rounded skillset and mature approach could allow him to eat innings in a way others might be incapable of.
Trey Townsend is a well-built 6’6” forward. He finished his college career at Arizona but is probably most notable for being a part of the Oakland squad that upset Kentucky during the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Townsend is a physical force on the glass and sees the floor well from the low block. He’ll need to become more of a perimeter player to adapt to the NBA game. He only shot 33.3% from deep on low volume last year, and his defense isn’t anything to write home about.
New York Knicks
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Dink Pate
Dink Pate slotted 94th on my board. The 19-year-old is the youngest guy in this field. He was a part of the G League Ignite program during what should have been his senior year of high school. At 6’6” with a near 6’10” wingspan, he struggled to produce but demonstrated intriguing moments of fluidity and craft as a self-creator for such a young player in a pro league. When the Ignite program went belly-up, Pate joined the G League’s Mexico City Capitanes. He was better, but he’s probably not league-ready. Pate shot 30.5% from deep and 63.1% at the free throw line, so his shot has a long way to go. His assist-to-turnover mark was underwater. Defensively, he has great moments guarding the ball, but needs to be more consistent as an off-ball player. Pate’s far from polished, but when it comes to a tools standpoint, he’s one of the best upside bets in this field. If a team can give him some developmental focus, he could get back on track and prove why he was one of the more highly touted prospects in the country at one point.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Payton Sandfort
-Zack Austin
-Chris Youngblood
Summer League Deal:
-Erik Reynolds II
-Mady Sissoko
-Cesare Edwards
Payton Sandfort (54th on my board) is a great “buy low” target for the Thunder. The 6’7” sniper’s stock took a hit this past year, as a series of injuries plagued his efficiency. However, just one year ago, he shot nearly 38% from three-point range on a high volume. He’s got a strong body, he’s a good connective passer, and despite the injuries, he posted his best defensive counting numbers to date (0.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG) this season. If he can get healthy, he has all of the classic plug-and-play shooter traits.
Zack Austin is as three-and-D as three-and-D gets. He hit 38.1% of his triples on 8.6 attempts per 100 possessions, and he’s comfortable taking them from deep behind the line. Defensively, he’s a force. He registered a 2.2 STL% and 6.8 BLK% throughout his career. Austin is fast to get into position, and he’s a skywalker when he leaps for a rejection. The issue for Austin is that his offensive game doesn’t have much connective tissue. He’s not much of a passer, he suffers from tunnel vision at times, and his handle needs work. Still, guys who make threes and disrupt the flow of the opposing offense to this extent are always worth a look.
Chris Youngblood is a bulky 6’4” shooter who made 39.6% of his threes throughout his college career. His stout frame helps him hold up well guarding the ball. His playmaking (0.9 APG to 1.1 TOV) leaves a lot to be desired given his lack of height, so he’ll likely need to be a genuinely elite marksman to stick.
Erik Reynolds II is a 6’2” guard who broke the all-time scoring record at St. Joe’s. Similar to Sandfort, his efficiency was rough this past year (38.0/29.8/85.7 splits). Given his lack of size, he has fewer outs to compensate for on bad nights. Still, in the past, he has displayed an absurd range from deep (38% from three on 8.4 attempts per game last year) and a knack for shooting off movement. He still needs to round out the rest of his game. Mady Sissoko is a bruising big who made stops at Michigan State and California. He’s a force on the glass and an efficient finisher (67.4 TS%). His rim protection (4.7 BLK%) isn’t quite up to NBA standards at this stage. Cesare Edwards is an inside-out scoring big who hit 43.5% of his threes on solid volume for a 6’9” dude this past year at Georgia State. He had some nice moments at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. His 4.9 BLK% is suboptimal for a big man in a mid-major league, and he’s less of a rebounder than you’d expect given his frame.
Orlando Magic
Exhibit-10 Contact:
-Nate Santos
Summer League Deal:
-Zach Freemantle
-Johnell Davis
Nate Santos is a 6’7” wing from Dayton. He hit 41.8% of his threes each of the past two seasons. Add in a cut-up, muscular frame, and there’s an enticing mix of shooting and strength to work with. His adequate processing (even assist-to-turnover ratio) and lackluster defensive production (0.4 SPG, 0.1 BPG) raise questions about what else he can bring to the table. Still, the stuff he has at his disposal is valuable.
Zach Freemantle is a 6’9” forward from Xavier with an interesting game. He has the size and toughness to score inside, can pass effectively, and holds up well in space defensively. However, he’s not a true big, and at nearly 25 years old, he’ll need his jumper (30% from three) to shape up quickly for him to climb the NBA ladder. Johnell Davis is a 6’4” combo guard from Arkansas with a powerful frame. He can bully his way inside, where he uses his soft touch to finish. Defensively, he can use his strong body well, and he’s typically been a plus-rebounder for his position. His passing vision is lackluster, and he can be a bit of a ball-stopper; he also struggled with his efficiency this past season (39.0 FG%, 32.8 3FG%).
Philadelphia 76ers
Two-Way Contract:
-Hunter Sallis
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Igor Milicic Jr.
-Izan Almansa
Summer League Deal:
-Saint Thomas
-Jack Clark
Hunter Sallis is a 6’5” combo guard from Wake Forest. He entered the year with high expectations. As a junior, he scored 18.0 PPG on 48.7/40.5/78.3 splits. This year, he scored 18.3 PPG, but his splits were 45.7/27.7/80.4. I get the idea here. Sallis shows impressive flashes of shot-making, and he has also developed well as a passer, registering an 18.0 AST% this past season. He has a real quickness downhill and can finish above the rim. His physical tools and 6’10” wingspan enable him to be an effective defender, too. Ultimately, I worry that his subpar strength (181.4 pounds), career 33.3% from deep, and frustrating shot diet. However, he finished 55th on our last consensus board, as there’s hope that he can regain his footing.
Igor Milicic Jr. (64th on my board) is a 6’10” do-it-all forward from Tennessee. He’s a great rebounder, he uses his length well on defense, and he shows creativity as a passer. He’s a good interior finisher, both off of put-backs and self-created drives. The questions are his jumper and his consistency. Milicic went 31.4% from deep this past year after going 37.6% a year ago. He has shown he can hit off movement, and the mechanics are pristine, but the results come and go. Additionally, his assertiveness can fluctuate game-to-game. I want to love Milicic, who checks so many role player boxes. An Exhibit 10 is great value for him. There’s a chance that things could break right, and if they do, he’d be a tremendous role player in any context.
Izan Almansa (85th on my board) is a 6’9” big man from Spain who had a decorated youth career. He went pro with the G League Ignite, hoping to bolster his draft stock. He wasn’t awful, but he did struggle and opted to wait before entering the draft. He then went to the NBL’s Perth Wildcats, where he had a solid but unremarkable campaign. He entered the draft this past year and went unselected despite a second-round green room invitation. His game is odd, as he’s not enough of a shooter to play the four, but he’s not big or bouncy enough to play the five. Still, he’s pretty agile and thinks the game at a high level. His combination of size and feel is worth a look.
Saint Thomas is an interesting prospect from USC. He’s 6’7” with a strong frame, and he can really pass the ball (4.2 APG to 2.4 TOV). He entered the year with a lot of hype after a great season at Northern Colorado, but the rest of his production didn’t scale up well. His defensive counting numbers underachieved his tools and feel, and he seemed afraid to shoot (30.3% from deep on 4.4 attempts per 100 possessions). It’s tough to be an on-ball, mid-range-oriented guy in the NBA if you’re not a star. Still, the frame and instincts are super intriguing. Jack Clark is an archaic prospect at 25 years old. Still, I love how the 6’10” VCU forward plays. He’s a great rebounder, he knows how to fill in the gaps offensively, and he offers defensive versatility. That said, his age gives him little margin for error.
Phoenix Suns
Two-Way Contract:
-CJ Huntley
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Khalif Battle
Summer League Deal:
-Jordan Gainey
-Mitch Mascari
CJ Huntley is a 6’10” big man from Appalachian State who can score inside and out. He was the only player other than Rasheer Fleming to dunk 40 times and make 40 threes this past season. He can move into his shot well, and they ran him off actions on out-of-bounds plays this past season. At 223 pounds, he’s no slouch on the glass, either. His decision-making can leave something to be desired, as he had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio this past season. His defensive counting numbers are also a disappointment, given the league in which he played. Still, these are the types of guys two-way contracts are made for—uniquely gifted players who you want to develop, because if they do, they could provide surplus value.
Khalif Battle is a three-level scorer. He has the bounce to finish above the rim, he has the sauce to get himself buckets in the mid-range, and he’ll hit deep threes. He also took strides as a defender and passer at Gonzaga this year. Crucially, he’s a clear positive energy force on the film, consistently demonstrating with a competitive fire. At 25 years old, he’s going to have to adapt to more of an off-ball role, as his best skill currently is self-creating with the ball in his hands.
Jordan Gainey is a 6’4” guard from Tennessee who can defend and draw fouls. Strangely, he shot under 30% over the last two seasons after starting his career as a marksman. Mitch Mascari is a pure specialist bet. The 6’5” wing shooter out of Drake hit 40.3% of his threes on high volume last season. He’s also a solid ball mover and an okay defender, but if he hits, it’ll be because of the jumper.
Portland Trail Blazers
Two-Way Contract:
-Caleb Love
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Sean Pedulla
-Andrew Carr
Caleb Love is a 6’4” scoring guard. He started at North Carolina and led them to a Final Four before departing for Arizona. When he gets hot, he feels like an unstoppable scoring machine. He also became a steadier playmaker over the years, going from 3.1 TOV as a freshman to only 1.9 TOV as a graduate. The issue with Love is that he’s not much of a defender, and things go south quickly when his shot isn’t falling. Unfortunately, that’s more often than you’d like. He shot a career 38% from the field and 32.6% from the field as a primary initiator.
Sean Pedulla ranked 62nd on my board. The 6’1” guard from Ole Miss checks a lot of small guard boxes. He’s a good shooter (39.2% from deep), a reliable table-setter (3.8 APG to 2.0 TOV), and a pesky defender (1.9 SPG). He’s got a fiery, competitive demeanor and made big plays in crunch time for the Rebels. Given his height, he is undersized, and he’s long struggled to convert at the rim. Still, Pedulla shined at pre-draft events like the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, where he was clearly a cut above much of the field, both in terms of talent and processing. He reminds me a bit of Collin Gillespie, and I think he could find a similar place in the league at some point.
Andrew Carr is a 6’9” forward with a well-rounded game. His length helps him make plays on defense (0.7 SPG, 0.7 BPG), he’s a trustworthy operator (1.7 APG to 0.9 TOV), and he has good touch (63.9% on twos). His jumper remains a question, though, as he went 32.4% behind the three-point line this past year. Without the shot, his NBA role remains a question.
Sacramento Kings
Two-Way Contract:
-Dylan Cardwell
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Isaac Nogues
-Patrick McCaffery
Summer League Deal:
-Jabri Abdur-Rahim
Dylan Cardwell is one of my favorite undrafted free agents in this class, slotting 47th on my board. I completely understand why he didn’t get drafted. The 6’9.75” big man out of Auburn scored 5.0 PPG this season, and he gets in foul trouble a lot. He’s always been a role player throughout his college career. That’s not common among NBA success stories. Also, he shot a ghastly 32.4% at the charity stripe. Still, I’m convinced that Cardwell is better than most “third bigs” in the NBA. He has a powerful 261-pound frame, but he’s an excellent mover. He’s fantastic laterally when he guards out in space and grabs a ton of steals for a big man. Still, his timing and athleticism allow him to swat shots inside, as evident by his career 8.9 BLK%. On offense, he’s an elite lob target who converted 70% of his field goals last season. Plus, he’s a skilled passer from the top of the key who averaged 1.6 APG to only 0.6 TOV. Yes, Cardwell’s counting numbers are low, and he’ll have to reel in his aggressive approach defensively. But when NBA teams have to dig deep into their bench, they should want a dude like Cardwell—someone who can finish, pass, and defend in any scheme.
Isaac Nogues (83rd on my board) is a gadget player bet. The 6’5” guard is an exceptional event creator on defense. He nabbed 2.0 SPG in only 20.8 MPG for the Rip City Remix in the G League this past season. He’s also a dazzling playmaker who can slip through the paint and fit nifty passes through tight windows. Nogues posted 3.9 APG to only 1.5 TOV. All of this is awesome! Unfortunately, he can’t put the ball in the basket at this point. He averaged only 2.5 PPG on 47.4/30.0/56.5 splits, and his jumper needs an overhaul. He’s unlikely to become a shooter, but if he can become passable on that front, he’d find a home quickly.
Patrick McCaffery presents a simple proposition. He’s 6’9”, he can shoot (41.6% from three), and he makes good decisions (1.6 APG to 1.0 TOV). His lack of athleticism limits him defensively. At 25 years old, though, he’ll have to make his mark quickly to gain NBA traction. Given that he wasn’t a particularly dominant college player, I’m skeptical. Still, there’s a “he’s tall and does the role player stuff” appeal here.
Jabri Abdur-Rahim is a 6’7” forward with a pro-ready 225-pound body. He’s a talented marksman who went 36.6% from deep on 15.7 attempts per 100 possessions this past season, but the rest of his game is incomplete.
San Antonio Spurs
Summer League Deal:
-Jacksen Moni
-Chibuzo Agbo
-Cam Carter
Jacksen Moni ranked 86th on my final board. The shortcomings are evident early on the tape. The 6’10” forward from North Dakota State isn’t strong, and he’s slow-footed. His 1.0 STL% and 1.6 BLK% are really poor marks for a mid-major prospect. Still, I ranked him on my board due to his outlier combination of size, touch, and feel. Moni scored 20.6 PPG on 50.8/40.8/83.7 splits. That 40.8% mark from three came on 5.8 attempts per game, so he’s no “fake shooter,” either. He’s also an excellent top-of-the-key orchestrator who slung 3.7 APG this past season. His physical limitations could be too much to overcome, but it’s worth a swing. Chibuzo Agbo is a 6’7” shooter. He made 39.2% of his threes over his five college seasons while launching 10.3 attempts per 100 possessions. At 226 pounds, he’s no slouch physically, either. The rest of his game isn’t much, but if he can add to his arsenal, there could be something here. Cam Carter is a 6’3” scoring guard who made 39.2% of his triples on 11.0 attempts per 100 possessions this past season. He’s also got some wiggle and explosiveness with the ball in his hand to create his looks. His poor interior finishing and dead-even assist-to-turnover ratio are red flags, though. He’ll need to refine his playmaking process to improve his NBA chances.
Toronto Raptors
Two-Way Contract:
-Chucky Hepburn
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Clifford Omoruyi
-Tyson Degenhart
Summer League Deal:
-Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones
Chucky Hepburn was one of the best point guards in college basketball last season, and he ranked 77th on my board. The 6’2” Louisville product has the all-important football player build, a common thread among successful smaller guards in the NBA. Hepburn uses that bulk well on defense, where his combination of physicality and feel allowed him to rack up 2.4 SPG this past season. He does a phenomenal job of running ball screens, using manipulation, craft, and herky-jerky movement patterns to create advantages. Once inside, he can use his stellar vision to find teammates or his toughness to draw fouls. A career 35.3% shooter from deep, Hepburn will need to find consistency from deep to get over the hump.
Clifford Omoruyi (73rd on my board) is underrated in my book. He’s got super long arms, he finishes everything at the rim (73.4 FG%), and he can protect the rim on defense (7.9 BLK% for his career). He can struggle with physicality, and he doesn’t have much in the way of on-ball utility. With that being said, I could see him finding his footing as a dunks-and-blocks big given his measurements and athleticism.
Tyson Degenhart first landed on radars after a super productive freshman campaign at Boise State, and he’s hung around ever since. The 6’8” forward has a hulking 242-pound frame, and he uses it well inside. He’ll punish mismatches on the block, fight for contested boards, and win the bump battle defensively. On defense, he’s a bit stiff and heavy-footed laterally. He’s a career 35.6% shooter from deep. If Degenhart were to become a knockdown guy, his physicality and motor could earn him a roster spot. Without it, he’s probably a guy who makes a killing overseas.
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones was a key part of UC-San Diego’s NCAA Tournament run this past season. The 6’6” forward was dominant from the elbow and nail. He has a polished face-up game that he uses to score (19.6 PPG) and pick apart opposing defenses as a passer (3.6 APG). He’s also a solid rebounder and defender. The issue here is that he’s an interior player who only shot 31.3% from deep on low volume this past year. If he could shoot it, he could have a path, but that feels like a “check back in a few years” thing.
Utah Jazz
Two-Way Contract:
-RJ Luis Jr.
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Steven Crowl
-Matt Murrell
Summer League Deal:
-J’Wan Roberts
RJ Luis Jr. had a rough end to his college season, and he followed it up with a bad performance at the NBA Combine. But when you block out the noise, there’s still a lot to like. I ranked him 61st on my final board. The 6’6” wing out of St. John’s has a 6’10.5” wingspan and a solid 210-pound frame. He moves like a pro in every sense. Defensively, he can guard up and down the lineup. Off the ball, he’s able to read the opposing offense, get into passing lanes, and spring into position around the basket. Offensively, he’s a silky on-ball mover with the craft, quickness, and strength to get to his spots at all three levels. Plus, he’s able to use his length to generate advantageous passing angles and find open teammates (12.3 AST%). The question is whether or not Luis can scale into an NBA role. He made only 33.6% of his threes this past season. Still, historical data tend to show that the players who typically make it off two-way contracts and succeed in the NBA are those who took on big usage roles in college, then stuck after scaling their game back. If Luis can become less of a ball-stopper offensively while developing a reliable shot off the catch, he could be the best undrafted player in this class. If he doesn’t, he’ll be a tricky roster fit at the NBA level.
Steven Crowl is an interesting 7’0” big man out of Wisconsin. He’s never been the best shot blocker or rebounder. Still, he’s a super-skilled offensive player for a man his size. He hit 41.6% of his threes on good volume for a big last season while slinging 2.4 APG to only 1.4 TOV. I do worry about his rigid movement patterns and lack of strength, but in an era where double-big lineups are making a comeback, I get the idea here.
Matt Murrell is a switchblade guard out of Ole Miss. The 6’4” prospect makes his mint on defense, where his speed, bounce, and anticipation allow him to make a ton of plays on the ball (3.5 STL%, 1.1 BLK%). Offensively, he has a bit of a shot-maker bag, and he’s a reliable decision maker who averaged 1.8 APG to only 0.6 TOV. The two issues are that he’s not a consistent outside shooter (31.9% from deep this season) and that he vastly prefers to pull up in the mid-range instead of using his speed to pressure the rim. If Murrell can hit shots from deep and improve his shot diet, he could work his way up.
J’Wan Roberts is an undersized big man at 6’7”. Still, the powerhouse from Houston is a force on the boards, a versatile defender, and a smart passer. He’s not quick or bouncy enough to warrant more than a Summer League spot, and will likely need to develop some form of a jumper to draw more intense NBA interest.
Washington Wizards
Exhibit 10 Contract:
-Jonathan Pierre
-Keshon Gilbert
-Kadary Richmond
Summer League Deal:
-Zeke Mayo
Jonathan Pierre is one of my favorite sleepers in this group, ranking 50th on my board. The 6’9” player out of Belmont has apparent flaws. He’s not a physical player, and he only made 47.7% of his halfcourt rim attempts this past season. That’s bad! But the strengths here are fantastic. Pierre is a great defensive rebounder (21.6 DRB%) who likes to push the tempo. He’s a tremendous shooter (36.9% from deep on 12.2 attempts per 100 possessions) and savvy passer (3.5 APG to 1.9 TOV). His shooting and feel are rare for a player of his height. If you squint, you can see some Jaylen Wells in here. Perhaps I’m over-indexing on the strengths of a flawed mid-major prospect, but I love the idea of swinging on a guy who does the key role player things extremely well while boasting excellent positional size. He’s a bargain on an Exhibit-10.
Keshon Gilbert ranked 75th on my board. He’s a 6’4” bulldog guard who uses his blend of power and speed to consistently apply pressure to the rim (.414 FTr). He’s also an aggressive point-of-attack defender with the burst to get into passing lanes. As a result, he’s posted a career 3.7 STL%. His knack for generating paint touches and steals carries value. Unfortunately, Gilber is an inconsistent passer (21.6 TOV%) who is too tentative from deep (33.3% from deep on 4.9 attempts per 100 possessions. Those things could potentially be ironed out in time, so I like him as an E-10 bet. If he can fix those things, he’d be a valuable type of player.
Kadary Richmond finished 81st on my board. Let’s get the negative stuff out of the way—I have no idea how he scores in an NBA game. He’s prone to smoking layups at the basket, and he’s a career 30.7% from deep over five college seasons on low volume. Still, I think he’s got a chance. It starts with his frame and physicality. Richmond is a rock-solid 206 with long arms. He’s an explosive mover north-south, he gets off the floor well, and he’s quick laterally. That’s allowed him to be a menacing defender with a career 3.9 STL% and 2.2 BLK%. His defense is really special. And while I do worry about his efficiency on offense, he’s not devoid of skill. Richmond has a polished handle, he moves fast with the ball in his hands, and his floor mapping is tremendous. He whipped 5.3 APG to only 2.0 TOV this past season. I’m not quite sure what the role looks like in the NBA, but I’m not unconvinced that one might exist for him at some point. He’s there physically, he has something he can hang his hat on (defense), and he’s smart. That’s a better baseline than most have to work with.
Zeke Mayo is a 6’4” guard out of Kansas who can shoot it. He hit 42.2% of his threes this past year, and he’s capable of draining deep ones off pull-ups or spotting up. He’s also got a good frame, allowing him to finish through contact and rebound well for a guard. He’s limited athletically, and he’s long been an inconsistent passer who struggles with his timing (2.9 APG to 2.5 TOV). Given his defensive shortcomings, he’ll probably need to become a legitimate lead guard to get an NBA roster spot.
The John Butler Award
Every year, I present the John Butler Award to one player. This goes to the undrafted player who is highest on my board without a deal at press time.
Past winners:
2022: John Butler. While Butler has been more theoretical than actual, he’s quietly been solid in the G League. The 7’0” forward hit 34.6% of his threes on good volume while averaging 1.5 BPG and 0.9 SPG. I still believe! He’s only 22! That’s younger than most of the guys in this column. Give my guy a chance!
2023: JT Shumate. JT Shumate was one of my favorite deep cuts coming out of Toledo. The proposition was simple: He’s 6’7”, he knows what he’s doing out there, and he’s hyper-efficient. That’s stayed true in his pro career. He scored 11.1 PPG for CEZ Nymburk on 53.7/42.1/84.2 splits this past year while posting a positive assist-to-turnover ratio and good defensive marks (3.6 BLK%, 1.7 STL%). He’s 26 years old, but the guy can play. I’d love to see him get an NBA look!
2024: Spencer Jones. Spencer Jones was one of my favorite sleepers during his time at Stanford, and he was awesome in the G League last year. He scored 14.4 PPG on 51.8/45.7/71.4 splits last year while registering 1.9 APG to 1.3 TOV along with 1.1 SPG and 1.2 BPG. At 6’7” and 225 pounds, this is a guy who should be on a standard contract. The league is about shooting, passing, and defensive versatility. It was absurd that Spencer Jones (my top two-way target last year) didn’t get drafted last year, and it was even more perplexing that he lingered around for so long. I think he’s going to make it and be a real-deal standard contract player before we know it.
That brings us to 2025’s winner…
Like Spencer Jones last year, Viktor Lakhin is currently out with an injury. But the 6’11” big man out of Clemson is tailor-made for the modern NBA. If you want him to sit back in drop coverage, he can do that. His length and timing enabled him to post a 7.3 BLK% in his first season as his team’s primary rim protector. Still, his time as a four paired with his fluidity as a lateral mover make him a comfortable switch defender. He moves well in space and racks up a ton of steals for a big man (2.7 STL%). Offensively, he’s got heaps of skill. His 13.4 AST% is fantastic for a five. He also hit 37.5% of his threes on good volume for a player his size.
Best of all, Lakhin is a guy who you can count on to put in the work to get better. Two years ago, he wasn’t this guy. He was an interior player who rarely took jumpers and was an absolute black hole on the block. He had a ghastly 4.4 AST% as a sophomore. Lakhin’s growth over the past two seasons has been remarkable. He’s not some older guy who racked up stats by beating up on younger dudes so much as he’s a player who continued to develop over time. Given the value of this skill set in the modern game, I ranked Lakhin 29th on my board. It was a risky swing, but I believe in what he brings to the table. SOMEONE SIGN THIS MAN!
i love Lakhin.....i was surprised he wasnt drafted. Also surprised Goldin wasnt. Or nembhard. And you listed a favorite of mine in brice williams. I think there is hidden upside to Williams. Great notes. Thanks.